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Beyond Comfort Zones: How Lang Mei Built a Global Life

Colton Sontrop — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 11:30:00 +0000

Beyond Comfort Zones: How Lang Mei Built a Global Life Colton Sontrop Thu, 09/04/2025 - 05:30 Colton Sontrop

A Global Journey Begins

Not many 18-year-olds choose to move across the world.

But that’s exactly what Lang Mei did.

Lang has always had a daring and adventurous mindset, willing to adapt to whatever situation is presented to him. His story begins in China, where he grew up before making a bold decision to move to the United States. He didn’t take the easier route of joining the many Chinese students in California. Instead, he chose Colorado, where he would be forced to adapt quickly and immerse himself in a new culture. By doing this, it also forced him to speak strictly English. That willingness to challenge himself has defined his life and career ever since.

At ��, Lang found the perfect launchpad for his ambitions. He loved the city from the moment he visited. He was drawn by its entrepreneurial energy, the presence of Techstars, and the collaborative vibe that blended “a little bit hippie, but entrepreneurial.” His time at CU not only gave him a world-class education, but it also marked the beginning of a journey that would eventually take him across four continents and into multiple startup ventures.

Even beyond academics and startups, Lang’s path has always been about exploration. He studied abroad in Paris, spent time living in Turkey, and traveled extensively through South America. These experiences deepened his perspective and shaped how he approaches problems. His international chapters added layers to his story, reinforcing his identity as a global citizen who thrives on connecting across cultures. Today, Lang is a global traveler and entrepreneur. He continues to mentor founders and invest in startups, all while staying true to the adventurous mindset that brought him to Boulder in the first place.

An Inclusive Ecosystem for Entrepreneurs

Lang’s move to Colorado wasn’t just about geography, but also transformation. Coming from China, he wanted an environment where he couldn’t fall back on the comfort of speaking his native language. California would’ve had familiarities - culture and language-wise - but he deliberately chose differently. Colorado, on the other hand, would push him to embrace English and American culture.

“If I went to California, I would've been speaking Chinese to other Chinese students. I also needed to learn American culture, so Colorado seemed to be a very good place to start.”

At first, Lang enrolled in a language program at the University of Denver, but he quickly realized �� was where he belonged. The combination of the town’s vibrant startup scene, the supportive environment on campus, and the proximity to the engineering school made the transition feel right. As he shared, Boulder was far more approachable than trying to break into San Francisco or New York with no resources at 19 or 20 years old.

As a foreign student and someone eager to try new things, Lang describes CU as a place that welcomed him fully. That inclusivity gave him the confidence to pursue his ambitions, knowing he had support behind him. It also provided the ecosystem that jump-started his entrepreneurial journey, including mentorship, resources, and the comfort of knowing it's good to learn from mistakes.

Programs, Pitches, and Prototypes

Lang wasted no time making the most of CU’s programs. He took hardware classes in the BTU Lab, which gave him hands-on technical skills and a deeper understanding of how software, hardware, and firmware interact. This knowledge enabled him to work with engineers and even build prototypes for his company. He credits his former professor, Alicia Gibb Seidle, and his peers for learning from it, as well as helping him establish the foundation to bridge business with technology. He also credits Leeds professors for helping him through his journey, particularly Don Oest, who gave him the confidence and support to kickstart his career.

Outside of the classroom, he immersed himself in the New Venture Challenge. It was here that Lang sharpened his public speaking and pitching abilities, skills he admits were a major hurdle at first. English was still new to him, and presenting in front of judges felt daunting, but CU provided the stage to grow. After countless pitches, he became a polished speaker, learning not only how to communicate his ideas clearly but also how to listen and connect with his audience.

Lang also spent time at Spark Boulder, where he found a community of like-minded peers. Meeting entrepreneurs outside his classes opened him to diverse ideas and skills, teaching him that building a startup requires perspectives far beyond a single major or background. These programs didn’t just build his confidence; they gave him teammates, mentors, and opportunities that would lead to his first venture.

His company, Informu, was born from a painful moment. During a study abroad trip to Paris, his backpack was stolen, with his laptop and passport inside. Determined to create a solution, he began developing a smart tracking device that would alert users if they left their belongings behind. With the support of CU’s ecosystem, he and his co-founders launched Informu through crowdfunding, raising $250,000 on Kickstarter and Indiegogo. Their work eventually caught the attention of Apple, which acquired one of their patents and integrated the technology into what would become Apple AirTag.

Lang’s entrepreneurial career didn’t stop there. He later took on leadership roles in the crypto world, helping scale a blockchain company to a $125 million market cap. Today, he continues to explore opportunities as both a founder and investor, while traveling the world and mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs.

What It Means to Build Beyond Borders

For Lang, the beauty of entrepreneurship lies in figuring out a path forward despite limited resources, whether it’s a lack of funding, connections, or experience. Those constraints force entrepreneurs to innovate and build what people truly need.

“Without constraint, there is no creativity. The critique comes from the constraint.”

That perspective is more than just theory; it’s the story of his own life. From a daring decision when he was 18 to a stolen backpack in Paris, Lang has repeatedly taken challenges and turned them into platforms for growth. Each constraint became a stepping stone toward new ideas and ventures. His journey is proof that the most powerful innovations often come not from abundance, but from scarcity.

Lang’s story shows what’s possible when you embrace discomfort and trust the process. From Boulder to Buenos Aires, he has built a life around curiosity and adaptability. His advice to future entrepreneurs is to embrace challenges, because they are the very conditions that allow creativity and opportunity to flourish.

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Every Step Counts: Cory Finney on Turning Experiences into Impact

Colton Sontrop — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 11:30:00 +0000

Every Step Counts: Cory Finney on Turning Experiences into Impact Colton Sontrop Thu, 08/28/2025 - 05:30

Colton Sontrop

When the Game Ends, Another Begins

Cory Finney’s story begins in the mountain town of Durango, where his upbringing shaped not only his love for the outdoors but also his deep sense of community. As a sixth-generation Coloradan, Cory grew up immersed in a small-town environment that valued resilience, resourcefulness, and hard work. For much of his early life, baseball was at the center. He poured his energy into the sport, with dreams of competing at the college level.

However, that dream came to a sudden halt when he broke his wrist before his senior year of high school. For many, such an injury could have felt like the end of the road. But Cory now sees it as a gateway into other opportunities. It closed one chapter and opened another, giving him the chance to reimagine his future beyond the baseball field. Without the weight of pursuing athletics, he leaned fully into academics and personal growth. He first spent a year at San Diego State before realizing his heart belonged in Colorado. The mountains called him back, and he transferred to the ��, where his true entrepreneurial journey began.

For Cory, all of this would become important to his career. The switch from athlete to student, to now entrepreneur, opened doors he never would’ve envisioned. His entrepreneurship journey is filled with experience. From co-founding TedxCU - now the largest run student Tedx event - to being a partner at Greater Colorado Venture Fund, his adventure reflects a culmination of events in his life.

The Launch Pad for Entrepreneurship

At ��, Cory studied finance while also diving into every entrepreneurial resource the school had to offer. He earned a Certificate in Entrepreneurial Studies, a program that pushed him to think creatively about business ideas and sharpen his ability to turn concepts into reality. He also participated in the London Finance Seminar, which exposed him to the global financial system and introduced him to venture capital, which became a discovery that would later define his career path.

Beyond the classroom, Cory found himself at the center of CU’s growing entrepreneurship ecosystem. Programs like the New Venture Challenge and Silicon Flatirons, ran by Brad Bernthal, gave him the chance to test his ideas, build networks, and gain hands-on experience. Cory describes these programs with Brad as some of the most pivotal moments of not only his time at CU, but his entire life, mentioning how it laid the groundwork for everything up to today. The Deming Center for Entrepreneurship, most notably Erick Mueller, also provided support and mentorship in important moments, offering guidance from faculty and alumni who believed in his potential.

Mentorship, in particular, became a cornerstone of Cory’s CU experience. He participated in the Young Alumni Mentors Program, first as a mentee and later as a mentor himself. The relationships he built through that program created a lifelong network of peers and friends, many of whom continue to collaborate with him today. To this day, Cory still mentors students through CU’s Professional Mentorship Program, seeing it as a way to give back to the community that helped launch his own journey.

“I feel very appreciative for all the support and help that I got from the CU ecosystem, and so the smallest thing I can do is to put some energy back into that network.”

�� wasn’t just a stop on Cory’s educational path, but it was the launching pad for his entrepreneurial career. It was there that he first learned how to transform ambition into action, and how to lean on a community of innovators for support.

Venture Capital with a Local Heart

Cory’s professional path reflects a theme of building ventures that connect people and ideas. His first major leap came during college with SnowGate, an automated ski rack and locker company. What started as a business plan project for his entrepreneurship certificate grew into a real venture he chose to pursue instead of a traditional job after graduation. SnowGate ran for three years and ultimately achieved a small exit, giving Cory his first taste of startup life.

From there, he launched a consulting company for startups, helping young businesses navigate finance and fundraising. That experience led him to Boomtown Accelerator in Boulder, where he served as Entrepreneur in Residence. In just three years, Cory worked directly with 45 different companies, sharpening his skills as both a mentor and a financial strategist. It was at Boomtown that he realized his passion for venture capital, helping startups secure the funding they needed to grow.

Cory went on to co-found Kokopelli Capital, the Rocky Mountain region’s first pre-seed fund. Alongside his partners Fletcher Richman and Jamie Finney, he invested in dozens of early-stage companies and deepened his understanding of what it means to support entrepreneurs at the most fragile stages of their journey. During this same period, the three also launched TEDxCU. A community-building project between students and Boulder entrepreneurs has become a cornerstone event that continues to inspire thousands each year.

Today, Cory is Managing Partner at the Greater Colorado Venture Fund. Greater Colorado Venture Fund is a venture fund dedicated exclusively to rural Colorado. For Cory, the role feels like a perfect blend of his upbringing in Durango, his entrepreneurial background, and his deep commitment to activating untapped potential across the state. With more than 50 investments already made in rural communities, the fund demonstrates his belief that innovation isn’t confined to major cities - it thrives wherever people build.

Resilience as a Way of Life

Cory reflects on entrepreneurship overall as both his lived experience and his philosophy as an investor. To him, entrepreneurship isn’t only about ideas, but rather how you execute on them. Whether it’s a lemonade stand or a venture-backed startup, entrepreneurship means forcing an idea into reality and making it part of other people’s worlds.

“Entrepreneurship is taking an idea and brute-forcing it into not only your reality, but making it become a part of other people's realities.”

Cory also keeps a more personal motto close at hand, one that shaped his early consulting business: FITFO - meaning Figure It Out. To him, this phrase embodies the resilience and problem-solving mindset at the heart of entrepreneurship. No matter the scale of the problem, entrepreneurs must continually adapt, push forward, and create solutions when none seem obvious.

His journey, from small-town Durango to ��, as well as a student founder to venture capitalist, illustrates this mindset in action. Cory has built a career on figuring it out, whether starting a company, mentoring students, or investing in rural entrepreneurs. It reflects how entrepreneurship is about taking an idea, bringing it to life, and helping others see it’s value.

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Building With Purpose: Tim Okita & Paul Zeckser’s Journey to LightTable

Colton Sontrop — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 11:30:00 +0000

Building With Purpose: Tim Okita & Paul Zeckser’s Journey to LightTable Colton Sontrop Thu, 08/21/2025 - 05:30

Colton Sontrop

When you meet Tim Okita and Paul Zeckser, you quickly sense the balance they bring to their partnership. Tim, a Cal Poly engineer turned �� MBA, built his career in startups, venture capital, and the Colorado entrepreneurial ecosystem. Paul, a CU International Affairs alum, spent decades in the tech world, rising to senior leadership before finding the right opportunity to build something of his own. Together, they bring complementary perspectives. Tim with his boots-on-the-ground experience in startup programs and venture, and Paul with his seasoned leadership across technology companies.

Though their paths to entrepreneurship began in very different ways, both shared a drive to build, test, and create. Tim’s story is rooted in diving headfirst into CU’s entrepreneurial programs after moving to Colorado, while Paul’s career evolved through years of product building, enterprise sales, and leadership roles. That combination of youthful hunger and veteran perspective now fuels their joint vision at LightTable, where they’re working to transform the world of construction through AI. Their journeys illustrate what entrepreneurship often looks like in real life: not a straight path, but a winding road of experiences, experiments, and opportunities that eventually align at the right moment. For Tim and Paul, that moment is now.

While their accomplishments today are impressive, what makes Tim and Paul’s story especially compelling is how different their journeys look on the surface. Paul represents the wisdom that comes from decades of experience, while Tim represents the fresh energy of CU’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, shaped by case competitions, venture funds, and mentorship. Together, they embody the strength of Colorado’s startup community.

Finding Their Foundation at CU

For both Tim and Paul, �� played a pivotal role in shaping their professional outlooks. Tim arrived on campus eager to immerse himself in every entrepreneurial opportunity available. Through the High-Growth Venture Fellowship, the Deming Center Venture Fund, and national case competitions, he gained firsthand experience working with founders. He was able to evaluate startups and invest in promising ventures. Those experiences not only sharpened his skills but also plugged him into the broader Colorado startup community. He credits CU’s network for connecting him to people and opportunities that ultimately led him to LightTable.

Paul’s CU journey began much earlier, as an undergraduate in the late 1990s. He majored in International Affairs and studied abroad in Sevilla, Spain. He describes his study abroad experience as transformative, teaching him adaptability and resilience. He was also apart of the Presidents Leadership Class, where he fine-tuned his leadership development skills. Those experiences gave him confidence and adaptability, which proved invaluable when pitching enterprise sales to Fortune 500 companies later in his career.

“If I could navigate a foreign country with limited language skills, I could certainly walk into a meeting with Bank of America or Wells Fargo,”

CU’s environment of exposure to leaders, coupled with its emphasis on tackling challenges, helped him see that he could thrive in high-pressure settings.

Both alumni point to CU not just as a school, but as a launchpad. For Tim, the value came through hands-on programs and a network just one degree removed from nearly every major player in Colorado’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. For Paul, it was the leadership, adaptability, and resilience fostered through CU’s curriculum and community. In different eras and contexts, �� left its imprint on both.

Different Paths, Same Vision

Today, Tim and Paul are at the helm of the recently launched LightTable, a fast-growing software startup that applies artificial intelligence to the construction industry. Their platform acts as a peer reviewer for architectural drawings and specifications, scanning documents to detect design errors before construction begins. Traditionally, this type of review is done manually by third parties, which is a slow and costly process. LightTable’s AI dramatically accelerates that work, reducing risk and helping developers, architects, and engineers save time and money.

The company’s story began when one of its co-founders, an architect, realized how powerful AI could be when navigating building permitting issues. After incubating the idea with venture capital firms in New York, the concept pivoted toward quality control and peer review, validated by more than 100 industry interviews. That foundation led to the recruitment of Paul as CEO and Tim as an early hire, later joined by veteran AI engineer from Dartmouth, Dan Becker, and architect and co-founder from Dartmouth, Ben Waters. Without this foundation, LightTable wouldn't nearly be in the same position today. Together, the team represents expertise in architecture, technology, and venture-backed growth.

In less than a year, LightTable has already achieved major milestones: raising $6 million, signing five design partners, and developing a product that would have once taken years and a much larger team to build.

“What used to require 10 to 15 engineers over three years, we’ve built in five months with three people thanks to AI”.

This rapid pace allows them to focus on what matters most: working closely with users, iterating quickly, and building solutions. For both Tim and Paul, LightTable represents the culmination of years of experience and the beginning of something much bigger. LightTable literally and figuratively embodies CU, through its values and people.

Foundations for the First Step

Despite their different paths, both Tim and Paul share a grounded view of entrepreneurship. For Tim, entrepreneurship is about taking ownership and choosing to bring something into the world that didn’t exist before. Whether it’s a small business or a billion-dollar software company, he emphasizes that CU provides the foundation, tools, and networks to take those first steps. He states that success comes down to solving meaningful problems and persisting through challenges.

Paul defines entrepreneurship as the willingness to take that first leap, no matter how small. He recalls starting a lawnmowing business in high school that grew into dozens of clients, teaching him the importance of simply starting. He believes that by knocking on the first door, cutting the first lawn, and printing the first flyer, you can start your entrepreneurial journey. To him, entrepreneurship is about having the courage to begin, and building step by step while listening honestly to feedback.

Both agree that Boulder and CU provide a unique ecosystem where students can gain experience, make connections, and learn by doing. Their advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is to put themselves in hard situations, seek out opportunities to grow, and take that first step toward building something. Whether that step leads to a small neighborhood business or a transformative technology startup, the entrepreneurial mindset remains the same.

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Following the Why: How Kate Minnihan Turned Her Leeds Experience into a Passion and Career

Colton Sontrop — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 11:30:00 +0000

Following the Why: How Kate Minnihan Turned Her Leeds Experience into a Passion and Career Colton Sontrop Thu, 08/07/2025 - 05:30

Colton Sontrop

Finding Her Path at Leeds

Kate Minnihan’s connection to �� runs deep. A Colorado native, she graduated from Leeds in 2018 with a degree in management in Leeds with a minor in leadership studies.

But her journey to that point wasn’t straightforward.

Originally accepted to CU as an engineering student, Kate quickly realized her true interests lay elsewhere. She felt that business was applicable to everything, so her switching majors became a decision that opened doors she didn’t yet know she wanted to walk through.

At Leeds, Kate immersed herself in opportunities that challenged her to think critically about her path.

“It was really neat to get to look back on that and feel like I was able to see an opportunity to make something better and say yes to it.”

The Design Your Leeds course encouraged her to explore not just what she wanted to do, but why she wanted to do it. That question would guide her in life and her career. Through the Leeds Scholars Program, Kate traveled to Buenos Aires as a freshman, broadening her worldview and sparking a lifelong passion for travel and cultural exploration.

Outside the classroom, she made her mark by creating programs that would outlast her time at CU. As part of the President’s Leadership Class, Kate saw a gap in peer mentorship opportunities and decided to do something about it. She pitched a program to connect underclassmen with upperclassmen - called PLC^2 (inspired by the Peer2Peer program) - built it from the ground up and supported the growth throughout the years. Years later, that program still exists, and has expanded to include alumni. Looking back, Kate sees that experience as one of her first steps into entrepreneurship: identifying a need, building a solution, and bringing people together to make it happen.

Discovering a Passion for Coaching

While Kate didn’t initially picture herself as a coach or entrepreneur, programs through CU guided her towards that passion. Classes like Designing Your Leeds, taught by Dr. Angela Thieman Dino at the time, helped her realize her values, while programs like the Professional Mentorship Program introduced her to a mentor - Amy Felix-Reese - who would change her trajectory. This mentor, who was a professional coach herself, opened Kate’s eyes to the world of coaching and the power of helping others navigate life’s big transitions.

Kate didn’t just learn from these programs, she applied their lessons. As a student leader and active participant in CU’s mentorship ecosystem, she became passionate about supporting others through pivotal moments. These experiences taught her that coaching wasn’t just about building resumes or preparing for interviews - although she helped plenty of students with that. It was about helping people connect their actions to their values, and empowering them to take intentional steps toward their goals.

Her passion for people development continued after graduation. Kate spent over six years in the Leeds Career Development Office, where she helped students bridge the gap between college and their first jobs. She even stepped into the classroom as a 23-year-old instructor, teaching an internship accelerator course and guiding students through real-world consulting projects. These roles fine tuned her coaching skills and helped her understand the unique challenges students face as they transition into their careers.

Building a Business and Giving Back

What began as casually helping friends with resumes soon grew into something much bigger. Encouraged by those around her who saw her talent, Kate launched her own coaching LLC in 2021. At first, her focus was on career coaching, helping clients navigate job searches, interviews, and early-career decisions. But as she grew her practice, she realized her real impact came from going deeper, which was helping people understand their motivations and making values-driven choices about their lives.

Kate’s business has since evolved into a multifaceted venture. She became certified by the International Coaching Federation and started using tools like the Enneagram, which is a personality framework to help individuals and teams better understand themselves and each other. Her work has expanded beyond one-on-one coaching to include workshops, team training, and even the creation of physical products. Her business reflects all of the things she's passionate about, which is life coaching and understanding the psychology behind the way people respond to things and make decisions.

Yet even as she built her business, Kate never stopped giving back to CU. She continued working at Leeds in a remote capacity, helping students prepare for their careers while growing her entrepreneurial endeavors on the side. Most recently, she joined the Leeds Gold Board, a role that allows her to support the school in a new way as a young alum.

“Even though I don’t work there anymore it feels special to still be part of the Leeds community.”

Redefining Success and Inspiring Others

Today, Kate lives in San Diego with her husband, running her coaching business and continuing to explore how she can create meaningful impact. She admits she’s at a crossroads, exploring new ways to grow her work while also learning the power of slowing down and saying no to opportunities that don’t align with her purpose.

For Kate, entrepreneurship isn’t just about starting a business, it’s about creation. It’s about seeing an opportunity and having the courage to act on it, even when the path ahead isn’t perfectly clear.

“I feel like what I spoke to so much about entrepreneurship is around creation… using your unique gifts and talents.”

To current students and aspiring entrepreneurs, Kate encourages you to take advantage of the opportunities in front of you, lean into curiosity, and say yes, while not underestimating the value of asking "why?".

Kate’s story is a reminder that success doesn’t come from following a perfectly planned path. It comes from saying yes to opportunities, pursuing what matters most, and building something meaningful along the way.

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How SpotSurfer Is Smoothing Out the Ski Experience

Colton Sontrop — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 11:30:00 +0000

How SpotSurfer Is Smoothing Out the Ski Experience Colton Sontrop Thu, 07/03/2025 - 05:30

Colton Sontrop

Solving Ski Chaos

SpotSurfer is a Colorado-born startup with big ambitions. What began as a solution to frustrating ski mountain traffic problems has evolved into a lifestyle platform reshaping how people experience skiing and snowboarding. The company’s founders, �� alumni James Hohenlohe and Erik Davison, are on a mission to simplify the ski experience.

The concept came to life when James, a lifelong skier from Montana, saw how chaotic resort parking had become. After too many mornings spent circling packed lots, he envisioned a platform where skiers could reserve parking spaces in advance, similar to the process of booking a hotel. A simple fix has now expanded into tons of new features, including real-time traffic alerts, amenity add-ons, restaurant recommendations, and dynamic pricing specific to guests’ schedules.

James brought the idea to Erik, his mentor through the Leeds School of Business Professional Mentorship Program (PMP), run by Sally Forester. Erik, a seasoned entrepreneur with a background in the Air Force and years of consulting under his belt, immediately saw potential. With Erik’s strategic guidance and James’s vision, SpotSurfer was born in mid-2022. Since then, the company has formed partnerships with major resorts, hotels, and even municipalities, offering a simple solution to one of skiing’s biggest headaches.

From Mentorship to Co-Founders

What makes SpotSurfer’s story especially powerful is the journey from mentorship to co-creation. When James and Erik’s relationship was purely mentor and mentee, James was just looking to learn from someone experienced. However, over the course of two years, the mentorship deepened, eventually leading to a strong working relationship and the idea that would become SpotSurfer.

Erik, who has mentored around ten students through the program, emphasizes the importance of giving back. He approaches mentorship seriously, striving to provide students with the guidance he wishes he had during his own time at CU. His commitment created a foundation of trust that allowed James to pitch his idea with confidence.

“To me, it is, as I mentioned before, it's giving back to the university. It's giving back to the students. I wish when I was there... I could have had those type of tools, and that's how I treat this.”

For James, seeing Erik’s path helped ensure his passion for entrepreneurship. Growing up in Montana, the tech startup world felt distant. Through CU’s programs and mentorship, James developed skills for turning ideas into action. That visibility, he says, is everything for aspiring founders who might not come from traditional entrepreneurial backgrounds.

Their partnership is a textbook example of what happens when mentorship programs work exactly as intended. An experienced entrepreneur empowers a student to take bold steps, and a student brings a fresh idea to life with the support of someone who’s been there before.

Fueled by Passion, Shaped by Experience

Both founders are driven by a deep love for entrepreneurship, but for different reasons. James’s passion for skiing, combined with his desire to build something meaningful, naturally led to SpotSurfer. He’d been interested in business from a young age, even building websites for local businesses in high school. Though he didn’t love coding, he loved creating experiences that solved real problems for real people.

Erik’s path was much different but equally passionate. Growing up in Germany and later attending ��, he eventually spent years flying jets in the Air Force and consulting for large firms. But he always had a business mindset. Whether running car rental operations as a teen or launching his own consulting firm. SpotSurfer gave him another chance to build something from the ground up, but this time with a previous mentee.

They both approach the work with relentless drive. They persistently pursued partnerships with Vail Resorts, hotels, and even nonprofits to expand their platform’s impact. Today, SpotSurfer’s platform offers not just parking but a more personalized experience for mountain travelers.

Forward Thinking: Coming Back to Boulder and Expanding Beyond

SpotSurfer is only getting started. With partnerships already in place at five Vail Resorts properties, the team is scheming for major expansions. Colorado ski towns like Steamboat, Breckenridge, and Keystone are on the radar, along with Utah hotspots like Park City, Snowbird, and Solitude. It’s clear that parking at these resorts has become more difficult, and SpotSurfer’s model provides a scalable solution.

After recently winning an award for Colorado Companies to Watch, the vision now extends beyond skiing. Erik and James are exploring how SpotSurfer can be applied to parking challenges in cities, school districts, casinos, and large venues. One idea they already have is using Las Vegas Casinos to address parking for events like Formula One. While they're both in different places, they emphasize how Boulder is their home. In the future, they hope to support game day parking for CU events and nearby ski resorts, like Eldora.

SpotSurfer is making significant strides to capitalize on their potential markets. To support this growth, SpotSurfer is currently raising a $3 million funding round. Their goal is to scale operations, build out their AI capabilities, and hire talent across marketing, finance, and development.

The Leeds PMP is a fantastic opportunity for students and entrepreneurs to help define their path further, and discover a passion. For students and alumni looking to follow a similar path, James and Erik emphasize to create something while they're in college, and that there's no perfect time to launch something.

SpotSurfer is more than a company, it’s a reflection of what’s possible when passion meets perseverance. For the next generation of builders, it’s a reminder that the best time to start is now.

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VerEstate: Champions Through A New Take on an Old Industry

Colton Sontrop — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 11:30:00 +0000

VerEstate: Champions Through A New Take on an Old Industry Colton Sontrop Thu, 06/05/2025 - 05:30

Colton Sontrop

Title insurance isn’t often the first thing that comes to mind when you think of disruptive innovation. But for the founders of VerEstate - Camden Dempsey, Alec Hyde, and Nicholas Soza - that’s precisely what made it an opportunity. They saw an industry still stuck in paper-heavy, manual workflows and imagined what it could become with the power of AI. VerEstate emerged as a digital title insurance agency focused on simplifying the real estate transaction process, aiming to create a faster and more efficient experience.

The idea came to life at ��, rooted from the undergraduate course New Venture Creation. Camden and Nico discovered a large opportunity, by simplifying title insurance rather than complicating it. They saw the inefficiencies and began building a solution that integrated technology in a way the industry hadn’t seen. Alec entered the picture later, joining the duo through the highly selective graduate-level accelerator course, New Venture Launch.

Designed to prepare students for CU’s flagship entrepreneurial competition (New Venture Challenge), this course functions as a launchpad for student ventures. Each team is challenged to take an idea and transform it into a compelling business, building toward a high-stakes pitch in a series of competitive rounds. Through this process, teams go from early-stage concepts to fully-fledged startups.

VerEstate thrived in this environment. What began as a classroom concept quickly evolved into a high-potential startup. Their preparation and hard work resulted in an impressive showing at the New Venture Challenge finals, securing the title and the monetary grand prize. New Venture Challenge is the largest startup competition in Boulder, drawing hundreds of student entrepreneurs, mentors, and industry judges each year. Winning it is no small feat, and for VerEstate, it marked the beginning of a much larger journey.

Three Paths, One Vision

VerEstate’s strength lies in its diversity. Each founder brings a unique background and perspective to the table, which has driven their success. Camden, a student-athlete majoring in finance and marketing, balances business strategy with leadership drawn from years of football. Nico, originally from Chile, combines a background in economics with a strong foundation in operations and data analytics. Alec, a former neuroscientist and software engineer, contributes technical experience and insight from a decade of professional experience.

Rather than clashing, their differences have fueled better decisions and stronger collaboration. Their professional and personal synergy has allowed them to approach challenges with shared accountability.

“We complement each other’s weaknesses well. Which I think is a huge thing in business... to be able to find a team where you have people who are really strong at what you're not strong at.”

The team dynamic is built around thoughtful decision-making, where each voice is considered. This shows their mutual respect for each other, along with chemistry that has shaped the way they work, not just as co-founders, but as colleagues who genuinely enjoy building something together.

Outside of strategy sessions and team meetings, they’ve built a personal connection. Whether it’s stepping up to carry the load while one team member travels or simply carving out time to decompress, they’ve developed a bond that allows them to show up for each other in meaningful ways. As VerEstate grows, they shape a culture that values both results and relationships.

From the Classroom to the Main Stage

VerEstate’s path to the New Venture Challenge stage was anything but accidental. The journey began with structured coursework but quickly turned into an all-in commitment to building a company. After their success in New Venture Creation, Camden and Nico were encouraged to apply for New Venture Launch, a course that runs more like a startup accelerator rather than a classroom. Admission is competitive, and the workload is intense, but for students looking to take their ideas to the next level, it’s one of the most valuable experiences CU has to offer.

In this course, teams pitch nearly every week. They're given feedback by experienced professors, venture capitalists, and entrepreneurs who don’t sugarcoat criticism. Each presentation becomes a pressure test, and each critique pushes the team to improve. VerEstate embraced this challenge. Through their success, they signed several letters of intent with real estate partners. While those agreements remain non-binding until VerEstate is a registered insurance company, they serve as strong signals of market demand.

“It all started with a small idea at Leeds and all of a sudden we’re talking with the second largest mortgage broker in the state.”

The class also helped them build momentum through community. They connected with mentors and other entrepreneurs who contributed helpful advice for their company. As New Venture Challenge approached, they practiced tirelessly, and by the time they took the stage at the final round, they weren’t just students presenting an idea, they were founders presenting a company ready to launch.

Winning the New Venture Challenge wasn’t just a moment of recognition; it was validation. It proved that their months of work and late nights had paid off. Now, the spotlight shifts to what's next for them: refining and preparing for market entry.

Just the Beginning

While VerEstate is still early in its journey, the foundation they’ve built is strong. They're now focused on bringing their vision to life by building out the infrastructure and meeting the milestones needed to begin offering their services. The goal is to begin operations within the next year, and the team is putting everything in place to make that happen.

They remain deeply aware that their progress was made possible by a broader network of support. From faculty and mentors to classmates and Boulder’s entrepreneurial community, they’ve leaned on a village of people willing to offer wisdom and encouragement. That’s something they hope future students understand: success starts with showing up, asking for help, and doing the work.

“There’s no perfect time to start… the only thing that’s going to get you anywhere closer... is to start and just start taking steps one step at a time.”

What began as a class project is now a full-on startup on the rise. With the grit of student-athletes, the insight of industry professionals, and the drive of passionate builders, VerEstate is rewriting what title insurance can be, and they’re doing it together.

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How Emily Iliff's Entrepreneurial Mindset Shaped Her CU Journey

Emily Iliff — Thu, 08 May 2025 11:30:00 +0000

How Emily Iliff's Entrepreneurial Mindset Shaped Her CU Journey Emily Iliff Thu, 05/08/2025 - 05:30

Colton Sontrop

Some people start developing their entrepreneurial mindset through a pitch competition, or a big business idea. For Emily Iliff, it began much earlier, at 14, working at her parent’s businesses. That early glimpse into the world of business didn’t just teach her how to work, it shaped how she saw opportunities and how to take calculated risks.

Years later, that mindset would guide her through college at ��. While scrolling through CU’s student job board, she came across an opening for a marketing intern at the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship. The role was meant for business majors, and as a business minor, Emily almost didn’t apply. But in true entrepreneurial fashion, she took the leap anyway.

Her boldness paid off. After multiple rounds of interviews, she landed the internship and began what would become a transformative two-year journey, rising from intern to Editor-in-Chief of Deming’s marketing team. Along the way, she didn’t just manage campaigns and content; she became a storyteller for CU’s entrepreneurial community and established an inspiring mindset rooted in the power of bold ideas.

Leading Through Mindset, Not Just Title

Emily began her journey at CU as a sociology major, but after her first semester, it didn’t feel like the right fit. However, through all the uncertainty, she eventually found clarity in communication, empathy, and creativity. A switch to Advertising Strategy, along with a business minor and a certificate in entrepreneurial studies, became the perfect match.

This blend of academia not only gave Emily a strong academic foundation but helped her tie together her early business experiences with a strong understanding of how to build something meaningful. This paired with her now position at Deming provided invaluable experiences that would shape her future.

Emily's role at the Deming Center became more than just a job; it became a training ground for real-world leadership. Being a student employee among a team of professionals sharpened her communication skills and elevated her professionalism. She credits both her early start in the workforce and the maturity she gained.

But more importantly, Deming shaped how she approaches challenges. Instead of seeing problems through a traditional lens, she was taught to seek alternative angles.

“The typical way to approach a problem is to go into the “front door”. At the Deming Center, you’re taught to find the side door — the unexpected and inventive way in. There is always a more creative solution and always another perspective waiting to be discovered.”

This mindset proved useful in everything, from increasing newsletter conversion rates to navigating job applications and personal conflicts. Deming, she emphasized, taught her that momentum matters, and that the worst thing you can do is never start. Above all, that belief in yourself must remain, even when the world doesn't offer its full support.

Where Mindset Meets Experience

During her time at CU, one of the most impactful experiences for Emily came through the business capstone course tied to her minor. Taught by Visda Carson, this course was designed to challenge students to think and work like entrepreneurs. The class walks through the full lifecycle of a startup, starting with ideation to market research to pitching.

Beyond the project itself, the capstone gave Emily a glimpse into what it really takes to build something from the ground up. Working with students who brought different skills and perspectives helped her learn how to adapt and lead in unfamiliar environments. More importantly, it taught her how to make decisions with confidence and think critically about consumer needs.

These lessons were only amplified by the support of the Deming Center. The culture at Deming encourages experimentation and emphasizes creative mindsets. Whether it was tackling a marketing challenge or learning to pivot mid-project, Emily credits both Leeds and Deming for shaping how she approaches her work today. These experiences didn’t just elevate her college journey; they laid a mindset she’ll carry well beyond graduation.

That mindset, however, was also deeply rooted at home. Emily is especially grateful to her parents, whose constant encouragement and belief in her potential inspired her to push herself every day. Their support not only gave her the confidence to embrace challenges, but also shaped the determination and curiosity that drove her forward, and accomplished the goals she set for herself.

Owning Her Path Forward

Though Emily doesn’t have a startup of her own, she’s quick to challenge the idea that you need to launch a business to be an entrepreneur. In her eyes, entrepreneurship is a mindset, one that guides how you lead, how you communicate, and how you show up in the world.

Throughout her experiences, she credits her parents for beginning her journey from a young age. It sparked early motivation and prepared her extensively for the future. It also developed early professionalism and maturity - something she couldn’t pursue her professional career without.

It’s a mindset that has pushed her to shift from a “woe is me” outlook to one where she actively takes control.

"There comes a day in which you learn that you are either going to let life happen to you or you can take control of your own life.”

Surrounded by mentors and peers at Deming who are constantly ideating and creating, Emily now sees herself as part of an ecosystem rooted in empowerment. She’d like to thank Erick Mueller, CJ Riggins, Betsy Klein, and the rest of the Deming team for their steadfast support and mentorship throughout her time as both marketing intern and Editor-in-Chief.

For years, Emily would close interviews with entrepreneurs by asking what their personal definition of entrepreneurship is. Now, Emily finally gets the opportunity to share her own.

"The ability to take what opportunities you are given and create meaningful change, and to never give up on yourself."

Perhaps through all of her experiences, however, the greatest thing she learned is that entrepreneurship has no single definition. There are infinitely different journeys, meanings, and interpretations.

But if there’s one thing for sure, it’s that this is just the beginning for her.

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Arterial Charts a Bold Path Toward Launch

Emily Iliff — Thu, 01 May 2025 11:30:00 +0000

Arterial Charts a Bold Path Toward Launch Emily Iliff Thu, 05/01/2025 - 05:30

Colton Sontrop

Kyle Wandashin and Wade Turner are continuing to impress the young entrepreneurship world. Their company, Arterial, has only taken massive strides since their last edition in the Entrepreneurship Pulse.

In a space where startups commonly struggle, it seems that nothing can stop Arterial from turning every opportunity into momentum. Kyle and Wade are not just advancing their technology - they’re redefining what it means to scale, partner, and build thoughtfully in the young entrepreneurship world.

In late February, the team traveled to North Carolina for the Techstars AI and Life Sciences Startup Weekend event, where they had the chance to validate their product with key stakeholders, including officials from the City of Winston-Salem. Those conversations not only provided valuable feedback for scaling and launching a business, but opened the door to exciting future pilot opportunities.

Techstars, which is a global startup ecosystem that offers various programs and competitions, proved to be instrumental in their growth. Arterial’s exciting and differentiated AI model turned plenty of heads, resulting in a first-place finish. Winning the competition was a major milestone, bringing more than just recognition. Arterial now has 60 hours of free consulting across business growth, marketing, accounting, and finance. They also landed office space in North Carolina, an unexpected but welcome bonus as the company continues to expand its footprint.

On the technical side, while Arterial's AI model has mainly stayed the same in functionality, it has steadily improved. The team has been refining the dataset by training new and multiple models. As a result of Techstars, they also have secured a new employee, Calianna Priebe, who assists in AI and Web Development. She’s played a large role in ensuring the training progression. Their approach is less about flashy new features and more about building reliability, which is a large focus as they move closer to their launch.

Building Momentum

Along with their technical progress, Arterial has made big moves on the business side of things. This involved finalizing a paid pilot agreement with the City of Boulder and aiming for a Q4 deployment. They're also close to securing a similar partnership with the City of Denver, pending cybersecurity reviews and final approvals.

Boulder’s unique entrepreneurial ecosystem has provided valuable resources to the team, and in turn, Arterial has used these resources to build various parts of their company. By starting with the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship, they were given the tools and vote of confidence to take their business to the next level. Other resources through Leeds School of Business like Tracy Jennings, helped extensively create and build their project management and team management infrastructure.

Beyond Boulder, Arterial is expanding its network, gaining product interest from Colorado Department of Transportation (and municipalities in New York’s Hamptons region. Through New Venture Challenge and Smart Futures Lab, they’ve received valuable resources, and Catalyze CU, led by Karen Crofton, has provided funding, engineering support, lab space, and warm referrals to prospective city clients. Together, these programs have accelerated their progress and built a strong foundation for scaling after launch.

It’s clear Arterial is exceptional at using their resources, and they have Boulder to thank for that.

"The mixture between Boulder being so tech forward and so tech positive, being willing to have these conversations and being willing to have these changes, is what really helped us. Starting with a city like Boulder that is open to allowing those changes is helpful."

They encourage aspiring student entrepreneurs to use their “student status” to gain leverage to all of these resources.

The Power of Partnership

One of Arterial’s major advantages has nothing to do with tech, but rather the strength of their co-founder relationship. Wade and Kyle describe a dynamic that is built on deep trust paired with mutual respect. Their clear division of labor ensures company efficiency. Wade handles business development and client relationships, while Kyle leads technical development, allowing each of them to work independently without stepping on each other’s toes.

Disagreements between the two are rare, and even when they occur, they’re lighthearted. One memorable quarrel even ended with a pineapple being launched at a door, something the two describe as something that actually brought them closer together. More importantly, when real decisions need to be made, their ideas align quickly.

The pairs’ ability to separate personal feelings from business decisions has been key to their successful partnership. They see each other not as opponents in discussions, but as equal partners working toward a shared goal. That mindset, combined with an even distribution of responsibilities, has allowed Arterial to grow without much friction. This dynamic is one that many co-founder teams can only hope to achieve.

The Humble Hustle

As Arterial looks to the future, the team strides to remain coachable and keep a continuous learning approach. They've built an extensive advisory board of more than 20 mentors, with a collective 200+ years of Fortune 500 and startup experience. Instead of trying to solve every problem themselves, Wade and Kyle have learned to seek out experts when needed. This has rapidly accelerated their progress towards launch while allowing the team to still learn.

At the heart of their message is a reminder that entrepreneurship doesn't have to be terrifying. Speaking to students back at their old high school, they emphasized that while building a company is a lot of work, it’s not an overwhelming journey. Being willing to be wrong, open to feedback, and eager to learn are the real keys to success, not having all the answers from day one.

In a world where entrepreneurship is often portrayed as high-stakes and high-risk, Arterial offers a refreshing take: success comes from humility and persistence. As they prepare for their Q4 launch, it’s clear that the team’s mindset, just as much as their technology, is what’s propelling them forward.

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How Hope Macgregor’s Entrepreneurial Journey Took Flight Through Music

Emily Iliff — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 11:30:00 +0000

How Hope Macgregor’s Entrepreneurial Journey Took Flight Through Music Emily Iliff Thu, 04/24/2025 - 05:30

Colton Sontrop , Emily Iliff

Hope MacGregor never imagined her path would transition from flying helicopters over Afghanistan to standing on stage, guitar in hand. But if there’s one constant in her life, it’s embracing the pivot, and doing so with purpose.

Hope explored a wide range of career paths. From college to law to military service, the journey from Army pilot to singer-songwriter was far from what she expected. Now, a part of the Veterans Entrepreneurship Program taught by Erick Mueller, she is obtaining the needed soft and hard skills to grow her music career.

A Rediscovered Passion

In what she describes as a “rebellious decision,” Hope veered away from the typical route many teenagers take. Though she initially planned to attend Oklahoma State, she ultimately found herself at West Point, stepping into military service that would further develop her resilience and sense of purpose.

Her time in the military was transformative, but after completing her active duty service obligation, Hope was ready for a change.

While transitioning out of service into law school, Hope faced a series of personal challenges. Her father came to offer support, and stumbled upon one of her old guitars, which she hadn’t touched in years. This unexpected discovery reignited a long-suppressed passion, ultimately sparking the beginning of her music career.

Learning to Lead Her Art

Hope's business formally began when she established her LLC. The emotional and creative foundation was already there, but this was the moment where she formally began treating it like a business.

The Veteran Entrepreneurship Program at Oklahoma State University played an important role in helping her transition her passion to a successful business. Though she had already formed an LLC for her music, she admitted feeling overwhelmed by the practical demands of entrepreneurship: like filing taxes and navigating business law. With a background in military aviation and limited exposure to the world of business, she turned to the program after a Google search for Veteran resources. The program, designed specifically for Veterans, offered her a structured environment to gain foundational knowledge in areas like finance, taxes, and marketing.

Beyond the technical skills, the Veteran Entrepreneurship Program gave her a sense of community and validation. She initially walked into the program feeling intimidated, but she quickly found support and encouragement from both peers and instructors. The experience helped her realize that she wasn’t alone in her learning curve and that entrepreneurship could look different for everyone. It gave her the tools and confidence to pursue her music career seriously while honoring her values and personal style, reinforcing her identity as both a Veteran and an artist.

A Voice with Values

For Hope, music isn’t just a career, it’s how she communicates with the universe. “Songwriting is how I pray,” she shares. Her sound, a blend of blues, country, and classic rock, falls under the broad umbrella of Americana. Genre is secondary to her mission of emotional honesty. Every song she writes comes from a real, raw place, each word with an honest meaning.

Hope resists the industry’s pressure to conform, especially for female artists. She refuses to dress or perform in a way that doesn’t align with her values, and that resistance itself

has become part of her voice. She admits that she likes the rebellion of it, describing how her songs speak to people who don’t see themselves in mainstream music.

Like any artist, Hope has dreamed of stadium tours. But for now, she gravitates toward intimate venues where she can connect with audiences face-to-face. Music is powerful to her when she shares a “real truth”. This has fueled a debut album in October of 2023 and a major tour slated for July.

Building a Business with Heart

Though she's found her calling, Hope is quick to point out the realities of the music world. Although there are days where she wonders if entrepreneurship is harder than the Army, she remains grounded, balancing her art with a flexible day job to fund her career. Her entrepreneurial spirit drives her to forge a sustainable, self-directed life.

What truly distinguishes her as an entrepreneur is her desire to live on her own terms. For her, entrepreneurship is not defined by full-time self-employment or profit margins; it’s about designing a life that enables passion-driven work, even if it means taking an unconventional route to get there.

Hope’s career isn’t defined by profits or business plans. It’s fueled by passion and determination.

“Being an entrepreneur, for me, is setting my life up in a way that I can do what I want to do when I want to do it.”

That clarity of purpose has guided her through career pivots, personal challenges, and the leap into music. Her journey reflects a broader truth: entrepreneurship is deeply personal. It’s more than just about building something new.

Hope’s journey reminds us that entrepreneurship isn’t limited, it’s also about building a life filled with meaning, authenticity, and courage. Once in the cockpit, and now on stage, Hope is writing her own authentic story.

Photography by: 1, 2: Nicole Gray. 3: Hannah Gore

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How Ben Scarbeary is Channeling Creativity Into Entrepreneurial Impact at ��

Emily Iliff — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 11:30:00 +0000

How Ben Scarbeary is Channeling Creativity Into Entrepreneurial Impact at �� Emily Iliff Thu, 04/17/2025 - 05:30

Emily Iliff

When Benjamin Scarbeary began creating video game content on YouTube during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, he didn’t expect it to spark a lasting passion for entrepreneurship. Now a freshman at �� and a proud Deming Center Ambassador, Ben is channeling that same energy into helping other students discover the possibilities of entrepreneurial thinking.

A Colorado native with deep family roots in small business ownership, Ben was surrounded by entrepreneurship from a young age. His mom and both grandparents each run their own businesses, so carving out a path in business felt like a natural step. Still unsure whether he’ll major in marketing or entrepreneurship, Ben has already begun building his foundation through real-world experience.

Ben's first introduction to marketing and entrepreneurship came through producing YouTube videos centered around gaming. With schools closed due to Covid-19 and extra time on his hands, he dove into video creation, not just for entertainment, but as a way to explore digital media and grow an audience. Over time, the process revealed a passion not just for gaming, but for building something that could connect with others.

Ben’s connection to the Deming Center came shortly after arriving at ��. While applying for a venture launch program, ultimately unavailable to freshmen, he was encouraged to explore the ambassador program instead. That suggestion led him to stop by the Deming Center, where he quickly realized it was a space filled with people who shared his drive to build, create, and grow. Now, as an ambassador, he’s embraced the opportunity to help other students uncover resources they may not know exist.

Scaling Impact On and Off Campus

Ben’s involvement as a Deming Center Ambassador has been driven by his passion for building connections and sparking engagement. An aspect that stands out in his role is the ability to contribute to event planning: creating experiences that bring students together and inspire meaningful conversations around entrepreneurship. For Ben, these moments go beyond just day-to-day logistics; they represent real opportunities to see ideas come to life and to witness the excitement that can emerge when students share what they're working on.

One event in particular has become a highlight: Shark Tank. This student pitch event has become a campus favorite, drawing a mix of participants: some attending just for fun, others stepping up to pitch serious ventures. For Ben, the value is in the diversity of ideas and the creative energy that fills the room. Events like this have helped spread the Deming Center's presence among students, where anticipation for these events now build year after year.

As he looks ahead, Ben recognizes the importance of not just attracting new students to the Deming Center, but also keeping existing members engaged. While many students sign up for updates and participate in events, there isn’t always a clear next step for those ready to dive deeper. Creating more pathways for continued involvement, especially as students’ needs evolve from freshman year to graduation, is one area Ben hopes to innovate and refresh. By refining the balance between outreach and long-term engagement, he believes the Deming Center can continue to be an amazing resource and community space for all aspiring entrepreneurs on campus.

Entrepreneurial Momentum

This experience as a solo founder has shaped the way Ben approaches his role at the Deming Center. Having personally navigated the ups and downs of running a venture, he brings a practical lens to event planning and student support. He’s quick to identify when something didn’t work, and just as eager to iterate and improve. Whether it’s troubleshooting event attendance or suggesting new resources, he’s constantly thinking about how to increase impact through both experimentation and empathy.

These skills are what has taken his passion for content creation and turned it into a growing venture of his own. What began during the early days of the pandemic as a solo YouTube channel has since evolved into a freelance business focused on influencer marketing. Over time, Ben realized that his real interest wasn’t just in gaming, it was in crafting content that resonates with people. That realization led him to shift from making videos for himself to helping others grow their online presence.

In 2023, he began working with a wide variety of clients, from small wellness consultants to major finance influencers with large followings. This period became a crash course in marketing strategy, video production, and platform algorithms: all of which helped him refine his focus and develop his own unique value proposition. He officially launched a solo-run influencer marketing agency dedicated to helping creators optimize their content and expand their reach.

Ben is already thinking ahead for his venture. Currently operating as a one-person team, he’s exploring ways to scale his services, possibly through tools or resources tailored to the influencer space. With experience on both sides, as a creator and a marketer, he’s positioned to understand the challenges of growing a digital presence and is focused on building solutions that are efficient, scalable, and creator-friendly.

The Power to Create Change

As an entrepreneurial-minded student at ��, Ben is not only building a venture, he's also working to build a better entrepreneurial ecosystem at ��. Despite the abundance of opportunities on campus, he’s noticed that many students, especially those outside of the Leeds School of Business, remain unaware of the Deming Center and the support it offers.

This gap in awareness is something Ben hopes to help bridge. Whether through more inclusive events, stronger outreach, or clearer pathways for involvement, he believes there is more to be done to connect students with the tools they need to thrive. It’s a challenge he acknowledges is complex, but also one he’s passionate about addressing through his role as a Deming Ambassador.

For Ben, entrepreneurship isn’t just about starting a business, it’s about truly creating change.

“My personal definition of entrepreneurship is the power and the ability to create change.”

Whether he's launching influencer campaigns, planning events that spark ideas, or mentoring fellow students, that mission stays at the center of everything he does. His journey is just beginning, but it already serves as a powerful example of what happens when creativity, community, and opportunity come together.

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