We had the good fortune of connecting with Chris Dasbach and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chris, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
When I’m old and dying will I regret not trying this? Yes, I will.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
From the first day of programming in 9th grade I knew I wanted to be a programmer. A decade after falling in love with programming I fell in love with my now wife. With the wedding about 2 weeks away she gave me a gentle reminder that couples exchange gifts on their wedding day. “Yes I know that” I replied while subtly pulling out my phone to search for “What should you give a bride on your wedding day?” None of the suggestions seemed good enough. I needed something special. Something that would reflect the adventure we were about to embark on together.

With a week to go the idea of a photo map popped into my head. It would be perfect! A stunning wall piece to hang in our house someday and remind us of the adventures we had been on, and the places we still aspire to go. Great, I’ll buy one of those and cross this task off my list.

Not so fast.

As it turns out a “photo map” did not exist. So I could either buy a lackluster gift and get on with my life, or I could stay up until 4am every night in the week before my wedding cutting intricate shapes into a mat board by hand. I chose the later.

The project turned out great, and I spent the next year wondering why nobody had ever made this into a product to sell. They could make a CAD file and cut it with a CNC machine! They could have a website to help create photos for the map! Different colors and frames! Other continents, and baseball stadiums, and…

That’s when it hit me. I know how to make a CAD file. I know how to build a website. I can be “they”! So I did it.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If you come to Michigan you’ve got to check out the Great Lakes. After checking that off the list we’re hitting some of the breweries and going golfing. Sure you can drink beer and golf in your home town too, but we’ll be doing it together and that’s what is most important.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I of course owe a great amount to my parents who provided me with a stable environment to learn and grow, even when it wasn’t exactly what they had in mind. I was never worried about any basic needs which gave me the luxury to pursue hobbies and learn how to learn on my own.

I was also lucky enough to have a handful of teachers long the way who made class about projects and goals, instead of memorization and tests. They prioritized problem solving over following a rubric why is a much better model for success in the “real world”.

Website: https://thunderbunnylabs.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thunderbunnylabs

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thunderbunnylab

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThunderBunnyLabs/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCss9zdZ8HoJKLgWx9mE97qQ

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.