Canadian firm acquires LiDAR company 3D at Depth

3D at Depth Inc., a Longmont company that develops underwater laser measurement technology, will soon be acquired by Canadian firm Kraken Robotics Inc., in a deal worth about $17 million.

The acquisition of 3D at Depth, which employs 56 people and specializes in light detection and ranging, or LiDAR technology, is expected to close in April.

Kraken develops subsea sensors, batteries, and robotic systems.

“The acquisition of 3D at Depth builds upon Kraken’s expertise in subsea optical systems, developed through our SeaVision product line, and significantly expands our subsea service offering by adding high-value, high-margin solutions that feature differentiated capabilities,” Kraken CEO Greg Reid said in a prepared statement.

University of Colorado, Boulder Chamber partner on grad hiring

The University of Colorado Boulder and the Boulder Chamber are partnering to launch Boulder Hires Buffs, a program to connect students and soon-to-be graduates directly with local employers.

The pilot kicked off Thursday with a job fair to facilitate in-person networking with 13 local employers that have entry-level positions that require college degrees.

For more information, visit the Boulder Hires Buffs website.

“Boulder is at the forefront of groundbreaking industries like AI and biotech, industries that are shaping our economic future,” Joe Hovancak, vice president of economic vitality at the Boulder Chamber, said in the release. “For these sectors and our broader business community to thrive, they need a strong pipeline of skilled talent. This program is designed to bridge that gap, directly connecting businesses and nonprofits with the next generation of graduates ready to drive innovation and growth.”

NASA missions with Boulder Valley connections launch from California

NASA’s SPHEREx astrophysics observatory mission launched Wednesday from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California aboard a rocket that also carried satellites for the agency’s PUNCH mission.

Both PUNCH, or Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere, and SPHEREx, short for Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explore, have connections to the Boulder Valley.

SPHEREx, which will produce four complete all-sky maps during its two-year mission to study the nature of physics that drove cosmic inflation in the early universe, was designed by Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., the former aerospace arm of Westminster-based metal-packaging manufacturer Ball Corp. (NYSE: BLL) that was sold to British defense contractor BAE Systems PLC last year. BAE then built the spacecraft and telescope after taking over Ball’s space business.

A Boulder-based team with the Southwest Research Institute is leading the PUNCH mission, which seeks to study solar wind.

“Everything in NASA science is interconnected, and sending both SPHEREx and PUNCH up on a single rocket doubles the opportunities to do incredible science in space,” NASA associate administrator Nicky Fox said in a prepared statement.

Price increase fuels fourth-quarter revenue boost for Gaia

Gaia Inc. (Nasdaq: GAIA) posted double-digit year-over-year revenue growth in the fourth quarter of 2024, driven in part by an increase in the streaming video provider’s subscription rates.

Sales in the most recent quarter were $24.4 million, up 18% from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. Gaia reduced its net loss from $1.8 million to $800,000 over that period.

“As planned, we have delivered positive free cash flow for both Q4 and the full year,” Gaia chairman Jirka Rysavy said in a prepared statement. “Our price increase during (the) second part of the year has already shown positive revenue impact with 18% revenue growth in the quarter. The price increase combined with investments in content, AI and community, shall further improve Gaia’s position.”

Gaia’s membership “increased during the year, growing sequentially during the fourth quarter, regardless of some member losses due to the price increase, with the member count ending at 856,000 up from 806,000 on Dec. 31, 2023,” the company said.

— BizWest reports