Meet the Entrepreneurs of the Spring 2025 Denver ScaleUp Network Cohort

The Denver ScaleUp Network (DenSUN) serves as a growth catalyst for a small group of traditionally underserved Denver entrepreneurs, providing mentorship, community, and resources, over the course of several months. Originally created in 2017 by the Denver Office of Economic Development & Opportunity, in partnership with BEN Colorado and Colorado Thought Leaders Forum (now part of CiviCO), DenSUN was designed to help small businesses overcome strategic challenges keeping them from reaching the next level. 

Today, Denver’s entrepreneurial landscape continues to thrive, driven by leaders who are building innovative solutions to pressing challenges, and DenSUN continues to serve a small, diverse group of emerging businesses each year. 

The Denver ScaleUp Network is proud to introduce its Spring 2025 cohort, a passionate group of entrepreneurs representing the future of Denver’s business ecosystem, each bringing unique perspectives, bold ideas, and a commitment to impact.

Get to know the entrepreneurs driving Denver’s next wave of innovation:

Zuben Bastani – ReachWell

ReachWell is a social impact company dedicated to fostering inclusive community engagement through technology. Founder and CEO Zuben Bastani built ReachWell to bridge communication gaps and ensure that every family, regardless of background, stays informed and connected.

Toni Cacioppo – XOXO Parents

XOXO Parents creates innovative, practical products that make parenting easier so that parents can spend less time worrying and more time making memories. Founder and Chief Parent Officer Toni Cacioppo, a seasoned entrepreneur with nearly 25 years in e-commerce and customer experience, developed XOXO Parents to help families stay organized and connected.

Ashleigh DePopas – Auggie

Auggie provides women considering breast augmentation with at-home breast implant sizer kits, allowing them to make informed decisions in the comfort of their own space. Ashleigh DePopas, a two-time founder and former business consultant with a background in chemical and biotech engineering, launched Auggie after recognizing the lack of post-operative satisfaction data in breast augmentation.

Tina Gill – Nephrolytics.ai

Nephrolytics is advancing kidney care with AI-powered platforms that streamline nephrology care by providing actionable insights, predictive analytics, and real-time decision support, enabling providers to deliver exceptional, value-based care. Co-Founder and CTO Tina Gill, an industry leader with over 17 years of experience, integrates technology and business strategy to streamline nephrology care.

Josh Greenbaum – CFO Minded

CFO Minded helps entrepreneurs take financial control of their businesses through strategic planning and mentorship. Founder Josh Greenbaum, a former Big Four accountant and author of Numbers Scare Me & Other Excuses, simplifies financial management to empower business owners to lead with confidence.

Jason Hopcus – Connection Project

Connection Project is a public-benefit technology company leveraging AI-powered resource matching to improve access to mental health support. Founder and CEO Jason Hopcus transformed his personal struggles into a mission to enhance emotional resilience through AI-driven mental health solutions, reaching over 7 million people with strategic media campaigns and innovative platforms.

Mark Kobrin – Cloud Linen Pro

Cloud Linen Pro is an asset management platform that leverages RFID and AI to provide real-time insights into the textile lifecycle. Founder and CEO Mark Kobrin draws from his family's 100-year history in textile recycling to innovate supply chain management for industries like hospitality and healthcare.

Adrienne Kronovet – Ameliora

Ameliora creates high-quality, versatile wardrobe essentials designed for the confident, modern woman. Founded in 2017 by Adrienne Kronovet, the brand has expanded from a suiting collection into shirting, athleisure, and accessories. Adrienne and Ameliora have been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, and The Today Show.

Mackenzie Langley – Lighthouse

Lighthouse is a marketplace that connects nonprofits with the resources they need while helping businesses make a meaningful impact. Founder and CEO Mackenzie Langley built Lighthouse to foster collaboration between nonprofits and businesses, ensuring resources reach those who need them most.

Jodi McPherson – Work Simplr

Work Simplr is an AI-supported platform connecting businesses with talented college students for on-demand, fractional work opportunities to eliminate backlogs of data, research, and user feedback projects in 4 weeks. Co-Founder and CEO Jodi McPherson, a leader in edtech and talent sourcing, has over 30 years of experience scaling businesses to $150M in revenue.

Brittany Plaven – Aerial Cirque Over Denver

Aerial Cirque Over Denver (ACOD) is Denver’s first aerial dance school, offering classes in silks, trapeze, hoop, hammock, and more for youth and adults. Brittany Plaven, a former competitive figure skater turned aerialist, took ownership in 2016. ACOD was recently designated a Denver Legacy Business and will expand with a second location in Centennial in Spring 2025.

Bradley Stine – Semper Sec

Semper Sec is a boutique cybersecurity firm that prepares solutions for small and medium size businesses to meet their security and compliance requirements, by performing advanced assessments, compliance reviews and programmatic solutions.As Co-Founder and COO, Bradley Stine brings extensive experience in security assessments, incident response, and cloud transformation.

Jaclyn Tracy – SISTAIN

SISTAIN is the world’s first non-toxic home goods marketplace, bringing transparency and accountability to the $749 billion home decor industry. Founder and CEO Jaclyn Tracy built SISTAIN to empower women, who control 80% of consumer buying power, to make healthier, more sustainable choices about what they bring into their homes.

Sierra Voss – Root by Design

Root by Design specializes in interior plantscaping and expert plant care, transforming indoor spaces with biophilic design. Founder and CEO Sierra Voss, who has a background in tropical biology and set design, founded Root by Design from her belief that biophilic design is an essential element in interior decorating, naturally enhancing well-being and the environment.

Arezou Zarafshan – Call Emmy

Call Emmy is a technology-driven marketplace connecting busy families with highly vetted, on-demand childcare providers. Founder and CEO Arezou Zarafshan is a passionate advocate for gender equity and female leadership in business. A dedicated mother, she understands firsthand the challenges of balancing work and family life, which inspired her to create a platform that offers reliable, premium caregiving solutions.

This Spring 2025 DenSUN cohort exemplifies innovation, impact, and entrepreneurial spirit. Each founder is driving meaningful change in their industry, and we can’t wait to see their ventures grow and thrive.