Med-Fit

Med-Fit, PLLC provides physician-supervised individualized weight management systems designed to help overweight and obese clients lose and maintain a healthy weight.

Owner Dr. Angela Tran is Board-Certified in Internal Medicine and Obesity Medicine and has practiced in primary care since 2007. Despite Angela’s extensive education and experience, she admits she knew very little about how to start a business when she decided to seek assistance from the Denver Metro SBDC in January of 2012.

Angela met with SBDC consultant Nancy Barnett for business plan development and review, as she was in the process of applying for a $400,000 SBA loan. Soon after, Wells Fargo awarded Angela a $230,000 SBA practice finance loan. Nancy also referred an attorney, accountant and banker, all of whom currently sit on Angela’s professional advisory board.

Angela also sought marketing assistance from SBDC consultant Wendy King, who helped her orchestrate and execute her marketing plan; including website development, advertising, public relations, search engine optimization, outreach and networking. Angela says, “I owe a lot to Wendy.”

“The assistance I received from Wendy and Nancy are the root of my success. They really helped to create structure and provided me with the resources and tools to make sure my business was on the road to success.” Angela dealt with many obstacles before opening her doors in September of 2012. “Believing in my product, who I am and how I add value has helped me to move forward despite my obstacles. And the SBDC gave me the confidence to overcome all the challenges I faced when starting my business.”

Just three months after starting her business, Angela built a client base of over 40 patients, with gross revenue of about $108,000. She has two full time employees, including a personal trainer and a medical assistant.

Angela is a true example of business success in the Denver community. A leader in the health and wellness industry, one of the fastest-growing industries in Colorado, Angela advises that other business startups be adaptable. “You have all of your plans in your mind and how you want things to occur, but the reality is that it could change. If you go with the flow you can achieve success.”

GreenPrint LLC

GreenPrint LLC was formed by Ben Rather and DeShawn Phenix in 2020. GreenPrint, which provides its clients with the knowledge and tools to navigate the complexities of money and achieve financial wellness, was formed when Rather and Phenix saw the necessity for the next generation to know more about personal finance. “We’ve been through those struggles ourselves,” said Rather, “and [we] want to pass along tools and resources that see young folks more financially empowered

Konjo Catering

In 2008, Konjo Catering emerged as the first Ethiopian catering company in Denver, driven by a passion for sharing authentic Ethiopian cuisine. After several successful years, the team took a bold step and launched Denver’s first Ethiopian food truck in 2015, attracting a line that stretched two blocks on opening day. This success fueled their dream of establishing the city’s first fast-casual Ethiopian restaurant. However, finding the right location that fit their vision and budget

Moss Pink

A love of flowers led Jil Schlisner to buy an existing flower shop in 2006, rename it and build her business by creating inspirational, beautiful atmospheres for clients. She believes people should wear flowers more often, in the form of corsages and boutonnieres—and on ordinary Wednesdays, not only proms or weddings. Moss Pink Flora & Botanicals, located on E. 23rd and Dexter streets in Denver, provides clients with beautiful shopping environment, as well as personal

Under the Sky Event Rental

The idea to launch Under the Sky Event Rental came to Rebecca Anderson when she told her seatmate on a flight to Denver about her wedding. She and husband Patrick had their intimate wedding under katas—Nordic tents that resemble Native American tepees. But, she had only seen them rented in her native United Kingdom. “That planted the seed,” she said. Back in the U.K., there are roughly 30 kata rental companies, up from just seven

Big Sky Aerial Technology

In business, the sky is the limit for Big Sky Aerial Technology—literally. This start-up company captures high-resolution aerial images for use in precision agriculture, allowing farmers to analyze the health of their crops. Founded in 2015 by Ron Lester and Jerred Lane, the idea to launch Big Sky Aerial Technology was inspired by the years Lester and Lane spent working with land and air-based remote sensing technologies in the Middle East. “With some of the

MindCraft Makerspace

“An entrepreneur is someone who jumps off a cliff and builds a plane on the way down.” — Reid Hoffman Entrepreneurs are passionate risk-takers who make an impact on our economy, and they‘ve made Colorado a top-five state for startup activity and for innovation. Entrepreneurs know it takes a lot more than an idea to make a business come to life. Brenda Lane is co-founder of MindCraft Makerspace knows just that. Lane has poured herself