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Doing Things Differently: How Jonathan Wies Built MyMech

Colton Sontrop — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 11:30:00 +0000

Doing Things Differently: How Jonathan Wies Built MyMech Colton Sontrop Thu, 09/25/2025 - 05:30

Colton Sontrop

Have you ever taken your car in for repair, only for the problem to persist?

That’s exactly what happened to Jonathan Wies’ business partner, Gwendolyn (Gwen) King, co-founder of MyMech. Many people encounter problems like these and are taken advantage of by the automotive mechanical industry.

Jonathan's journey as a founder began at the ��ɫ��Ƶ, where he immersed himself in the entrepreneurial ecosystem that CU has become known for. With a background in Political Science along with experience in Sales and Marketing, Jonathan has channeled those experiences into MyMech, a company reimagining car maintenance for the everyday driver. Based in Boulder, MyMech is striving to keep people safer on the road through Artificial Intelligence, along with diagnostics specific to your vehicle.

Many car owners throughout the nation become frustrated with current solutions and the ever-increasing costs of repair. MyMech is here to fix that. Through its many features, including a plug-in OBDII sensor to decode an engine’s problems, an AI assistant to interpret those codes, or a forum connecting with experienced mechanics, MyMech successfully simplifies what is potentially an extremely stressful situation.

For Jonathan, MyMech represents a chance to apply his entrepreneurial mindset to a relatable problem, reflecting the same spirit that carried him through his years at CU.

Diagnosing Cars the Smarter Way

From the moment Gwen experienced her problem, the duo acted on it - not leaving it at frustration but turning it into inspiration. So, they built a digital mechanic that puts knowledge in the hands of car owners, allowing them to avoid being blindsided by unexpected repairs or unsafe conditions. From there, Jonathan and his team began building MyMech’s AI-driven platform.

In practice, MyMech functions as both hardware and software, but its real breakthrough is Mira, the AI brain behind the platform. Mira can work with an OBDII sensor, as well as the camera and microphone on your phone, to pick up sounds or spot issues under the hood. From there, it translates what it sees and hears into plain language, pointing out possible wear and tear and offering guidance for the next step. The experience is designed to give drivers the kind of clarity and confidence that usually comes only from a trusted mechanic, turning confusion into a plan of action.

This ability to turn problems into solutions didn’t come out of nowhere. At ��ɫ��Ƶ, Jonathan was heavily involved in programs that encouraged him to think like an entrepreneur. He participated in programs like Entrepreneurship and Empowerment in South Africa (EESA), Techstars (including recent events like Foundercon), and the Deming Center’s resources. All of these experiences built on one another, building his technical skills and reinforcing his entrepreneurial mindset, heavily contributing to the creation of his venture and experiences as a student.

Jonathan’s company reflects those lessons. The adaptability of the AI engine mirrors the adaptable mindset he adopted as a student, and his ability to take a real-world challenge and transform it into something valuable. Whether he’s in the classroom, in a rigorous program, or exercising his ability to create, Jonathan is always thinking differently.

Getting Ready for Launch

MyMech has moved past the early idea stage and is now positioning itself for growth. The technology is functional, the platform is built, and the team is aligned around a clear mission. Now, the focus turns to scaling, a challenge that requires the right kind of funding. Jonathan and his team are actively seeking investors who understand both the automotive and AI spaces and who are willing to support the vision of making car care more transparent and safe.

The timing is particularly important. With beta testing and market entry coming up, investment will fuel everything from marketing efforts to partnerships with parts suppliers and repair shops. Jonathan recognizes that the right funding will not only allow MyMech to scale but also accelerate the development of new features that strengthen the platform’s usefulness.

Still, he approaches fundraising with patience. While securing capital is a high priority, it’s also about finding investors whose values and goals align with the company’s. MyMech is built on solving a universal problem, and Jonathan knows the partners they bring on now will shape how far and fast the company can grow. For him, this moment represents both validation of the idea and the beginning of a larger journey.

Looking ahead, MyMech’s roadmap is ambitious. Beta testing is set for late 2025, with plans to expand sales and marketing across multiple states in 2026. To help them reach their goals, they are wisely using consumer and public opinion. Through their interest form and i nput survey (open to anyone to fill out), MyMech is methodically improving their product through the opinions that matter most. With each milestone, the company comes closer to fulfilling its vision of revolutionizing car maintenance.

Seeing the World Differently

What stands out most about Jonathan isn’t just the technology but the mindset driving it. He is deeply passionate about his company, and when he demonstrates the MyMech AI in action, that passion shines through. It’s an invitation to see how a simple idea, executed with creativity and persistence, can make a meaningful difference in lives.

Throughout his life, Jonathan has always had an entrepreneurial spirit. For as long as he remembers, he’s done things a little off the beaten path, finding creative solutions where others might only see problems. That mindset helped him through entrepreneurial programs, carried him into founding MyMech, guiding him as he steers the company toward growth, and has become an everyday part of his life that makes his story so interesting.

“I’ve always been this… can we do it better? This seems to be more effective... I see the opportunity and ask, how do we make it better?”

Jonathan is all about community, understanding CU’s ecosystem and how it supports its community. He’s built MyMech around that mindset, finding the right entrepreneurs with the right resources. His outlook is practical yet optimistic, knowing that building a company is filled with challenges, but he treats those obstacles as opportunities to test and refine his approach.

At the heart of it all, Jonathan Wies is a founder and a problem solver who thrives on rethinking the ordinary. MyMech is proof of that mindset in action. As the company continues to expand, his story is a reminder that entrepreneurship is about patience and building something methodically and with persistence.

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Boulder Climate Ventures’ Newest Addition: Meet Trent Yang

Colton Sontrop — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 11:30:00 +0000

Boulder Climate Ventures’ Newest Addition: Meet Trent Yang Colton Sontrop Thu, 09/18/2025 - 05:30

Colton Sontrop

A Career Defined by Sustainability

Trent Yang’s journey has taken him from Boulder to MIT and back, with stops in consulting, venture capital, and entrepreneurship along the way. Growing up in Boulder, he pursued aerospace engineering at CU before heading to MIT for graduate school. It was there that he first immersed himself in climate and sustainability, pivoting into work that blended technology, economics, and environmental impact. Since then, his career has been shaped by building and scaling ventures that address climate challenges.

For nearly two decades, Trent has focused on entrepreneurship and investment in climate tech and sustainability. From founding his first company, Clean Membranes, to raising hundreds of millions at Galway Sustainable Capital, he’s consistently been a big face of climate solutions. His professional track record reflects his entrepreneurial drive and ability to mobilize capital and partnerships to bring ideas to life.

What makes his story especially compelling is that it circles back to Boulder. After years in high-stakes roles on the East Coast and beyond, he chose to return to Colorado and contribute to CU and the local ecosystem. It’s fitting for someone who's rooted in the community and whose career has been defined by turning vision into action.

Now, Trent is joining Boulder Climate Ventures (BCV), a new program led by the Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility (CESR) and the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship, and made possible through a gift from Breakthrough Energy, Bill Gates’ global initiative on climate change. BCV is part of Breakthrough Energy’s University Climate Ventures program, which also supports programs at Stanford, MIT, Technical University of Munich and Nanyang University in Singapore. This opportunity combines all of Trent's past experiences and allows him to blend his entrepreneurial background with his passion for mentoring the next generation of climate innovators.

An Early Blueprint for BCV

Entrepreneurship has been the common thread through much of Trent’s career. After cutting his teeth in consulting and clean tech venture investing, he caught the entrepreneurial bug and began building companies of his own. In 2008, he spun out technology from MIT to launch Clean Membranes, a company that tackled water and filtration challenges. That step set him firmly on the path of founder and innovator, and led him into the world of climate.

His entrepreneurial mindset carried with him when he returned to Boulder in 2009. He built a public-private partnership that pulled in funding from the Department of Energy and the Department of Labor, along with 17 other companies. This program focused on clean tech commercialization and was, in many ways, an early version of what BCV is today.

Over the years, Trent expanded his impact by leading sustainability investment platforms at AMG National Trust before launching Galway Sustainable Capital. At Galway, he and his team raised just under $700 million in four years to support climate tech deployment. This massive achievement reinforced his reputation as someone who not only understands entrepreneurship but also the capital structures needed to support it. He has consistently seen the university as a hub of entrepreneurial energy, and his relationship with Deming helped cement his belief in Boulder’s potential as a leader in climate innovation.

Coming Home to Build the Future

With Boulder Climate Ventures, Trent is officially returning to CU. BCV is modeled after successful programs at MIT and Stanford, both of which have spun out dozens of companies and attracted billions in funding. Considering CU was chosen as the first public university to receive Breakthrough Energy’s support speaks volumes about the strength of the Boulder ecosystem and its alignment with global climate priorities.

For Trent, the role is personal. He views BCV as a chance to give back to his alma mater while helping to put CU on par with the top innovation ecosystems in the country. His excitement lies not only in creating new companies but also in preparing students to thrive in the climate space. He sees BCV as an opportunity to build an extensive program, helping CU students understand what it takes to succeed in entrepreneurship while tackling society’s most pressing challenges.

“For me, it’s really coming back to my alma mater and helping to build an ecosystem and build a program that can have a lasting impact.”

His perspective is shaped by his earlier experience in 2009. At the time, it served as an unofficial version of BCV, pulling together people from many places to bring technologies out of the lab and into the market. Now, with formal support and funding, BCV has the chance to scale that idea in ways not possible before.

Beyond CU, Trent is energized by Boulder’s broader entrepreneurial community. With research powerhouses like NREL and NCAR nearby, and with a culture that values sustainability, he believes the city has all the right ingredients. Through BCV, he hopes to engage investors and companies early to create an ecosystem that fuels innovation.

Striving to Create Change

Looking ahead, Trent is poised to play a central role in an important addition to CU’s entrepreneurial landscape. The program builds on the community’s history of collaboration and positions CU to be a national leader in climate innovation. For Trent, this moment represents both a continuation and a new chapter. BCV serves as another chance to identify gaps in the entrepreneurial world and find creative ways to fill them.

“Boulder Climate Ventures will hopefully be another stake in the ground in terms of what we’re able to do and create going forward.”

Trent brings a thoughtful perspective on entrepreneurship to his new role. To him, it’s about agency—the vision and tenacity to create change, even in the face of uncertainty. That perspective, coming from decades of experience, is what he hopes to pass along to CU students.

As BCV launches, the excitement is clear. The program not only strengthens CU’s reputation but also reflects the growing momentum in Boulder’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. With leaders like Trent guiding the way, the future of climate entrepreneurship at CU looks brighter than ever.

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Chasing Powder, Building a Business

Colton Sontrop — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 11:30:00 +0000

Chasing Powder, Building a Business Colton Sontrop Thu, 09/11/2025 - 05:30

Colton Sontrop

A Dream Come True

Many kids dream about being astronauts or firefighters. Others have great passions for particular things, which was the case for Joel Gratz. From a young age, he was captivated by snowstorms and the science that explained them. By elementary school, he was already telling people he wanted to be a meteorologist, a dream that would never waver as he grew up. That combination of passion and focus would eventually shape his life.

After earning a degree in meteorology at Penn State, Joel came to ��ɫ��Ƶ to pursue a dual MBA and master’s in Environmental Studies. The move reflected his desire not only to understand weather at a deeper scientific level but also to connect it to the world of business and real-world applications. While many of his classmates had professional experience, Joel was eager to learn by doing, and CU gave him the space to explore both sides of his interests.

His early career took him into the insurance industry, where he worked on hurricane and earthquake risk modeling. On paper, it was the perfect intersection of his skills: science, data, and business, but in reality, it didn’t completely scratch the itch that had been with him since childhood. Joel still spent evenings and weekends glued to weather models, trying to figure out where he and his friends could find the best skiing conditions. This personal dilemma turned into his career.

His fun experiment on the side soon revealed something bigger, and Joel had stumbled on a problem that a lot of people cared about. Forecasting snow was tricky, but when he got it right, his friends were thrilled. The joy he experienced from it reinforced his curiosity and gave him the first glimpse that this passion could be more than just a hobby.

That Contagious Feeling

For Joel, skiing was the center of his life. Powder days carried an emotional weight that he describes as the cornerstone of OpenSnow’s growth. When he nailed a forecast and his friends caught an unforgettable day on the mountain, the excitement was contagious. He quickly realized that it was more than just about snow itself; it was about creating shared memories. That spark would ultimately fuel a career.

He began small, writing forecasts just for his circle of friends. At first, he was wrong more often than not, and his friends didn’t hesitate to poke fun at his missed calls. But with each mistake came a lesson, and with each lesson his predictions improved. As his accuracy grew, so did his confidence, and he expanded beyond emails to a blog. Before long, he had a modest but loyal following of skiers who relied on his daily insights.

Joel’s audience gave him the courage to think bigger. A few years after completing his graduate degree, he quit his job and decided to see if he could make forecasting snow a full-time career, a leap many entrepreneurs dream about. With advertisers showing interest and a growing subscriber base, he launched OpenSnow, a platform designed to give skiers the tools they needed to chase the best conditions.

Today, OpenSnow is a global business that reaches far beyond Joel’s original email list. With apps on iOS and Android, as well as a web platform, the company delivers forecasts and detailed snow reports. And while the platform has scaled far beyond its humble beginnings, Joel’s original mission to help people experience the magic of powder days hasn’t changed.

Boulder: A Career Booster

Joel’s time at ��ɫ��Ƶ played a critical role in shaping his path. Programs like the Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC) gave him a crash course in analyzing business ideas and learning how to think critically about which ones truly made sense. At first, everything looked exciting on paper, but over time, he built the confidence to spot flaws and evaluate ideas more realistically. That skill set would later serve him well when making decisions for OpenSnow.

An entrepreneurship class with Erick Mueller further grounded him in the realities of building a business. Unlike the glamorous image of startups often portrayed, this course emphasized the everyday responsibilities of things like opening a bank account, filing paperwork, setting up bookkeeping, and handling customer emails. Joel appreciated this, as it reminded him that entrepreneurship is just as much about the basics as it is about strategy. These lessons helped him understand what it would take to transition his blog into a functioning business.

Beyond academics, Boulder’s entrepreneurial community gave Joel a support system. By attending events like Techstars and Boulder Open Coffee, he immersed himself in a culture of sharing and collaboration. The collective knowledge he absorbed complemented his MBA work. It wasn’t any single experience that set him up for success, but the combination of all of them working together.

"None of them were the exact right ingredient to make all this work, but all of them working together were really helpful.”

Even with this foundation, building OpenSnow was a long and deliberate process. Joel describes the company’s growth as a series of slow inflection points rather than rapid leaps. The first came when he admitted he couldn’t do everything alone and brought someone on board to handle advertising sales. That move added professionalism and unlocked new revenue. Another turning point was when he introduced subscriptions, a bold step at the time. Charging users directly felt risky, but it gave the company control over its revenue stream and reinforced the value of the product.

Years later, another pivotal moment came when advisors encouraged Joel to put more of OpenSnow’s core features behind the paywall. At first, subscriptions only covered “nice-to-have” extras, but eventually, Joel had the confidence to ask users to pay for the full product. That shift transformed the company, and with each deliberate decision, OpenSnow became stronger.

Through it all, patience has been Joel’s constant companion. He laughs about moving at the “speed of molasses,” but he knows it’s always in the right direction. Building OpenSnow wasn’t about rushing to the next big thing; instead, it was about trusting that slow, steady progress would add up.

Patience is Key

Looking back, Joel’s journey reads like the perfect arc: a snow-obsessed kid becomes a meteorologist, sharpens his skills at CU, and builds a business that helps skiers around the world. But the reality is that it wasn’t an overnight success. OpenSnow’s growth came from years of hard work with a willingness to keep pushing even when the path forward wasn’t clear.

His story is a reminder that passion alone isn’t enough, but it has to be paired with persistence. Joel's ability to consistently do so well for 15 years is what turned OpenSnow into more than a blog. It became a business because he treated it as a long-term commitment rather than a quick experiment.

Joel believes that entrepreneurship is about making it happen, whatever it is. To him, it doesn’t matter if it’s a tech startup, a restaurant, or a side project. What matters is having the conviction to take an idea and bring it into the world in your own way.

“You better really care about the thing you’re gonna do, because this is not a 9-to-5 job. This is your entire life, so you better love it, or you’re probably just not going to stick through it.”

Joel’s success comes from passion and persistence. He chased powder days not just for himself but for a community of skiers who share the same thrill. In doing so, he built something lasting. He demonstrates that when you follow what excites you and keep moving forward, you can carve a path that’s uniquely your own.

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Beyond Comfort Zones: How Lang Mei Built a Global Life

Colton Sontrop — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 11:30:00 +0000

Beyond Comfort Zones: How Lang Mei Built a Global Life Colton Sontrop Thu, 09/04/2025 - 05:30

Colton Sontrop

A Global Journey Begins

Not many 18-year-olds choose to move across the world.

But that’s exactly what Lang Mei did.

Lang has always had a daring and adventurous mindset, willing to adapt to whatever situation is presented to him. His story begins in China, where he grew up before making a bold decision to move to the United States. He didn’t take the easier route of joining the many Chinese students in California. Instead, he chose Colorado, where he would be forced to adapt quickly and immerse himself in a new culture. By doing this, it also forced him to speak strictly English. That willingness to challenge himself has defined his life and career ever since.

At ��ɫ��Ƶ, Lang found the perfect launchpad for his ambitions. He loved the city from the moment he visited. He was drawn by its entrepreneurial energy, the presence of Techstars, and the collaborative vibe that blended “a little bit hippie, but entrepreneurial.” His time at CU not only gave him a world-class education, but it also marked the beginning of a journey that would eventually take him across four continents and into multiple startup ventures.

Even beyond academics and startups, Lang’s path has always been about exploration. He studied abroad in Paris, spent time living in Turkey, and traveled extensively through South America. These experiences deepened his perspective and shaped how he approaches problems. His international chapters added layers to his story, reinforcing his identity as a global citizen who thrives on connecting across cultures. Today, Lang is a global traveler and entrepreneur. He continues to mentor founders and invest in startups, all while staying true to the adventurous mindset that brought him to Boulder in the first place.

An Inclusive Ecosystem for Entrepreneurs

Lang’s move to Colorado wasn’t just about geography, but also transformation. Coming from China, he wanted an environment where he couldn’t fall back on the comfort of speaking his native language. California would’ve had familiarities - culture and language-wise - but he deliberately chose differently. Colorado, on the other hand, would push him to embrace English and American culture.

“If I went to California, I would've been speaking Chinese to other Chinese students. I also needed to learn American culture, so Colorado seemed to be a very good place to start.”

At first, Lang enrolled in a language program at the University of Denver, but he quickly realized ��ɫ��Ƶ was where he belonged. The combination of the town’s vibrant startup scene, the supportive environment on campus, and the proximity to the engineering school made the transition feel right. As he shared, Boulder was far more approachable than trying to break into San Francisco or New York with no resources at 19 or 20 years old.

As a foreign student and someone eager to try new things, Lang describes CU as a place that welcomed him fully. That inclusivity gave him the confidence to pursue his ambitions, knowing he had support behind him. It also provided the ecosystem that jump-started his entrepreneurial journey, including mentorship, resources, and the comfort of knowing it's good to learn from mistakes.

Programs, Pitches, and Prototypes

Lang wasted no time making the most of CU’s programs. He took hardware classes in the BTU Lab, which gave him hands-on technical skills and a deeper understanding of how software, hardware, and firmware interact. This knowledge enabled him to work with engineers and even build prototypes for his company. He credits his former professor, Alicia Gibb Seidle, and his peers for learning from it, as well as helping him establish the foundation to bridge business with technology. He also credits Leeds professors for helping him through his journey, particularly Don Oest, who gave him the confidence and support to kickstart his career.

Outside of the classroom, he immersed himself in the New Venture Challenge. It was here that Lang sharpened his public speaking and pitching abilities, skills he admits were a major hurdle at first. English was still new to him, and presenting in front of judges felt daunting, but CU provided the stage to grow. After countless pitches, he became a polished speaker, learning not only how to communicate his ideas clearly but also how to listen and connect with his audience.

Lang also spent time at Spark Boulder, where he found a community of like-minded peers. Meeting entrepreneurs outside his classes opened him to diverse ideas and skills, teaching him that building a startup requires perspectives far beyond a single major or background. These programs didn’t just build his confidence; they gave him teammates, mentors, and opportunities that would lead to his first venture.

His company, Informu, was born from a painful moment. During a study abroad trip to Paris, his backpack was stolen, with his laptop and passport inside. Determined to create a solution, he began developing a smart tracking device that would alert users if they left their belongings behind. With the support of CU’s ecosystem, he and his co-founders launched Informu through crowdfunding, raising $250,000 on Kickstarter and Indiegogo. Their work eventually caught the attention of Apple, which acquired one of their patents and integrated the technology into what would become Apple AirTag.

Lang’s entrepreneurial career didn’t stop there. He later took on leadership roles in the crypto world, helping scale a blockchain company to a $125 million market cap. Today, he continues to explore opportunities as both a founder and investor, while traveling the world and mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs.

What It Means to Build Beyond Borders

For Lang, the beauty of entrepreneurship lies in figuring out a path forward despite limited resources, whether it’s a lack of funding, connections, or experience. Those constraints force entrepreneurs to innovate and build what people truly need.

“Without constraint, there is no creativity. The critique comes from the constraint.”

That perspective is more than just theory; it’s the story of his own life. From a daring decision when he was 18 to a stolen backpack in Paris, Lang has repeatedly taken challenges and turned them into platforms for growth. Each constraint became a stepping stone toward new ideas and ventures. His journey is proof that the most powerful innovations often come not from abundance, but from scarcity.

Lang’s story shows what’s possible when you embrace discomfort and trust the process. From Boulder to Buenos Aires, he has built a life around curiosity and adaptability. His advice to future entrepreneurs is to embrace challenges, because they are the very conditions that allow creativity and opportunity to flourish.

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Every Step Counts: Cory Finney on Turning Experiences into Impact

Colton Sontrop — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 11:30:00 +0000

Every Step Counts: Cory Finney on Turning Experiences into Impact Colton Sontrop Thu, 08/28/2025 - 05:30

Colton Sontrop

When the Game Ends, Another Begins

Cory Finney’s story begins in the mountain town of Durango, where his upbringing shaped not only his love for the outdoors but also his deep sense of community. As a sixth-generation Coloradan, Cory grew up immersed in a small-town environment that valued resilience, resourcefulness, and hard work. For much of his early life, baseball was at the center. He poured his energy into the sport, with dreams of competing at the college level.

However, that dream came to a sudden halt when he broke his wrist before his senior year of high school. For many, such an injury could have felt like the end of the road. But Cory now sees it as a gateway into other opportunities. It closed one chapter and opened another, giving him the chance to reimagine his future beyond the baseball field. Without the weight of pursuing athletics, he leaned fully into academics and personal growth. He first spent a year at San Diego State before realizing his heart belonged in Colorado. The mountains called him back, and he transferred to the ��ɫ��Ƶ, where his true entrepreneurial journey began.

For Cory, all of this would become important to his career. The switch from athlete to student, to now entrepreneur, opened doors he never would’ve envisioned. His entrepreneurship journey is filled with experience. From co-founding TedxCU - now the largest run student Tedx event - to being a partner at Greater Colorado Venture Fund, his adventure reflects a culmination of events in his life.

The Launch Pad for Entrepreneurship

At ��ɫ��Ƶ, Cory studied finance while also diving into every entrepreneurial resource the school had to offer. He earned a Certificate in Entrepreneurial Studies, a program that pushed him to think creatively about business ideas and sharpen his ability to turn concepts into reality. He also participated in the London Finance Seminar, which exposed him to the global financial system and introduced him to venture capital, which became a discovery that would later define his career path.

Beyond the classroom, Cory found himself at the center of CU’s growing entrepreneurship ecosystem. Programs like the New Venture Challenge and Silicon Flatirons, ran by Brad Bernthal, gave him the chance to test his ideas, build networks, and gain hands-on experience. Cory describes these programs with Brad as some of the most pivotal moments of not only his time at CU, but his entire life, mentioning how it laid the groundwork for everything up to today. The Deming Center for Entrepreneurship, most notably Erick Mueller, also provided support and mentorship in important moments, offering guidance from faculty and alumni who believed in his potential.

Mentorship, in particular, became a cornerstone of Cory’s CU experience. He participated in the Young Alumni Mentors Program, first as a mentee and later as a mentor himself. The relationships he built through that program created a lifelong network of peers and friends, many of whom continue to collaborate with him today. To this day, Cory still mentors students through CU’s Professional Mentorship Program, seeing it as a way to give back to the community that helped launch his own journey.

“I feel very appreciative for all the support and help that I got from the CU ecosystem, and so the smallest thing I can do is to put some energy back into that network.”

��ɫ��Ƶ wasn’t just a stop on Cory’s educational path, but it was the launching pad for his entrepreneurial career. It was there that he first learned how to transform ambition into action, and how to lean on a community of innovators for support.

Venture Capital with a Local Heart

Cory’s professional path reflects a theme of building ventures that connect people and ideas. His first major leap came during college with SnowGate, an automated ski rack and locker company. What started as a business plan project for his entrepreneurship certificate grew into a real venture he chose to pursue instead of a traditional job after graduation. SnowGate ran for three years and ultimately achieved a small exit, giving Cory his first taste of startup life.

From there, he launched a consulting company for startups, helping young businesses navigate finance and fundraising. That experience led him to Boomtown Accelerator in Boulder, where he served as Entrepreneur in Residence. In just three years, Cory worked directly with 45 different companies, sharpening his skills as both a mentor and a financial strategist. It was at Boomtown that he realized his passion for venture capital, helping startups secure the funding they needed to grow.

Cory went on to co-found Kokopelli Capital, the Rocky Mountain region’s first pre-seed fund. Alongside his partners Fletcher Richman and Jamie Finney, he invested in dozens of early-stage companies and deepened his understanding of what it means to support entrepreneurs at the most fragile stages of their journey. During this same period, the three also launched TEDxCU. A community-building project between students and Boulder entrepreneurs has become a cornerstone event that continues to inspire thousands each year.

Today, Cory is Managing Partner at the Greater Colorado Venture Fund. Greater Colorado Venture Fund is a venture fund dedicated exclusively to rural Colorado. For Cory, the role feels like a perfect blend of his upbringing in Durango, his entrepreneurial background, and his deep commitment to activating untapped potential across the state. With more than 50 investments already made in rural communities, the fund demonstrates his belief that innovation isn’t confined to major cities - it thrives wherever people build.

Resilience as a Way of Life

Cory reflects on entrepreneurship overall as both his lived experience and his philosophy as an investor. To him, entrepreneurship isn’t only about ideas, but rather how you execute on them. Whether it’s a lemonade stand or a venture-backed startup, entrepreneurship means forcing an idea into reality and making it part of other people’s worlds.

“Entrepreneurship is taking an idea and brute-forcing it into not only your reality, but making it become a part of other people's realities.”

Cory also keeps a more personal motto close at hand, one that shaped his early consulting business: FITFO - meaning Figure It Out. To him, this phrase embodies the resilience and problem-solving mindset at the heart of entrepreneurship. No matter the scale of the problem, entrepreneurs must continually adapt, push forward, and create solutions when none seem obvious.

His journey, from small-town Durango to ��ɫ��Ƶ, as well as a student founder to venture capitalist, illustrates this mindset in action. Cory has built a career on figuring it out, whether starting a company, mentoring students, or investing in rural entrepreneurs. It reflects how entrepreneurship is about taking an idea, bringing it to life, and helping others see it’s value.

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Building With Purpose: Tim Okita & Paul Zeckser’s Journey to LightTable

Colton Sontrop — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 11:30:00 +0000

Building With Purpose: Tim Okita & Paul Zeckser’s Journey to LightTable Colton Sontrop Thu, 08/21/2025 - 05:30

Colton Sontrop

When you meet Tim Okita and Paul Zeckser, you quickly sense the balance they bring to their partnership. Tim, a Cal Poly engineer turned ��ɫ��Ƶ MBA, built his career in startups, venture capital, and the Colorado entrepreneurial ecosystem. Paul, a CU International Affairs alum, spent decades in the tech world, rising to senior leadership before finding the right opportunity to build something of his own. Together, they bring complementary perspectives. Tim with his boots-on-the-ground experience in startup programs and venture, and Paul with his seasoned leadership across technology companies.

Though their paths to entrepreneurship began in very different ways, both shared a drive to build, test, and create. Tim’s story is rooted in diving headfirst into CU’s entrepreneurial programs after moving to Colorado, while Paul’s career evolved through years of product building, enterprise sales, and leadership roles. That combination of youthful hunger and veteran perspective now fuels their joint vision at LightTable, where they’re working to transform the world of construction through AI. Their journeys illustrate what entrepreneurship often looks like in real life: not a straight path, but a winding road of experiences, experiments, and opportunities that eventually align at the right moment. For Tim and Paul, that moment is now.

While their accomplishments today are impressive, what makes Tim and Paul’s story especially compelling is how different their journeys look on the surface. Paul represents the wisdom that comes from decades of experience, while Tim represents the fresh energy of CU’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, shaped by case competitions, venture funds, and mentorship. Together, they embody the strength of Colorado’s startup community.

Finding Their Foundation at CU

For both Tim and Paul, ��ɫ��Ƶ played a pivotal role in shaping their professional outlooks. Tim arrived on campus eager to immerse himself in every entrepreneurial opportunity available. Through the High-Growth Venture Fellowship, the Deming Center Venture Fund, and national case competitions, he gained firsthand experience working with founders. He was able to evaluate startups and invest in promising ventures. Those experiences not only sharpened his skills but also plugged him into the broader Colorado startup community. He credits CU’s network for connecting him to people and opportunities that ultimately led him to LightTable.

Paul’s CU journey began much earlier, as an undergraduate in the late 1990s. He majored in International Affairs and studied abroad in Sevilla, Spain. He describes his study abroad experience as transformative, teaching him adaptability and resilience. He was also apart of the Presidents Leadership Class, where he fine-tuned his leadership development skills. Those experiences gave him confidence and adaptability, which proved invaluable when pitching enterprise sales to Fortune 500 companies later in his career.

“If I could navigate a foreign country with limited language skills, I could certainly walk into a meeting with Bank of America or Wells Fargo,”

CU’s environment of exposure to leaders, coupled with its emphasis on tackling challenges, helped him see that he could thrive in high-pressure settings.

Both alumni point to CU not just as a school, but as a launchpad. For Tim, the value came through hands-on programs and a network just one degree removed from nearly every major player in Colorado’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. For Paul, it was the leadership, adaptability, and resilience fostered through CU’s curriculum and community. In different eras and contexts, ��ɫ��Ƶ left its imprint on both.

Different Paths, Same Vision

Today, Tim and Paul are at the helm of the recently launched LightTable, a fast-growing software startup that applies artificial intelligence to the construction industry. Their platform acts as a peer reviewer for architectural drawings and specifications, scanning documents to detect design errors before construction begins. Traditionally, this type of review is done manually by third parties, which is a slow and costly process. LightTable’s AI dramatically accelerates that work, reducing risk and helping developers, architects, and engineers save time and money.

The company’s story began when one of its co-founders, an architect, realized how powerful AI could be when navigating building permitting issues. After incubating the idea with venture capital firms in New York, the concept pivoted toward quality control and peer review, validated by more than 100 industry interviews. That foundation led to the recruitment of Paul as CEO and Tim as an early hire, later joined by veteran AI engineer from Dartmouth, Dan Becker, and architect and co-founder from Dartmouth, Ben Waters. Without this foundation, LightTable wouldn't nearly be in the same position today. Together, the team represents expertise in architecture, technology, and venture-backed growth.

In less than a year, LightTable has already achieved major milestones: raising $6 million, signing five design partners, and developing a product that would have once taken years and a much larger team to build.

“What used to require 10 to 15 engineers over three years, we’ve built in five months with three people thanks to AI”.

This rapid pace allows them to focus on what matters most: working closely with users, iterating quickly, and building solutions. For both Tim and Paul, LightTable represents the culmination of years of experience and the beginning of something much bigger. LightTable literally and figuratively embodies CU, through its values and people.

Foundations for the First Step

Despite their different paths, both Tim and Paul share a grounded view of entrepreneurship. For Tim, entrepreneurship is about taking ownership and choosing to bring something into the world that didn’t exist before. Whether it’s a small business or a billion-dollar software company, he emphasizes that CU provides the foundation, tools, and networks to take those first steps. He states that success comes down to solving meaningful problems and persisting through challenges.

Paul defines entrepreneurship as the willingness to take that first leap, no matter how small. He recalls starting a lawnmowing business in high school that grew into dozens of clients, teaching him the importance of simply starting. He believes that by knocking on the first door, cutting the first lawn, and printing the first flyer, you can start your entrepreneurial journey. To him, entrepreneurship is about having the courage to begin, and building step by step while listening honestly to feedback.

Both agree that Boulder and CU provide a unique ecosystem where students can gain experience, make connections, and learn by doing. Their advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is to put themselves in hard situations, seek out opportunities to grow, and take that first step toward building something. Whether that step leads to a small neighborhood business or a transformative technology startup, the entrepreneurial mindset remains the same.

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Following the Why: How Kate Minnihan Turned Her Leeds Experience into a Passion and Career

Colton Sontrop — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 11:30:00 +0000

Following the Why: How Kate Minnihan Turned Her Leeds Experience into a Passion and Career Colton Sontrop Thu, 08/07/2025 - 05:30

Colton Sontrop

Finding Her Path at Leeds

Kate Minnihan’s connection to ��ɫ��Ƶ runs deep. A Colorado native, she graduated from Leeds in 2018 with a degree in management in Leeds with a minor in leadership studies.

But her journey to that point wasn’t straightforward.

Originally accepted to CU as an engineering student, Kate quickly realized her true interests lay elsewhere. She felt that business was applicable to everything, so her switching majors became a decision that opened doors she didn’t yet know she wanted to walk through.

At Leeds, Kate immersed herself in opportunities that challenged her to think critically about her path.

“It was really neat to get to look back on that and feel like I was able to see an opportunity to make something better and say yes to it.”

The Design Your Leeds course encouraged her to explore not just what she wanted to do, but why she wanted to do it. That question would guide her in life and her career. Through the Leeds Scholars Program, Kate traveled to Buenos Aires as a freshman, broadening her worldview and sparking a lifelong passion for travel and cultural exploration.

Outside the classroom, she made her mark by creating programs that would outlast her time at CU. As part of the President’s Leadership Class, Kate saw a gap in peer mentorship opportunities and decided to do something about it. She pitched a program to connect underclassmen with upperclassmen - called PLC^2 (inspired by the Peer2Peer program) - built it from the ground up and supported the growth throughout the years. Years later, that program still exists, and has expanded to include alumni. Looking back, Kate sees that experience as one of her first steps into entrepreneurship: identifying a need, building a solution, and bringing people together to make it happen.

Discovering a Passion for Coaching

While Kate didn’t initially picture herself as a coach or entrepreneur, programs through CU guided her towards that passion. Classes like Designing Your Leeds, taught by Dr. Angela Thieman Dino at the time, helped her realize her values, while programs like the Professional Mentorship Program introduced her to a mentor - Amy Felix-Reese - who would change her trajectory. This mentor, who was a professional coach herself, opened Kate’s eyes to the world of coaching and the power of helping others navigate life’s big transitions.

Kate didn’t just learn from these programs, she applied their lessons. As a student leader and active participant in CU’s mentorship ecosystem, she became passionate about supporting others through pivotal moments. These experiences taught her that coaching wasn’t just about building resumes or preparing for interviews - although she helped plenty of students with that. It was about helping people connect their actions to their values, and empowering them to take intentional steps toward their goals.

Her passion for people development continued after graduation. Kate spent over six years in the Leeds Career Development Office, where she helped students bridge the gap between college and their first jobs. She even stepped into the classroom as a 23-year-old instructor, teaching an internship accelerator course and guiding students through real-world consulting projects. These roles fine tuned her coaching skills and helped her understand the unique challenges students face as they transition into their careers.

Building a Business and Giving Back

What began as casually helping friends with resumes soon grew into something much bigger. Encouraged by those around her who saw her talent, Kate launched her own coaching LLC in 2021. At first, her focus was on career coaching, helping clients navigate job searches, interviews, and early-career decisions. But as she grew her practice, she realized her real impact came from going deeper, which was helping people understand their motivations and making values-driven choices about their lives.

Kate’s business has since evolved into a multifaceted venture. She became certified by the International Coaching Federation and started using tools like the Enneagram, which is a personality framework to help individuals and teams better understand themselves and each other. Her work has expanded beyond one-on-one coaching to include workshops, team training, and even the creation of physical products. Her business reflects all of the things she's passionate about, which is life coaching and understanding the psychology behind the way people respond to things and make decisions.

Yet even as she built her business, Kate never stopped giving back to CU. She continued working at Leeds in a remote capacity, helping students prepare for their careers while growing her entrepreneurial endeavors on the side. Most recently, she joined the Leeds Gold Board, a role that allows her to support the school in a new way as a young alum.

“Even though I don’t work there anymore it feels special to still be part of the Leeds community.”

Redefining Success and Inspiring Others

Today, Kate lives in San Diego with her husband, running her coaching business and continuing to explore how she can create meaningful impact. She admits she’s at a crossroads, exploring new ways to grow her work while also learning the power of slowing down and saying no to opportunities that don’t align with her purpose.

For Kate, entrepreneurship isn’t just about starting a business, it’s about creation. It’s about seeing an opportunity and having the courage to act on it, even when the path ahead isn’t perfectly clear.

“I feel like what I spoke to so much about entrepreneurship is around creation… using your unique gifts and talents.”

To current students and aspiring entrepreneurs, Kate encourages you to take advantage of the opportunities in front of you, lean into curiosity, and say yes, while not underestimating the value of asking "why?".

Kate’s story is a reminder that success doesn’t come from following a perfectly planned path. It comes from saying yes to opportunities, pursuing what matters most, and building something meaningful along the way.

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How SpotSurfer Is Smoothing Out the Ski Experience

Colton Sontrop — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 11:30:00 +0000

How SpotSurfer Is Smoothing Out the Ski Experience Colton Sontrop Thu, 07/03/2025 - 05:30

Colton Sontrop

Solving Ski Chaos

SpotSurfer is a Colorado-born startup with big ambitions. What began as a solution to frustrating ski mountain traffic problems has evolved into a lifestyle platform reshaping how people experience skiing and snowboarding. The company’s founders, ��ɫ��Ƶ alumni James Hohenlohe and Erik Davison, are on a mission to simplify the ski experience.

The concept came to life when James, a lifelong skier from Montana, saw how chaotic resort parking had become. After too many mornings spent circling packed lots, he envisioned a platform where skiers could reserve parking spaces in advance, similar to the process of booking a hotel. A simple fix has now expanded into tons of new features, including real-time traffic alerts, amenity add-ons, restaurant recommendations, and dynamic pricing specific to guests’ schedules.

James brought the idea to Erik, his mentor through the Leeds School of Business Professional Mentorship Program (PMP), run by Sally Forester. Erik, a seasoned entrepreneur with a background in the Air Force and years of consulting under his belt, immediately saw potential. With Erik’s strategic guidance and James’s vision, SpotSurfer was born in mid-2022. Since then, the company has formed partnerships with major resorts, hotels, and even municipalities, offering a simple solution to one of skiing’s biggest headaches.

From Mentorship to Co-Founders

What makes SpotSurfer’s story especially powerful is the journey from mentorship to co-creation. When James and Erik’s relationship was purely mentor and mentee, James was just looking to learn from someone experienced. However, over the course of two years, the mentorship deepened, eventually leading to a strong working relationship and the idea that would become SpotSurfer.

Erik, who has mentored around ten students through the program, emphasizes the importance of giving back. He approaches mentorship seriously, striving to provide students with the guidance he wishes he had during his own time at CU. His commitment created a foundation of trust that allowed James to pitch his idea with confidence.

“To me, it is, as I mentioned before, it's giving back to the university. It's giving back to the students. I wish when I was there... I could have had those type of tools, and that's how I treat this.”

For James, seeing Erik’s path helped ensure his passion for entrepreneurship. Growing up in Montana, the tech startup world felt distant. Through CU’s programs and mentorship, James developed skills for turning ideas into action. That visibility, he says, is everything for aspiring founders who might not come from traditional entrepreneurial backgrounds.

Their partnership is a textbook example of what happens when mentorship programs work exactly as intended. An experienced entrepreneur empowers a student to take bold steps, and a student brings a fresh idea to life with the support of someone who’s been there before.

Fueled by Passion, Shaped by Experience

Both founders are driven by a deep love for entrepreneurship, but for different reasons. James’s passion for skiing, combined with his desire to build something meaningful, naturally led to SpotSurfer. He’d been interested in business from a young age, even building websites for local businesses in high school. Though he didn’t love coding, he loved creating experiences that solved real problems for real people.

Erik’s path was much different but equally passionate. Growing up in Germany and later attending ��ɫ��Ƶ, he eventually spent years flying jets in the Air Force and consulting for large firms. But he always had a business mindset. Whether running car rental operations as a teen or launching his own consulting firm. SpotSurfer gave him another chance to build something from the ground up, but this time with a previous mentee.

They both approach the work with relentless drive. They persistently pursued partnerships with Vail Resorts, hotels, and even nonprofits to expand their platform’s impact. Today, SpotSurfer’s platform offers not just parking but a more personalized experience for mountain travelers.

Forward Thinking: Coming Back to Boulder and Expanding Beyond

SpotSurfer is only getting started. With partnerships already in place at five Vail Resorts properties, the team is scheming for major expansions. Colorado ski towns like Steamboat, Breckenridge, and Keystone are on the radar, along with Utah hotspots like Park City, Snowbird, and Solitude. It’s clear that parking at these resorts has become more difficult, and SpotSurfer’s model provides a scalable solution.

After recently winning an award for Colorado Companies to Watch, the vision now extends beyond skiing. Erik and James are exploring how SpotSurfer can be applied to parking challenges in cities, school districts, casinos, and large venues. One idea they already have is using Las Vegas Casinos to address parking for events like Formula One. While they're both in different places, they emphasize how Boulder is their home. In the future, they hope to support game day parking for CU events and nearby ski resorts, like Eldora.

SpotSurfer is making significant strides to capitalize on their potential markets. To support this growth, SpotSurfer is currently raising a $3 million funding round. Their goal is to scale operations, build out their AI capabilities, and hire talent across marketing, finance, and development.

The Leeds PMP is a fantastic opportunity for students and entrepreneurs to help define their path further, and discover a passion. For students and alumni looking to follow a similar path, James and Erik emphasize to create something while they're in college, and that there's no perfect time to launch something.

SpotSurfer is more than a company, it’s a reflection of what’s possible when passion meets perseverance. For the next generation of builders, it’s a reminder that the best time to start is now.

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VerEstate: Champions Through A New Take on an Old Industry

Colton Sontrop — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 11:30:00 +0000

VerEstate: Champions Through A New Take on an Old Industry Colton Sontrop Thu, 06/05/2025 - 05:30

Colton Sontrop

Title insurance isn’t often the first thing that comes to mind when you think of disruptive innovation. But for the founders of VerEstate - Camden Dempsey, Alec Hyde, and Nicholas Soza - that’s precisely what made it an opportunity. They saw an industry still stuck in paper-heavy, manual workflows and imagined what it could become with the power of AI. VerEstate emerged as a digital title insurance agency focused on simplifying the real estate transaction process, aiming to create a faster and more efficient experience.

The idea came to life at ��ɫ��Ƶ, rooted from the undergraduate course New Venture Creation. Camden and Nico discovered a large opportunity, by simplifying title insurance rather than complicating it. They saw the inefficiencies and began building a solution that integrated technology in a way the industry hadn’t seen. Alec entered the picture later, joining the duo through the highly selective graduate-level accelerator course, New Venture Launch.

Designed to prepare students for CU’s flagship entrepreneurial competition (New Venture Challenge), this course functions as a launchpad for student ventures. Each team is challenged to take an idea and transform it into a compelling business, building toward a high-stakes pitch in a series of competitive rounds. Through this process, teams go from early-stage concepts to fully-fledged startups.

VerEstate thrived in this environment. What began as a classroom concept quickly evolved into a high-potential startup. Their preparation and hard work resulted in an impressive showing at the New Venture Challenge finals, securing the title and the monetary grand prize. New Venture Challenge is the largest startup competition in Boulder, drawing hundreds of student entrepreneurs, mentors, and industry judges each year. Winning it is no small feat, and for VerEstate, it marked the beginning of a much larger journey.

Three Paths, One Vision

VerEstate’s strength lies in its diversity. Each founder brings a unique background and perspective to the table, which has driven their success. Camden, a student-athlete majoring in finance and marketing, balances business strategy with leadership drawn from years of football. Nico, originally from Chile, combines a background in economics with a strong foundation in operations and data analytics. Alec, a former neuroscientist and software engineer, contributes technical experience and insight from a decade of professional experience.

Rather than clashing, their differences have fueled better decisions and stronger collaboration. Their professional and personal synergy has allowed them to approach challenges with shared accountability.

“We complement each other’s weaknesses well. Which I think is a huge thing in business... to be able to find a team where you have people who are really strong at what you're not strong at.”

The team dynamic is built around thoughtful decision-making, where each voice is considered. This shows their mutual respect for each other, along with chemistry that has shaped the way they work, not just as co-founders, but as colleagues who genuinely enjoy building something together.

Outside of strategy sessions and team meetings, they’ve built a personal connection. Whether it’s stepping up to carry the load while one team member travels or simply carving out time to decompress, they’ve developed a bond that allows them to show up for each other in meaningful ways. As VerEstate grows, they shape a culture that values both results and relationships.

From the Classroom to the Main Stage

VerEstate’s path to the New Venture Challenge stage was anything but accidental. The journey began with structured coursework but quickly turned into an all-in commitment to building a company. After their success in New Venture Creation, Camden and Nico were encouraged to apply for New Venture Launch, a course that runs more like a startup accelerator rather than a classroom. Admission is competitive, and the workload is intense, but for students looking to take their ideas to the next level, it’s one of the most valuable experiences CU has to offer.

In this course, teams pitch nearly every week. They're given feedback by experienced professors, venture capitalists, and entrepreneurs who don’t sugarcoat criticism. Each presentation becomes a pressure test, and each critique pushes the team to improve. VerEstate embraced this challenge. Through their success, they signed several letters of intent with real estate partners. While those agreements remain non-binding until VerEstate is a registered insurance company, they serve as strong signals of market demand.

“It all started with a small idea at Leeds and all of a sudden we’re talking with the second largest mortgage broker in the state.”

The class also helped them build momentum through community. They connected with mentors and other entrepreneurs who contributed helpful advice for their company. As New Venture Challenge approached, they practiced tirelessly, and by the time they took the stage at the final round, they weren’t just students presenting an idea, they were founders presenting a company ready to launch.

Winning the New Venture Challenge wasn’t just a moment of recognition; it was validation. It proved that their months of work and late nights had paid off. Now, the spotlight shifts to what's next for them: refining and preparing for market entry.

Just the Beginning

While VerEstate is still early in its journey, the foundation they’ve built is strong. They're now focused on bringing their vision to life by building out the infrastructure and meeting the milestones needed to begin offering their services. The goal is to begin operations within the next year, and the team is putting everything in place to make that happen.

They remain deeply aware that their progress was made possible by a broader network of support. From faculty and mentors to classmates and Boulder’s entrepreneurial community, they’ve leaned on a village of people willing to offer wisdom and encouragement. That’s something they hope future students understand: success starts with showing up, asking for help, and doing the work.

“There’s no perfect time to start… the only thing that’s going to get you anywhere closer... is to start and just start taking steps one step at a time.”

What began as a class project is now a full-on startup on the rise. With the grit of student-athletes, the insight of industry professionals, and the drive of passionate builders, VerEstate is rewriting what title insurance can be, and they’re doing it together.

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How Emily Iliff's Entrepreneurial Mindset Shaped Her CU Journey

Emily Iliff — Thu, 08 May 2025 11:30:00 +0000

How Emily Iliff's Entrepreneurial Mindset Shaped Her CU Journey Emily Iliff Thu, 05/08/2025 - 05:30

Colton Sontrop

Some people start developing their entrepreneurial mindset through a pitch competition, or a big business idea. For Emily Iliff, it began much earlier, at 14, working at her parent’s businesses. That early glimpse into the world of business didn’t just teach her how to work, it shaped how she saw opportunities and how to take calculated risks.

Years later, that mindset would guide her through college at ��ɫ��Ƶ. While scrolling through CU’s student job board, she came across an opening for a marketing intern at the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship. The role was meant for business majors, and as a business minor, Emily almost didn’t apply. But in true entrepreneurial fashion, she took the leap anyway.

Her boldness paid off. After multiple rounds of interviews, she landed the internship and began what would become a transformative two-year journey, rising from intern to Editor-in-Chief of Deming’s marketing team. Along the way, she didn’t just manage campaigns and content; she became a storyteller for CU’s entrepreneurial community and established an inspiring mindset rooted in the power of bold ideas.

Leading Through Mindset, Not Just Title

Emily began her journey at CU as a sociology major, but after her first semester, it didn’t feel like the right fit. However, through all the uncertainty, she eventually found clarity in communication, empathy, and creativity. A switch to Advertising Strategy, along with a business minor and a certificate in entrepreneurial studies, became the perfect match.

This blend of academia not only gave Emily a strong academic foundation but helped her tie together her early business experiences with a strong understanding of how to build something meaningful. This paired with her now position at Deming provided invaluable experiences that would shape her future.

Emily's role at the Deming Center became more than just a job; it became a training ground for real-world leadership. Being a student employee among a team of professionals sharpened her communication skills and elevated her professionalism. She credits both her early start in the workforce and the maturity she gained.

But more importantly, Deming shaped how she approaches challenges. Instead of seeing problems through a traditional lens, she was taught to seek alternative angles.

“The typical way to approach a problem is to go into the “front door”. At the Deming Center, you’re taught to find the side door — the unexpected and inventive way in. There is always a more creative solution and always another perspective waiting to be discovered.”

This mindset proved useful in everything, from increasing newsletter conversion rates to navigating job applications and personal conflicts. Deming, she emphasized, taught her that momentum matters, and that the worst thing you can do is never start. Above all, that belief in yourself must remain, even when the world doesn't offer its full support.

Where Mindset Meets Experience

During her time at CU, one of the most impactful experiences for Emily came through the business capstone course tied to her minor. Taught by Visda Carson, this course was designed to challenge students to think and work like entrepreneurs. The class walks through the full lifecycle of a startup, starting with ideation to market research to pitching.

Beyond the project itself, the capstone gave Emily a glimpse into what it really takes to build something from the ground up. Working with students who brought different skills and perspectives helped her learn how to adapt and lead in unfamiliar environments. More importantly, it taught her how to make decisions with confidence and think critically about consumer needs.

These lessons were only amplified by the support of the Deming Center. The culture at Deming encourages experimentation and emphasizes creative mindsets. Whether it was tackling a marketing challenge or learning to pivot mid-project, Emily credits both Leeds and Deming for shaping how she approaches her work today. These experiences didn’t just elevate her college journey; they laid a mindset she’ll carry well beyond graduation.

That mindset, however, was also deeply rooted at home. Emily is especially grateful to her parents, whose constant encouragement and belief in her potential inspired her to push herself every day. Their support not only gave her the confidence to embrace challenges, but also shaped the determination and curiosity that drove her forward, and accomplished the goals she set for herself.

Owning Her Path Forward

Though Emily doesn’t have a startup of her own, she’s quick to challenge the idea that you need to launch a business to be an entrepreneur. In her eyes, entrepreneurship is a mindset, one that guides how you lead, how you communicate, and how you show up in the world.

Throughout her experiences, she credits her parents for beginning her journey from a young age. It sparked early motivation and prepared her extensively for the future. It also developed early professionalism and maturity - something she couldn’t pursue her professional career without.

It’s a mindset that has pushed her to shift from a “woe is me” outlook to one where she actively takes control.

"There comes a day in which you learn that you are either going to let life happen to you or you can take control of your own life.”

Surrounded by mentors and peers at Deming who are constantly ideating and creating, Emily now sees herself as part of an ecosystem rooted in empowerment. She’d like to thank Erick Mueller, CJ Riggins, Betsy Klein, and the rest of the Deming team for their steadfast support and mentorship throughout her time as both marketing intern and Editor-in-Chief.

For years, Emily would close interviews with entrepreneurs by asking what their personal definition of entrepreneurship is. Now, Emily finally gets the opportunity to share her own.

"The ability to take what opportunities you are given and create meaningful change, and to never give up on yourself."

Perhaps through all of her experiences, however, the greatest thing she learned is that entrepreneurship has no single definition. There are infinitely different journeys, meanings, and interpretations.

But if there’s one thing for sure, it’s that this is just the beginning for her.

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