Meet Jalen Thomas | Owner & CEO of FUNtastic

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

Hi Jalen, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I was motivated to work for Walt Disney Imagineering and had the opportunity to intern there multiple times. However, I kept realizing how deeply connected I am to my family and the state of Colorado. I needed a position or role that felt like Disney—but right here in the Mile High City.

At first, I searched and applied to companies with similar missions, but over time I realized that when you truly want something, sometimes you have to build it yourself. I was also serving as the president of the newly formed Theme Park Engineering and Design Group at Mines. Our club had just created a portable escape room with a level of immersion and storytelling unlike anything else.

That’s when it clicked—I had found a solution to a personal problem. With a few amazing friends, we turned it into a business.

What should our readers know about your business?
Our business is all about creating immersive, story-driven experiences through our portable escape room. It delivers the same level of excitement, immersion, and challenge you’d expect from a traditional escape room—but with far fewer logistics. Instead of having to go to a location, we bring the experience directly to you. That convenience is what sets us apart.

We focus on team building and communication, working with businesses, schools, and organizations that are either forming new teams or rekindling the connection within existing ones. Whether it’s a corporate group looking to strengthen collaboration or a school hosting an after-prom event, our product makes it easy to connect, engage, and grow—all while having fun.

Getting here wasn’t easy. We had the product first, but it took time to truly understand our target market. We learned that without the right market fit, even the best ideas can struggle. But through trial, feedback, and persistence, we found our niche. One big lesson we’ve learned is to stay open to unexpected opportunities—after-proms and school events turned out to be an incredible fit for us, and we’re so glad we leaned into that space.

What we want the world to know is that our company, our product, and our story are rooted in one belief: everyone deserves a FUNtastic time. People should enjoy the work they do and the people they work with. There should be an easy, enjoyable way to build stronger teams, grow trust, and practice communication—and that’s exactly what we provide.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was visiting Colorado for a week—from Sunday to Saturday—I’d make sure they had the best time ever. Here’s the itinerary I’d plan to show them the people, places, and experiences that make Colorado so special:

Sunday:
We’d start off strong with a trip to the mountains. On the way up, we’d stop by Red Rocks Amphitheatre—a must-see spot with epic views. Then we’d make our way to Breckenridge for fresh mountain air and one of their legendary crepes from the crepe cart on Main Street.

Monday:
This day would be all about relaxing and reconnecting. We’d hang out by the pool, grill out, and spend time with my family and close friends. Honestly, the people here in Colorado speak for themselves—the warmth, energy, and good vibes are unmatched.

Tuesday:
Time to explore downtown Denver. Depending on the season, we’d either check out Sixteenth Street Mall, visit a cool museum, or head to Coors Field for a Rockies game—grab a drink and soak in the skyline views from the stadium.

Wednesday:
We’d visit Golden—my hometown and where I went to school at Mines. I’d give them a full tour of the campus, show off the charming downtown, and we’d grab food at Woody’s Pizza, a local favorite.

Thursday:
We’d head to Boulder to experience the vibe there—another incredible campus, great hiking spots, and amazing views. Then we’d come back and get ready for a night out at Tracks Nightclub, one of the most fun and welcoming club experiences in Denver.

Friday:
We’d hit the Ballpark District downtown for a night of bar-hopping, dancing, and soaking in the Denver nightlife. It’s always buzzing and full of great energy.

Saturday:
To close out the week, I’d take them to one of our local theme parks—Lakeside Amusement Park, Water World, or one of the other small but fun spots around the city. It’s the perfect way to wrap up the trip with some thrills and laughs.

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 want to give a huge shoutout to the four other members of our company: Nick Probst, Myles Ruiz, Liam Homburger, and Jonah Booth. Without these four, it would’ve been impossible to get the company to where it is today. Their dedication, creativity, and support have been everything.

I also want to recognize Colorado School of Mines and the Mines Theme Park Engineering and Design (TPED) group. If it weren’t for such an amazing school and the incredible people in that club, we wouldn’t have had the confidence to chase this dream. They gave us the foundation, the belief, and the space to build something truly FUNtastic.

Website: https://www.funtasticllc.net/

Instagram: funtastic_llc

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jalen-thomas/

Image Credits
Chris Probst with FIX IT IN PROBST LLC