Thinking through whether to start a business – whether to take the risk, whether to go out on your own – isn’t easy. So we asked some entrepreneurs we admire to tell us about how they thought through the process of starting a business.

Mary-Catherine LaBossiere | Registered Dietitian & Owner of Defy Nutrition

My decision to start my own private practice as a dietitian was driven by a combination of necessity and a desire to serve my newfound community. After relocating for my husband’s career, I found myself facing limited options within my own field, with the nearest relevant opportunities requiring a minimum 1.5-hour commute each way. Initially, I was disheartened by the lack of local employment prospects. However, that challenge soon presented itself as an opportunity to address a gap in my community’s healthcare landscape. When I first established my private practice, I was one of only two registered dietitians offering independent services in the area. Read more>>

Zach Geller | Bicycle Frame Fabricator

I would say that a person typically gets into something like bicycle frame building for a few general reasons. They are passionate (or at least strongly interested) in bicycles, they have an affinity or curiosity in design and/or they like to be hands with some kind of fabrication. I absolutely had a strong adoration for bicycles, design and fabrication when I started my frame building journey, but it went far beyond that. I started my own business so I could be involved in every aspect that comes along with starting and maintaining a small business. I want to be heavily involved in branding, marketing, and sales on top of being the producer of the actual product. I want to see where my visions for the company not only take our products, but how we can benefit the community both locally and as a broader member of the bike industry. Read more>>

Jaco Lewis | Craft Intoxicologist

I found that with the gaining popularity or bar services outside of brick & mortar establishments, there was always something lacking. During my tenure at a high-end catering outfit based out of Vail, the lightbulb moment hit me: take away the pressure of getting in and out, and on to the next, and just focus on the experience you’re offering. That same day I created Colorado Travel Bartenders, focusing initially on smaller, more intimate (and often overlooked by big vendors) types of events, where I could take the time to WOW my guests. It didn’t matter if i needed to stay an extra hour, or quickly run out and pick up a specialty liqueur we ran out of. All that mattered was that my guests felt like speakeasy-royalty, right in their own homes. Read more>>

Shweta Ahuja | Owner and Curator

I’ve always had a love for fashion. Growing up in India, Indian clothes has always been my first love. Its all about the colors, fabric, hand work, embellishments, in short, the glam and glitter… its a beautiful experience! After moving to the US in 2008 and working in the corporate sector as a Management professional, I always came across colleagues/friends who were invited to Indian weddings or festivals such as Diwali and wanted to try some Indian clothing but there were no easy to find boutiques, where you could feel, try and experience the Indian shopping spree. This inspired me to spark this journey! I was like, lets do it! Read more>>

Krish Shankar | Music Producer

Since I was a kid, my goal was always to pursue something creative in the hopes of financial success. The good thing about that mentality is that I cycled through many different creative fields (video game development, screenwriting, book writing, movie editing, etc.) until I finally found music. The bad thing about that mentality was not realizing how irrelevant money is in making us/myself feel fulfilled. It’s great to have and gives people the freedom to be happier but starting the music business happened out of love for the industry above anything else. After years of making music, working with different artists, and building my social media following; so much time went by when I realized, “I haven’t stopped yet”. Read more>>

Jeremy Denny | Coffee Roaster & Entrepreneur

I have really dedicated myself to health and sustainability, specifically in the culinary world. Try to make the largest impact possible lead me to coffee, 2nd most consumed food item on the planet and the majority of it is not sustainable and not healthy. So we spend lots of time researching and educating. As far as the coffee roasting company goes, we are a Florida based grass roots coffee roasting company. We pride ourselves in roasting amazing, high-end green bean coffee. Started in Tampa in 2016 with the focus of education and health & wellness. We are constantly improving our products, refining our ingredients, and creating new sustainable practices. Supporting the community is our first priority and spreading the love of coffee is close second. Read more>>

Mark Grebener, LCSW, LAC, CHt | Psychotherapist, Licensed Addictions Counselor, Certified Hypnotherapist

The thought process behind starting my own business was never to be self employed or to have my own business. It was to be able to help and heal people in a way that it seemed only possible being being my own boss. The desire to challenge myself to grow through training to have new ways of reaching or healing drove me to find my own practice. Read more>>

Angie Marone | Health Professional and Hormone Health Practitioner

I have always been a lover of all things health and fitness and when I got my training certification, I went to work for a box gym and didn’t love it. I spent lots of hours training clients privately. I thought– there had to be a better way to help more women in less time, so I decided to start my own boot camp business. I wanted to create a place specifically for women– a place that allowed them to not only get in a great workout for their body but to help them build up confidence and that feeling of empowerment! So that is when Fit Chick Express was created. I even had some of my clients help me come up with a name for the business. Read more>>

Shawn Wall | Educator and Philanthropist

Blessed to Be a Blessing started as a simple idea of creating a study abroad scholarship for Denver’s minority and low-income students after I returned from studying abroad in New Zealand in 2014. If I had come from money, this would’ve been easy to do by simply putting some money aside and creating a scholarship fund. However, that was not the case. I knew it would be challenging to get funding for a study abroad scholarship. Therefore, over the years, this idea grew into developing a nonprofit organization that focuses not only on study abroad scholarships but also on creating access to international education through various educational programs. Through a 501c3 nonprofit, one can collect funding for their mission through the support of community members and local grant-giving organizations and not have to come up with all the funds themselves. Read more>>

Alyssa Chavez | Fashion Designer

I started my business when I became a mother! I was already a stay-at-home-mother to be the primary caregiver to my infant. I was crafting to save my sanity, and soon I was making sales! Read more>>

Ryan Ann LettBrown | Licensed Neuromuscular Massage Therapist

I really just wanted to deliver the best care possible from a whole-person perspective. I had worked for many different wonderful studios but there was just this fire and inspiration inside of me that I couldn’t put to rest, I decided it was a good time to leap! Quality of care and giving clients an experience is everything! Read more>>

Aryn Schlichting | Founder / HR Recruiter

I am a Human Resource professional who has been living and working in Vail, CO for 20 year. I saw a major problem in our mountain communities and I wanted to help solve this problem. First, employers in our towns have a hard time finding good talent because they’re so remote and unique. And second, professionals struggled to live in the mountains because of the cost of living and the types of professional opportunities available. That’s when I came up with the idea for Mountaincareers.com! I knew that there were smart, driven people living in the mountains (because I was surrounded by them at my kids school, at my office and in my community). Read more>>

Trey Bower | Senior stylist and Salon owner

Commencing the entrepreneurial journey just a year ago, the inception of Boulder Hair Collective in North Boulder marks a significant milestone. This venture is distinguished by a dual emphasis on sustainability and luxury, creating a unique space that embodies both environmental consciousness and elevated service. The salon’s commitment to sustainability is tangible, with a remarkable 95% of services being recyclable, encompassing everything from hair and gloves to aluminum foil. This eco-friendly approach not only aligns with contemporary values but positions Boulder Hair Collective as a beacon of responsible business in the salon industry. Read more>>