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We’ve helped thousands of entrepreneurs. Here are some of their

SUCCESS STORIES

GreenPrint LLC

Founded in 2020 by Ben Rather and DeShawn Phenix, GreenPrint LLC 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 as they grow into adulthood.” While Rather and Phenix had a clear vision for their business, they knew they needed some help with the foundations of getting it started.

There were a variety of challenges for GreenPrint in the beginning, centering on funding and defining their customers. “Despite a communal understanding that the service we provide is so needed, we’re always on the hunt for folks who want to promote our vision with their dollars,” said Phenix.

Through their work with the Denver Metro Small Business Development Center, Rather said they were able to narrow down who their target audience is and how to approach them, “We currently sit very comfortably in the business-to-business space, opening up the opportunity to provide our resources to more people at once as opposed to a more direct business-to-consumer model.”

Despite the challenges that accompany starting any business, they have managed to accomplish a variety of milestones and successes. “One of our biggest successes to date is ongoing programming that we run within different campuses of Denver Public Schools,” said Phenix. “Getting in front of kids early, before they are faced with too many of life’s financial hurdles, is key for us.”

Rather says the goal for GreenPrint is to see their vision come to fruition, “Creating a world where everyone is empowered with equal financial knowledge. If we are able to look back and see that what we’ve done sparked systematic educational change, we’ll know we’ve accomplished something.”

When asked what advice they would pass on to their former selves if given the chance, Rather and Phenix say, “We’d tell ourselves to just keep going. There are going to be great times ahead and challenging times ahead. But hold on to that spark your vision created. For it is very powerful and will make all of those challenging times worth the struggle!”

Fireside Production

“With resources like the Denver Metro Chamber and the Denver Metro SBDC – and a community of entrepreneurs and leaders who are so willing to share their insights – I have to admit, learning how to run a business has been one of my greatest joys.” Naomi Binkley, founder and managing partner of Fireside Production said. Naomi Binkley and Tom McDonald make their living telling others’ stories through video. They are committed to bringing creativity,

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Paleo Meals To Go

A few years ago, Ty Soukup went on his first multi-day backpacking trip around the Maroon Bells 14ers in Colorado. But, his biggest challenge wasn’t the terrain – it was figuring out what to eat. He couldn’t find any backpacking meal options that would fit with his Paleo diet. “I thought to myself, why isn’t someone making a backpacker meal that appeals to folks on alternative diets?” Soukup recalled. “It was in that moment that

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Collective Counseling Solutions

Collective Counseling Solutions serves clients and therapists across 10 states, from Colorado to New York, by providing high-quality care to patients and being a resource for their network of therapists around the country. An SBDC client since 2018, Collective Counseling Solutions has shown exceptional growth since completing the Trout Tank Pitch Accelerator program and becoming a finalist for Start-Up of the Year at the 2022 Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce Business Awards! Founders Nicholas Mancini

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Wong Way Veg

When Lisa Wong stepped foot into the Denver Metro Small Business Development Center in 2011, her dream of starting a food truck in Denver was just that – a dream. Wong envisioned herself running a business that would marry her love for vegetarian food with her passion for building community. Two years later, her dream became a reality. But Wong’s dream didn’t come to life without hard work. In the fall of 2012, she enrolled

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Ristole

“Moving to Denver set me on a trajectory that changed the course of my life.” For Ristole CEO Jackie Adams, a woman whose life has already taken many turns, that’s saying something. Starting her career in computer programming, she quickly found the hours behind a computer screen tedious. She then applied for and was accepted to serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Tanzania, where she taught high school math in Swahili. After returning to

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Rupp’s Drums

Rupp’s Drums serves the Denver community with a wide range of music merchandise from drums and apparel to lessons and rentals. Run by a team of experienced musicians, they certainly know their stuff! Learn more about this accomplished SBDC client and finalist for Small Business of the Year at the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce 2022 Business Awards below. Rupp’s Drums began back in 1984 and was later purchased in 2018 by Alex Simpson, a

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