Danone recalls YoCrunch Yogurt

Danone, a French food and beverage umbrella company with its North American operations headquartered in Louisville, is recalling YoCrunch yogurt products “sold at retail stores nationwide due to the potential presence of plastic pieces in the dome topper,” the company said Monday.

“If consumed, the plastic pieces could potentially cause a choking response,” the recall announcement said. “The issue is isolated only to the separately packaged topper and does not impact the separately packaged yogurt.”For a detailed list of products being recalled, visit bit.ly/4lqDVIh.

Conga names Celia Fleischaker as CMO

Broomfield-based software-as-a-service company Conga has appointed Celia Fleischaker as its chief marketing officer.

“I’m thrilled to welcome Celia to Conga and to bring on a proven leader who has spent her entire career driving successful go-to-market strategies for B2B technology companies,” Dave Osborne, CEO of Conga, said in a prepared statement. “As we continue to accelerate our customers’ journey to become more connected and intelligent, we’re confident that Celia’s expertise in building winning strategies for publicly and privately held companies that unite product, brand, and customer engagement will be instrumental in taking Conga to the next level.”

Fleischaker has more than two decades of experience creating go-to-market strategies for B2B technology companies, most recently serving as CMO at isolved. She previously was CMO of Verint, PROS and Epicor.

Fleischaker earned her MBA from Indiana University and her bachelor of science in commerce from the University of Virginia.

Conga is a trade name for AppExtremes Inc.

Lafayette’s Last Mile Education Fund gifted $750K to help students in South

The Last Mile Education Fund, a Lafayette-based nonprofit that helps financially vulnerable technology and engineering students on the verge of graduating college, recently reported receipt of an anonymous $750,000 gift to support students in Georgia, Kentucky and Tennessee.

“We are deeply grateful for this generous investment in students across the South,” Last Mile CEO Ruthe Farmer said in a prepared statement. “Too often, a small financial gap is all that stands between a student and graduation. This funding will ensure that more students in Georgia, Kentucky and Tennessee can finish what they started and step into the future they’ve worked so hard to build.”

Over the past five years, Last Mile claims to have invested more than $13 million in roughly 10,500 students.

“This new funding will help reach even more students at the finish line — bridging financial gaps and expanding access where it’s needed most,” the organization said.

Boulder’s Caruso Ventures leads $2.5M investment in quantum startup

Caruso Ventures, a Boulder-based venture-capital firm helmed by Zaya Group founder and former CEO Dan Caruso, recently led a $2.5 million seed investment round in support of Bifrost Electronics, an Arvada quantum technology startup.

The company has “developed a new class of magnetically insensitive, scalable, electro-optic quantum amplifiers,” Bitfrost said in a news release. “Traditional quantum readout devices are notoriously complex, difficult to use, and failure-prone; Bifrost offers an elegant, functional alternative.”

Harlow Capital also participated in the seed-funding round, which represented the fifth quantum company to receive backing from Caruso Ventures.

“Unlocking quantum advantage will require bold engineering and new infrastructure built for scale,” said Dan Caruso, managing director of Caruso Ventures. “Bifrost is pushing the envelope on what quantum hardware can do, tackling one of the toughest technical bottlenecks with urgency and clarity. This is the kind of foundational innovation that moves entire industries forward. We’re proud to back Bifrost and invest in the systems that will make quantum computing real.”

Stratom to develop refueling system for Navy

Stratom Inc., a developer of autonomous systems for defense and commercial applications, has inked a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research contract to develop an autonomous refueling system for uncrewed U.S. Navy vessels.

“Autonomous refueling is truly a force multiplier — and the next step toward a fully autonomous maritime force,” Stratom CEO Mark Gordon said in a prepared statement. “With (Stratom’s Deployable Onboard Refueling Interface), we’re engineering a practical, scalable way for uncrewed vessels to stay on mission longer, without relying on vulnerable crewed interventions.”

Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed.

“Building upon existing naval refueling infrastructure while introducing targeted automation, Stratom’s DORI system integrates a hose retrieval system, perception sensors, an automated reel mechanism and a quick-release coupling for emergency disconnects,” the company said in a news release.

Sierra Space, Mitsubishi to build spacecraft parts for International Space Station

Sierra Space Corp. has won a contract from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. to build components for spacecraft docking on the International Space Station.

“The components will ultimately be used by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency for space station missions to the ISS,” SSC said in a news release.

Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed.

“By working with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to support JAXA’s future missions to the ISS, we’re underscoring our commitment to scientific advancement and the growth of the low-Earth orbit economy,” Sierra Space chief astronaut Tom Marshburn said in the release. “This contract reinforces Sierra Space’s reputation for delivering mission-critical, flight-proven systems that our partners can rely on. We’re committed to a diverse and reliable Space Tech product portfolio that helps shape the future of space infrastructure.”

Sector Law combines with Schauble Law Group

Sector Law, a Boulder-based law firm focusing on the nonprofit sector, has merged with Denver-based Schauble Law Group.

The combined firm will operate under the name Sector Law, “expanding its reach and capacity to serve charitable organizations, foundations, and mission-aligned enterprises with comprehensive legal counsel tailored to their evolving needs,” according to a press release.

“This isn’t just a merger, it’s a natural extension of years of mutual respect, aligned values, and a shared belief that exceptional legal support should be a catalyst for good,” Karen Schauble, founder of Schauble Law Group, said in a prepared statement.

Schauble Law Group (formerly Leaffer Law Group) provides legal services to nonprofit organizations and foundations. Sector Law was co-founded by Erik Estrada and Joshua Deal.

“With this merger, Sector Law expands its practice areas and strengthens its ability to pursue our shared mission with broader reach, deeper impact, and enduring resilience,” Deal said.

The newly expanded team also welcomes Jennifer Shook, a tax attorney, and Danny Hernández, the firm’s administrator and legal assistant.

“This merger enables us to scale our impact, grow our bench strength, and deliver even more thoughtful, strategic guidance to clients who are solving some of society’s most pressing challenges. Sector Law now stands as a leading law firm exclusively focused on the nonprofit and philanthropic sector, combining deep knowledge, collaborative spirit, and a resolute belief in the power of mission-driven work,“ Estrada said.

Arts groups in Boulder, Larimer counties win state grants

The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade’s Colorado Creative Industries Division recently awarded 25 Folk and Traditional Arts Project grants to 25 recipients, including several in Boulder and Larimer counties.

The local recipients of $3,000 in grant funding are:

In Boulder County: Firehouse Art Center for Mexican Artesania Artist Residency at the St. Vrain Valley School District; and Samba Colorado for “Viva La Salsa!,” a three-day cultural event and dance-theatre production in Boulder, celebrating Afro-Caribbean and Latin salsa music and dance traditions.

In Larimer County, a grant went to Arcinda for public performances of Javanese gamelan music, dance and puppetry.

“Folk and traditional arts are the conduit to the history and cultural identity of Colorado’s diverse communities. We are honored to support the artists and organizations who uphold their communities’ traditions and contribute to making art accessible to all,” CCI director Josh Blanchard said in a prepared statement.

Trader Joe’s grocery store opening next week in Westminster

Colorado’s newest Trader Joe’s will open July 25 in Westminster’s City Center Marketplace.

The Westminster Trader Joe’s location will be the first along the U.S. 36 corridor for the popular California-born grocery store chain founded in 1967. In Northern Colorado and the Boulder Valley, there are existing Trader Joe’s stores in Boulder and Fort Collins.

“This is not a drill, Westy! Our highly-anticipated Trader Joe’s store officially opens Friday, July 25! The community is invited to a grand opening celebration at 9 a.m. at the store in City Center Marketplace at 92nd Avenue and Sheridan Boulevard,” Westminster staff posted this week on the city’s Facebook page. “Help us welcome Trader Joe’s to our great city, and let the countdown begin!”

The city went public with Trader Joe’s plans to open up shop in Westminster last July, and initially projected a late 2025 opening.

The grocery store has taken over a previously vacant 25,000-square-foot space at 9350 Sheridan Blvd. between Golf Galaxy and Sierra Trading Post. The Westminster location will sell beer and wine, according to Trader Joe’s website.

— BizWest reports