The Startup Colorado Podcast Startup Colorado

When Robin Hall's employer Smartwool announced that she—along with all other employees—would need to relocate from Steamboat Springs to Denver, she was faced with a big decision. Leave the company she thought she'd retire at... or stay in Steamboat Springs and wayfind a new future for herself. With true entrepreneurial spirit, Robin and her co-founders Jay Lambert and Joe Solomon decided to launch a business that was truly rooted in place: Town Hall, a sustainable outerwear brand for kids. Here's how love for the Steamboat community led to an unexpected adventure in entrepreneurship. 

In Rocky Ford, Colorado, a meat market isn't "just" a meat market. Maya's Carniceria is helping address the unique needs of a small, rural town, as well as creating an opportunity for young people to stay local. Hear how Maya and her family launched Rocky Ford's first carniceria. 

Jessica Larriva never set out to become a business owner. She’s a baker. But when her mother fell ill, Jessica returned home to Colorado’s San Luis Valley and soon discovered that starting a business was  a necessity. Here’s how Jessica launched Tumbleweed Bread—an artisan sourdough baking company that serves the San Luis Valley—and a nonprofit that addresses food insecurity in the region.

Seven years ago, Josh Veenstra was working as an insulator at one of Craig, Colorado's energy companies. Today, he and his wife Meagan are the founders of Good Vibes River Gear, a handmade mesh rafting accessory manufacturer that's become an influential voice in the town's transition from the energy economy to outdoor recreation. Here's how Josh and Meagan started a business powered by the waves of change. 

Julia Taylor didn't set out to create an e-learning business for women; she was just trying to find a job that she could perform regardless of where the military stationed her husband. In 2014, she stumbled across website building and began teaching herself to code. The journey wasn't easy. There was no curriculum, no benchmarks, and no community. Sometimes when she'd ask a question, the responses—usually by men—were derogatory. She pushed on and eventually founded GeekPack, a company that not only teaches women to code, but also provides a supportive, online community for learning and professional development. 
Today, GeekPack is known for its signature product WP Rockstar—an in-depth Wordpress tutorial—live coding challenges, and advice on starting your own business, including how to look for clients online and marketing. 

Chereen Leong Schwarz started knitting as a way to decompress after long, stressful days as a head chef. Today she's the owner of Smeeny Beanie Knits, a handmade apparel company in Steamboat Springs. We spoke with Chereen about how she turned a hobby into a side-hustle and eventually into a successful, quit-your-day-job business.