Empowering Entrepreneurs: Highlights from the 2024 Denver ScaleUp Network “BEN Days” Sessions
Denver ScaleUp Network “BEN Days” are one of the highlights of the DenSUN program.
As one of our entrepreneurs, Maureen “Mo” Berkner Boyt shared after the sessions,
“This experience was everything an entrepreneur dreams of - incredible minds focused on the success of you and your venture. Deep gratitude to all the advisors for 'bringing it'... Now off to execute!”
BEN days provide a space where entrepreneurs have the opportunity to step into a room full of BEN Advisors and candidly discuss the challenges that keep them awake at night. Sometimes it's business strategy, other times it's staff or leadership issues, and many times, it's a simple request for validation that they have the fortitude to move forward.
Since its 2017 launch, the Denver ScaleUp Network (DenSUN) has supported 113 entrepreneurs whose startups have raised initial capital and are operational, helping them advance to the next stage of expansion. Partnering with the Denver Economic Development and Opportunity and the Colorado Thought Leaders Forum, DenSUN fosters growth for entrepreneurs and their companies, contributing to Denver’s thriving entrepreneurial community.
The companies served in this year’s cohort are as follows:
Session 1
Angela Wells is the owner and founder of The Cake Bar, a 100% plant-based bakery in downtown Denver that has revolutionized the way people enjoy custom cakes. They offer custom cakes in a cup, custom cake orders for special occasions, and large event catering. The Cake Bar also provides opportunities for local vegan artisans to take advantage of their prime location and sell their products in-store. During her session, Angie shared that one of her favorite parts of the job is hearing people say “You help make my dreams come true.”
Mom Juice aims to transform wine culture with innovative packaging, transparency, and a focus on modern moms. Founded by two women of color, Kristin Taylor and Macie Mincey, their team is connecting with younger generations and driving positive change. Mom Juice creates low-sugar, gluten-free, and vegetarian beverages targeting consumers who want wine shopping to be simplified while trusting the integrity of what is in their glasses.
Molly and Connor Hollowell are co-founders of Truckster, a tech-enabled service company, powered by the industry’s #1 software for food truck owners to market and grow their business. Truckster offers an app and website for consumers to find food trucks, order ahead, and book food trucks for catering and events. The mission of Truckster is to be your favorite tool to eat like a local and support small businesses throughout the United States.
Session 2
Maggie Gannon is the founder and CEO of Haven, a B2B healthcare software solution integrating clinically validated technology to elevate patient care driving metrics, revenue, and outcomes for palliative, hospice, and other end-of-life care. Their focus is on eliminating avoidable suffering and incentivizing healthcare organizations to enhance the quality of life for patients, transforming end-of-life care from a financial burden into a profit center.
Joel Morrow is the CEO of Prana Pets, a company dedicated to helping pets, and the pet parents who love them, live their best lives through their holistic approach to health and wellness. They currently partner with Amazon, 1-800-PetMeds, and Chewy. You can also buy directly from their website. Prana Pets currently ranks #3,091 on Inc. magazine’s 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S.
Guillaume Linossier is the founder of SAOLA, a sustainable footwear brand dedicated to supporting wildlife preservation projects that launched in 2018. With a team spread over 3 continents, you can find SAOLA shoes online at saola.com but also in outdoor stores, footwear & sustainable accounts in 15 different countries.
Session 3
Cynthia Forstmann and Theresa Agresta are the co-founders of CultureTalk, a company defining, designing, and transforming workplace culture. A modern platform of assessments creates a common culture language for organizational change, team experiences, and individual coaching. CultureTalk turns culture into a strategic operating tool; one that can be leveraged to align leaders and teams as they drive business strategies forward.
The Moxie Exchange was founded by Maureen “Mo” Berkner Boyt, to make workplace cultures more inclusive. Moxie specializes in learning and development technology grounded in the neuroscience of behavior change and belonging, and tracking data insights to benchmark and measure success. Moxie is determined to push boundaries, innovate, and take the lead in introducing new inclusion learning technology to the market.
Session 4
Emily McMahon, Jordan Ashley, and Tien Barnett are the co-founders and driving forces of 3MC Media, Inc., a full-service communications and digital marketing agency driven by industry-leading professionals — strategists, writers, developers, and media experts. They specialize in delivering the right strategy and the right people to achieve their customer’s goals.
Drizzle Digital is where savvy meets sass in the digital marketing world. Founded by Dree Ziegler (the “original sass” with over 15 years of experience in the digital world), they’re a bunch of nerds living their best digital marketing lives, infusing every project with a unique blend of creative flair and a focus on data-driven results.
Session 5
A former aerospace engineer turned EdTech entrepreneur, Ben Holmquist is the CEO and co-founder of Penji, a unique platform giving college students better access to one-on-one instruction like tutoring, mentoring, and advising. Penji is currently being used by over 30k students across 55 institutions including CU Boulder!
Traveling Music Lessons (TML) was co-founded by two sisters, Leah and Tess Halonen, in 2017. TML provides in-home, private music instruction to students across the United States. TML connects professional music teachers with private students, providing stability and eliminating marketing and administrative costs while providing students convenient access to fully vetted instructors delivered to their doorstep.
Session 6
Everyone understands the power of data. But for SMBs, unlocking the value of data can be insanely difficult and expensive. Datateer's managed service unlocks the value of data by creating and managing your unique metrics and reports, running on standardized data infrastructure and operations. CEO Adam Roderick’s tech career spans startups to global firms, touching finance, e-commerce, and consulting. Spotting a way to give small- and medium-sized companies an advantage with data, he founded Datateer to democratize analytics.
MascotYou is an AI platform for proactive Mental Health. Co-founded and run by CEO Marcella Hall, MascotYou creates institutional and personal awareness to mitigate risks associated with mental health. These risks impact student dropout and suicide rates.
bQuest is a curated collective of local, vetted professionals who exist to guide and support families along the journey of life and loss. Co-founded and led by CEO Lauren Clough, they work to positively impact the universal human experience of Aging, End-of-Life, and Death for family caregivers and their loved ones. The bQuest digital platform delivers a personalized service matching families with relevant information resources and best-in-class professionals based on their very specific needs.
What’s next for the 2024 DenSUN Cohort?
We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with this group of exceptionally bright, talented, and driven change-makers. Each of them has exciting developments on the horizon. Here are a few highlights:
Mom Juice has recently partnered with Target and Safeway in Colorado, and their products are now available in select liquor stores nationwide. Keep an eye out and pick up a bottle at your local store!
The Cake Bar is planning to open multiple new locations and start selling their cake mixes and frostings nationwide.
We can’t wait to see what the future holds for these companies! The 2024 Denver ScaleUp Network cohort will graduate on September 19th, 2024.
Congratulations Entrepreneurs! The BEN Community is proud of you.