ReadWriteStart

Sure, it may be obvious to point out that location-based services (LBS) are growing in popularity and may be a great gravy train for young entrepreneurs to hop on, but the recent evolution of the platform has broadened the opportunities for startups. With the opening of Google Latitude's API earlier this week and other developments in the mobile space in recent months, the number of niches for startups to fill is quickly expanding.

Back-end geolocation data providers SimpleGeo announced today that it has raised over $8 million in Series A funding. Included among the investors is Redpoint Ventures, First Round Capital and Foundry Group, which like SimpleGeo, is located in Boulder, Colorado. While the news of the funding is certainly interesting, the more fascinating story about SimpleGeo is how the company got to where it is today.

Last week during my stint at Boulder Startup Week, Occipital co-founder Vikas Reddy was gracious enough to let me stay with him rather than in a hotel. Oddly enough it wasn't until one of the late night mixers a few days into the event that I got a chance to talk with Reddy about Occipital and the company's history and evolution. As it turns out, barcode scanning, which the company is now well known for with its RedLaser application, was not their original plan, but rather a pivot made to take the company in a more profitable direction.

With the 2010 ReadWriteWeb Mobile Summit just a few short days away we are working this week to put the finishing touches on the event. One thing we are really excited to include in this summit is the opportunity for innovative startups in the mobile space to show-off their products to our growing list of mobile experts and enthusiasts that plan on attending. This Friday at the Mobile Summit in Mountain View, California, we will be hosting a "speed geeking" session that will allow companies to present their products to as many people as possible, but we need your suggestions on who to invite!