Our city is home to so many incredible businesses and so we asked the founders how they came up with the ideas for their businesses and have shared their responses below.

Monique Esberry | Holistic Animal Healer

I’ve always had a passion for skincare, hair care, and business development in sales. My journey into organic skincare for animals began unexpectedly when I rescued a pigeon that had suffered a serious skin injury from a hawk. I applied a product I had originally made for myself, and to my surprise, it soothed the pigeon’s skin and helped him heal. After being evaluated by a veterinarian, the pigeon was released back into the wild without any medication—only the help of my product. That experience showed me I was on to something special. Read more>>

Erin Clifford | Wealth Advisor & Founder of Truly Aligned

The idea for Truly Aligned was born from a desire to reimagine the wealth management experience. We saw how clients were bouncing between multiple advisors—financial planners, investment managers, insurance agents—trying to make sense of fragmented advice. We wanted to change that by creating a firm that integrates every aspect of a client’s financial world into one, cohesive plan. By aligning financial planning, investment management, insurance, tax, and estate planning with each client’s values and life goals, we empower them to live a life that’s truly aligned—where their wealth is in harmony with who they are and where they want to go. Read more>>

Rico Wint | Founder of YMOP & Pastor of The Purpose Center

I think great businesses are created by a need. Especially in the human services world, there is an opportunity to create a space where we can answer a need for the human condition. In 2009 I was invited back to my high school to speak to a classroom of young men who needed guidance and mentorship. I participated and it was — awful (so I thought)! I told myself I would never do it again, what I thought was a one time event, became a weekly mentorship class for those young men. It just organically matured into something meaningful. Read more>>

Julie Mclean | Certified Master Dog Trainer – Canine Behavior Consultant

The moment I heard that dog training could be a profession, it was like something sparked inside me and I knew there was nothing else I wanted to do more. I started to see all the struggles dog owners face not just with training but also with finding reliable care for them when they were at work or on vacation. I knew having a designated facility would enable me to help more dogs with training than I could just doing private lessons in homes but I also wanted owners to have a safe place to take their dogs that wouldn’t cause behavior problems. Read more>>

Cassie & Chelsey Maschhoff | Co-Founders and Sisters of Lottie’s Meats & Provisions

We grew up in agriculture on a family pork farm in the midwest (we are the sixth generation). After spending time away from the farm and building our respective careers in the culinary and tech world, we noticed that premium pork products were missing from menus, retail shelves, and the conversation. And, we also knew the power of pork, done right. If anyone was going to reintroduce pork in a new and meaningful way, why not us?! And so, Lottie’s – a family name – was born. Read more>>

Callae Gedrose | Regenerative Garden Designer

My journey in gardening began more than twenty years ago with my own garden. Over the years I’ve refined my gardening and design experience to evolve with a changing ecological awareness. As a lifelong Coloradan, I have a keen understanding of our unique environment. Our population and development has expanded exponentially over the years and I didn’t like what I was seeing. Urban expansion, along with the American sprawling lawn is dwindling our water resources, destroying our precious ecosystems, and adding to the challenges of a changing climate. These changes don’t serve the health of our state or planet. Read more>>