Best Oil & Gas Upstream Companies in Colorado, United States
The 119 best Oil & Gas Upstream companies in Colorado, United States in 2026, ranked by funding and momentum. Funding, investors, founders, valuation, tech stack and live signals. Top: Resolute Energy.
Ranked: Best Oil & Gas Upstream companies in Colorado
| # | Company | Disclosed funding | Last round | Employees | Founded | Founder | Tech stack | Patents & IP focus | Recent signals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Resolute Energy Oil & natural gas production company | $2.9B | 98 mo ago | 128 | 2004 | Richard Betz COO & Executive Vice-President | — | — | — |
| 2 | FourPoint Energy Private oil and gas exploration and production company | $1.9B | 47 mo ago | 340 | 2013 | George Solich CEO & President | WordPressMySQLPHP+13 | — | — |
| 3 | Antero Resources Independent oil and gas exploration and production company | $1.6B | 225 mo ago | 586 586 → 636 (+9%) | 2002 | — | Apple iCloud MailBootstrapApache HTTP Server+10 | — | 2 awards |
| 4 | Northwoods Energy Supplier of high-quality timber products and building materials | $852M | 101 mo ago | 23 | 2018 | — | — | — | — |
| 5 | Caerus Oil and Gas Producer of sustainable, affordable natural gas | $735M | 107 mo ago | 288 | 2009 | David H Keyte Chairman & CEO | WordPressApple iCloud MailMySQL+16 | — | — |
| 6 | Jonah Energy Oil and gas exploration and production company | $600M | 104 mo ago | 166 166 → 236 (+42%) | 2014 | Tom Hart CEO | WordPressApple iCloud MailMySQL+16 | — | — |
| 7 | SRC Energy Oil & natural gas exploration and production company | $550M | 102 mo ago | 120 | 2008 | Lynn Peterson CEO & President | — | — | — |
| 8 | QEP Resources Designer and retailer of sustainable fine jewellery | $500M | 103 mo ago | 2 | 2010 | — | — | — | — |
| 9 | RimRock Oil & Gas Oil & gas exploration and production company | $500M | 123 mo ago | 19 | 2016 | James Fraser CEO & President | — | — | — |
| 10 | Hawkwood Energy Exploration and Production Company Focused in the Rockies and Mid-Continent regions | $499M | 137 mo ago | 46 | 2012 | — | — | — | — |
| 11 | Bonanza Creek Energy Producer of sustainable oil and natural gas | $465M | 90 mo ago | 125 | 1999 | — | — | — | — |
| 12 | Inflection Energy Developer of natural gas exploration and development projects | $386M | 140 mo ago | 32 | 2008 | Rodney Gray CEO | — | — | — |
| 13 | GMT Exploration Company Operator of oil and gas properties, pursuing joint ventures and acquisitions 7Funding top 26%Moat top 45%Tech bottom 36%Global bottom 32% All 7 signals ▾Fundingtop 26% Moattop 45% Techbottom 36% Globalbottom 32% Marketbottom 27% Patentsbottom 25% Innovationbottom 9% Funding: Raised $275M across 8 rounds · 8 rounds over 17 yrs (0.5/yr) Moat: Editorial + unicorn rating 4/10 · IP moat: 3 patents rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 7/100 | $275M | 1 mo ago | 15 | 1991 | — | WordPressMySQLPHP+14 | 3 patents Solvent-based enhanced hydrocarbon extraction from low-permeability reservoirs | — |
| 14 | BKV Producer of net-zero natural gas, pursuing carbon-neutral energy solutions. 69Funding top 20%Fin. health top 20%Tech top 31%Market top 40% All 12 signals ▾Fundingtop 20% Fin. healthtop 20% Techtop 31% Markettop 40% Growthtop 40% Partnerstop 40% Newstop 45% Talentbottom 49% Moatbottom 44% Patentsbottom 37% Globalbottom 33% Innovationbottom 28% Funding: Raised $250M across 3 rounds · 3 rounds over 6 yrs (0.5/yr) Fin. health: Revenue ~$377M (FY2025) · Net margin 11.7% rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 69/100 | $250M | 13 mo ago | 158 | 2015 | Christopher Kalnin Founder & CEO | Craft CMSPHPNode.js+22 | 2 patents Monitoring and verification technologies for carbon‑neutral gas distribution pipelines | — |
| 15 | Axia Energy II Energy company specializing in wellbore manufacturing and resource play development | $202M | 135 mo ago | — | 2009 | Adam Sayers President | — | — | — |
| 16 | Ursa Resources Group Provider of secure managed IT support and digital transformation services | $200M | 176 mo ago | 25 | 2011 | — | — | — | — |
| 17 | Extraction Oil & Gas Oil and gas exploration and production company | $197M | 101 mo ago | 125 | 2012 | — | — | — | — |
| 18 | Triangle Petroleum Corporation Exploration and development of unconventional oil and natural gas resources | $186M | 159 mo ago | 385 | 2003 | — | — | — | — |
| 19 | Arris Petroleum Manufacturer of insulation tape preventing air leaks and thermal bridging | $166M | 152 mo ago | 19 | 2013 | — | — | — | — |
| 20 | Bison Oil & Gas Oil and gas exploration and production company | $155M | 80 mo ago | 18 | 2015 | — | Cart FunctionalitySquarespace CommerceSquarespace+12 | — | — |
| 21 | Balidor Oil & Gas Oil and gas exploration and production company | $150M | 131 mo ago | — | 2015 | Dave Baker Co-Founder & CEO | — | — | — |
| 22 | Sundance Energy Independent oil & gas exploration and production company | $143M | 117 mo ago | 79 | 2005 | — | — | — | — |
| 23 | Liberty Resources Oil and gas company focused on acquisition and development of upstream assets | $125M | 104 mo ago | — | 2013 | Mark Pearson President & CEO | — | — | — |
| 24 | MECO IV Oil and gas acquisition, exploitation and exploration company | $105M | 93 mo ago | — | 2013 | Sam Winegrad Co-Founder | — | 84 patents Space‑saving collapsible furniture: folding chairs, desks, and stools for portable use. | — |
| 25 | Gasco Energy Provider of mineral rights management and consulting services | $98M | 191 mo ago | 14 | 1997 | — | — | — | — |
| 26 | T-Rex Oil Oil and gas exploration and production company | $71M | 82 mo ago | — | 2004 | Donald Walford CEO | — | — | — |
| 27 | Elk Petroleum Oil and gas company focusing on the development and production of long-lived reserves | $70M | 102 mo ago | 105 | 2005 | Alliance Bernstein Owner | — | — | — |
| 28 | lilis energy Lilis Energy, Inc. is a Denver-based independent oil and gas exploration and production company . | $61M | 87 mo ago | 43 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 29 | Laramie Energy Developer of unconventional oil and gas reserves | $55M | 126 mo ago | 72 | 2007 | — | WordPressApple iCloud MailMicrosoft 365+15 | — | — |
| 30 | Forest Oil Provider of storage solutions for liquid and bulk cargo | $36M | 172 mo ago | 605 | 1916 | Craig Clark CEO & President | — | — | — |
| 31 | Carbon Energy Corporation Developer of oil and natural gas resources in California | $30M | 179 mo ago | 41 | 2007 | Patrick McDonald CEO | — | — | — |
| 32 | Trinity Provider of oil & gas exploration and production services | $29M | 114 mo ago | 270 | 1996 | — | — | 29 patents Retail packaging and display hardware for loss prevention, coolers, workbenches, and lighting | — |
| 33 | Berco Resource Oil and Gas E&P Company | $25M | 326 mo ago | — | 1998 | — | — | — | — |
| 34 | Emerald Oil Upstream oil and gas company | $15M | 147 mo ago | 42 | 2000 | McAndrew Rudisill President & CEO | — | — | — |
| 35 | Kodiak Oil & Gas Corp Provider of a domain name marketplace facilitating sales | $14M | 179 mo ago | 312 | 2001 | Hakim Kouadri CEO | — | — | — |
| 36 | Iron-IQ Provider of oil and gas, water, and other industrial services | $6M | 51 mo ago | 17 | 2016 | Michael Ligrani CEO | — | 181 patents Automated indoor farming systems: plant handling, seed propagation, growth monitoring, nutrient delivery. | — |
| 37 | Escalera Resources Natural gas exploration and production company | $5M | 146 mo ago | 27 | 2014 | Charles Chambers Chairman & CEO | — | — | — |
| 38 | Foothills Exploration Oil and gas exploration and development, plus new energy ventures | $3M | 59 mo ago | 5 | 2015 | Bruno Allaire CEO | — | — | — |
| 39 | Laredo Oil Developer of enhanced oil recovery methods for mature oil fields | $2M | 20 mo ago | 10 | 2008 | Mark See Founder & CEO | — | — | — |
| 40 | Eon NRG Battery and precious metals exploration in Australia and Nevada | $1M | 117 mo ago | — | 2009 | John Whisler CEO | — | — | — |
| 41 | Three Crown Petroleum Oil and gas exploration and production company | $828K | 182 mo ago | — | 2005 | Howard Cooper Founder & CEO | — | — | — |
| 42 | Diversifed Resources Oil and gas exploration and production company | $650K | 132 mo ago | 5 | 2012 | Paul Laird Chairman & CEO | — | — | — |
| 43 | Faro Oil & Gas Developer of oil and gas production optimization solutions | $600K | 87 mo ago | — | 2018 | Randy Kenworthy CEO | — | — | — |
| 44 | Hoyt Royalty Operator of oil & gas management firm | $535K | 126 mo ago | — | 2010 | Hoyt Heirs Founder | — | — | — |
| 45 | Royalty Exploration Oil & gas production and exploration company | $217K | 159 mo ago | — | 2005 | Grant Tonkin Co-Founder | — | — | — |
| 46 | Pikes Peak Energy Oil and gas exploration company focused on sustainable resource development | $200K | 147 mo ago | — | 2014 | Donnie Wisenbaker CEO | — | — | — |
Top 12 Oil & Gas Upstream companies in Colorado
#1
Series F · Denver, Colorado · founded 1991 · 15 employees$274.5Mraised▾
Operator of oil and gas properties, pursuing joint ventures and acquisitions. This company engages in the generation, operation, and development of oil and natural gas properties. Its business strategy includes leveraging technical expertise, generating projects through an experienced team, and pursuing growth through exploration and development drilling. The company maintains financial flexibility through cash flow from properties, returns from sales, and asset-based borrowing.
- Apr 2026Series F$113.6M
- Feb 2024Series E$73.9M
- Mar 2023Series E$73.1M
- May 2016Series D$35M
#2
Public · Denver, Colorado · founded 2015 · 158 employees$250Mraised▾
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- May 2025Post IPO$48M
- Oct 2023Series D$150M
- Dec 2020Series C$100M
#3
Acquired · Greenwood Village, Colorado · founded 2013 · 340 employees$1.9Braised▾
Private oil and gas exploration and production company. This entity focuses on the acquisition, development, and operation of oil and gas assets. It actively seeks opportunities in various basins, employing a rigorous approach to geoscience and engineering to maximize resource extraction. The company's business model emphasizes technical excellence and business development expertise to build consolidated positions and execute profitable operations. A dedicated management team with extensive industry experience leads the company's efforts.
- Jul 2022Series D$5.7M
- Dec 2017PE$525M
- May 2016Series D$591.4M
- Jul 2015PE$619M
#4
Acquired · Denver, Colorado · founded 2004 · 128 employees$2.9Braised▾
Resolute is an oil & natural gas production company. Has a focus on technologies like fracturing and hrizontal drilling. Operational in around 21k acre area in Delaware and Permian basins in USA, as of Feb'18.
- Apr 2018Conventional Debt$75M
- Jan 2017Conventional Debt$800M
- Jan 2017Conventional Debt$1.5B
- Dec 2016Post IPO$166M
#5
Public · Denver, Colorado · founded 2002 · 586 employees$1.6Braised▾
In 2022, the company recorded annual revenues of $8.24B and a net profit of $2.27B.
- Sep 2007Series B$30M
- May 2004Series B$15M
- Feb 2003Series A$26.8M
#6
Acquired · Denver, Colorado · founded 2018 · 23 employees$851.7Mraised▾
Supplier of high-quality timber products and building materials. This company offers a diverse selection of wood products for construction and renovation projects. Their offerings include lumber, pressure-treated timber, OSB, cladding, profiled timber, and firewood. They provide timely delivery services. The company emphasizes the quality and durability of its wood products, ensuring customer satisfaction.
- Jan 2018PE$851.7M
#7
Acquired · Denver, Colorado · founded 1999 · 125 employees$465Mraised▾
Producer of sustainable oil and natural gas. It focuses on responsible operations, prioritizing safety, innovation, and community engagement. The company aims to meet global energy demands while minimizing environmental impact through emission reduction strategies and partnerships with local communities. Its business model emphasizes long-term sustainability and efficient asset development. It strives to provide reliable and affordable energy.
- Dec 2018Conventional Debt$750M
- Apr 2017Series D$200M
- Apr 2013Conventional Debt$300M
- Jan 2011Series D$265M
#8
Acquired · Denver, Colorado · founded 2009 · 288 employees$735Mraised▾
Producer of sustainable, affordable natural gas. This company focuses on the acquisition, development, and production of natural gas assets. It employs conventional investment strategies to acquire and develop these assets, aiming for efficient and scalable operations. The company prioritizes safety and environmental stewardship in all aspects of its operations. Its business model includes a comprehensive development program, field optimization to increase production and lower costs, and limited exploration activities to expand reserves. The company also owns significant gas gathering and water infrastructure assets, providing services to itself and third-party producers.
- Jul 2017Conventional Debt$735M
#9
Public · Golden, Colorado · founded 2008 · 10 employees$1.6Mraised▾
Developer of enhanced oil recovery methods for mature oil fields. It focuses on acquiring and developing these fields, employing a proprietary method to extract previously unrecoverable oil reserves. This approach aims to increase production rates profitably by utilizing cost-effective techniques compared to other enhanced oil recovery methods. The company's strategy centers on value creation, growth, and generating free cash flow.
- Oct 2024Post IPO$750K
- Jul 2010Post IPO$500K
- Jun 2010Post IPO$300K
#10
Funding Raised · Denver, Colorado · founded 2014 · 166 employees$600Mraised▾
Oil and gas exploration and production company. It acquires and operates producing oil and gas properties. The company focuses on minimizing production decline and reducing operating costs through efficiency and innovation, while prioritizing safety and environmental performance. It implements new technologies to reduce environmental impact, particularly methane emissions. Collaboration with industry partners is a key element of its strategy for achieving sustainability goals. The company pursues growth through strategic acquisitions and development of existing assets.
- Oct 2017Conventional Debt$600M
#11
Acquired · Denver, Colorado · founded 2008 · 120 employees$550Mraised▾
SRC Energy is an oil & natural gas exploration and production company. Uses techniques like horizontal drilling and fracturing for enhanced hydrocarbon recovery. Has around 200 operational wells with 45k+ Boe/d production, as of Dec'17. Operational in Denver-Julesburg Basin in Colorado and Wyoming, as of Apr'18.
- Nov 2017Conventional Debt$550M
#12
Series D · Denver, Colorado · founded 2008 · 32 employees$386.2Mraised▾
Developer of natural gas exploration and development projects. It focuses on the exploration and development of natural gas opportunities. The company prioritizes environmentally responsible operations and maintains strong relationships with landowners and communities. Development of natural resources is conducted efficiently and in an orderly manner.
- Oct 2014Series D$225M
- Apr 2014Series C$35M
- Jun 2013Series C$103.8M
- Jun 2012Series B$22M
Funding & investor landscape
Notable founders
Market landscape — 10 sub-themes by coverage
Share of Oil & Gas Upstream coverage by sub-theme.
Regulatory-risk over time rising
Funding & growth over time
funding rising · growth rising
Common questions
Riya reads income statements for fun. She covers the real money in a sector — revenue, growth, who actually earns — and never met a vague claim she didn't want a number for.