deming

Inside Finn Conway Reiser's Playbook for Online Presence

Colton Sontrop — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 12:30:00 +0000

Inside Finn Conway Reiser's Playbook for Online Presence Colton Sontrop Thu, 01/29/2026 - 05:30

Colton Sontrop

Getting started early was never a problem for Finn Conway Reiser.

He’s already seen rapid success during his first year at CU, but his story begins far earlier than his time on campus.

As a fourth grader, he began posting content on social media, an age when most people have little understanding of what social platforms even are, let alone how they work. While others were simply consuming content, Reiser was experimenting with it, learning how videos were made and how audiences responded.

“I started posting on social media every day when I was in fourth grade. I was just experimenting, and learning what worked and what didn’t.”

While some creators stumble into success through a single viral moment, Reiser’s rise followed a very different path. His online presence, Finnontrack, was built through seven years of trial, error, and refinement before he gained real traction.

By his sophomore year of high school, Reiser had built an audience of roughly 30,000 followers through his lifting and track content For someone his age, it was an impressive milestone, but for him, it was only the beginning.

That momentum signaled it was time to take what he had learned and apply it on a larger stage.

Featured on the Big Stage

Reiser’s consistency became his defining advantage. Every video posted came with a lesson learned, and each lesson sharpened the next attempt. Over time, his ability to create engaging content developed into a genuine skill set, one from repetition rather than luck.

“For those first 6+ years, I was just editing videos over and over again. I wasn’t getting views at all, but every video taught me something, so I just kept going.”

His hard work eventually grew into credibility, leading to partnerships with major supplement brands, including Fairlife, GNC, Liquid IV, and Cutler Nutrition. Content creation quickly evolved into real business exposure, offering Reiser an inside look at how brands leverage creators.

The results were undeniable. One Fairlife video alone generated roughly half a million views and earned Reiser his largest paycheck at the time. It was a moment that felt like a breakthrough.

But that feeling did not last long.

Despite the video’s success, the compensation barely reflected the value being created. The commission-to-revenue percentage was far lower than expected, especially considering all the elements that went into it were his own. That gap revealed a deeper truth. Sponsorships offered exposure, but ownership offered control.

In recognizing that ownership mattered far more than promotion, Reiser decided it was time to build something of his own.

Taking Ownership

Thus, a turning point was created. Reiser’s experience working with large supplement companies gave him firsthand insight into just how powerful well executed content could be. More importantly, it showed him where creators often lose leverage.

As a result, he launched Rocky Mountain Supplements. For the first time, he controlled the message, the brand, the upside. Every sale now contributed directly to his own cause rather than someone else’s bottom line.

“Once I started my own company, everything I was doing finally made sense, because I was building something for myself instead of promoting someone else’s brand.”

The company operates on a white label model, allowing Reiser to scale without managing physical inventory. Its direct-to-consumer structure provides flexibility while keeping overhead low. For him, the model made sense. It removed unnecessary friction and allowed him to focus on digital strategy and storytelling, what he does best.

The company’s beating heart is his existing online presence. Years of content experience now serve a different purpose, and as a result, Reiser reaches customers organically. The shift represented a broader change in mindset, one centered on building systems that can sustain a business long term.

Learning Through Automation

As his ventures grew, so did Reiser’s curiosity about automation.

After arriving at CU ��ý��, he quickly immersed himself, joining the newly formed Spark CU incubator. It was there that his interest in artificial intelligence was ignited.

He expanded that learning by joining ��ý�� Venture Club and the CU AI Club, surrounding himself with others exploring similar tools and ideas. However, Reiser was interested in using AI beyond shortcuts for assignments or a replacement for thinking.

He quickly learned AI can run operational problems, simultaneously.

Rather than treating AI as a novelty, he approached it with a hands-on mindset. He began applying automation directly to his businesses, experimenting with workflows that could handle repetitive tasks and reduce friction.

Learning from peers was part of the process, but much of his progress came from self directed exploration. Reiser spends hours testing automation frameworks and building custom systems designed to replicate real business processes. Each experiment builds on the last, creating a feedback loop where AI becomes more capable as it absorbs real context.

“We spent probably four to five months just creating the seed prompt. It was ten pages long, and it was all trial and error, testing things, breaking things, and seeing how the system learned over time.”

Together with his co-founder, Rowan O’Dwyer, Reiser invested in physical infrastructure to support that vision. They built systems capable of running thousands of autonomous AI agents simultaneously. The breakthrough was more than speed, and he realized that AI could operate continuously. To him, this is where the competitive advantage lies with AI.

Solving Problems, Helping People

He’s only in his first year at CU, but it's clear Reiser’s resume turns heads. With more than one billion total views across his platforms, a supplement company built from the ground up, and a growing AI venture, it’s clear he has impressive entrepreneurial instincts.

“Every company I’ve built has come from a problem I ran into myself. Once you solve your own problem, you usually realize there are thousands of other people dealing with the same thing, it’s just about figuring out how to fix it better and faster.”

All in all, Reiser’s work is driven by a desire to make things easier for others. It could be helping brands reach audiences more effectively or building systems that remove inefficiencies or advocating for better access to practical AI education. Whatever it is, his projects are beyond himself.

For Reiser, staying ahead has always been about learning early and then applying those lessons. He’s built an audience since fourth grade, launched a business in high school, developed AI driven systems in his first year of college, and each step builds on one another.

His life may be constantly changing, but one his personal brand will always be here. It’s what opened doors in the first place. Wherever his path leads next, consistency is the constant.

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How Olivia Needham is Rebuilding Trust in the News

Colton Sontrop — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 12:30:00 +0000

How Olivia Needham is Rebuilding Trust in the News Colton Sontrop Thu, 01/22/2026 - 05:30

Colton Sontrop

Choosing a college is often defined by uncertainty. The pressure, the opportunity costs, the change, it’s all piling onto one big decision.

Luckily for Olivia Needham, her process couldn’t have been more straightforward.

As a high school applicant, Needham sat down with a specialized programs advisor and made her intentions clear: where could she start building right away and could support her immediately?

“I remember sitting down with a specialized programs advisor, back when I was an applicant, and just nailing him down on what can I do to start a venture as soon as possible? And he said that everything at CU had, including the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship, was gonna get me there.”

Her clarity set the tone for her time at CU ��ý��, along with her startup. A project that began as a Sophomore in high school has turned into her biggest passion, and now, she’s using the Deming Center to perfect it.

Ahead of the Competition

A core problem for Gen-Z is the unreliability and lack of trust in the news. Endless sources cause stories to get muddled and changed across not just news outlets, but also social media.

“No matter how hard I tried to look for stuff at my level that I could read, I could not find something that was factually accurate. I had to search through a sea of misinformation in order to find something that was truthful, and it deeply angered me.”

Her solution is Wagyl, a customized newsletter that highlights primary resources, making news easier to consume without pushing political sides.

It’s been her passionate and driven mindset that’s pushed Wagyl to where it is today. While many in 2020 spent time surfing social media, she was teaching herself how to code. She began working with early forms of NLP and fact-checking tools, and built an early prototype around a narrow dataset. This created the foundation of knowledge for these systems, and it internally confirmed that she loved building things.

Needham intentionally frames Wagyl as something different from traditional news platforms and Substack-style commentary. Instead of prioritizing opinions or secondary reporting, Wagyl is designed to elevate primary sources.

The name reflects this philosophy as well, naming it after an ancient serpent god associated with wisdom. She draws a parallel between how people avoid snakes and how people now avoid the news, even though both can be powerful and necessary when approached correctly.

Needham has also been using her resources at CU ��ý��. When she arrived, she immediately connected with advisors from Deming, including CJ Riggins and Betsy Klein.

“I got treasure troves of information from the two of them. What to do, how to do it, things to join, clubs to look at.”

She spent her first semester exploring the ecosystem rather than rushing to build, something she encourages everyone to do. Once her second semester began, that’s when she started pushing Wagyl forward more seriously. She notes that it’s constantly evolving, and the Deming Center is constantly supporting it.

But it hasn’t stopped there.

Going Above & Beyond

No name.

That’s the name of her new project. It’s something that just started in an environmental class, but has now quickly turned into something bigger.

“It doesn’t even have a name. We’re doing it. People are interested in it, and everyone around me has been extremely excited to see what its implications could be.”

The original idea focused on using moss as a natural carbon-capture tool, attaching to buildings so it can absorb carbon emissions in urban environments. A simple class concept quickly turned into a class competition winner, realizing this might actually be viable.

“It’s going to change the world. And I very seldomly say that things will change the world. This, even in the past 24 hours, has changed my life.”

The passion she exudes is the same energy she pours into her startups every single day. She’s now developing the project through ��ý�� Climate Ventures, a zero-credit program where interdisciplinary teams work intensively over about 18 weeks. During that time, the team aims to build an MVP and ultimately pitch to a panel of investors.

The project may not have a name yet, but it’s already attracted strong interest from the community and peers.

All In on What Matters

At the center of everything Needham builds is a belief that entrepreneurship is more than a side hustle. It’s a full-on commitment, and for her, building a company means putting her values and identity above all else.

“Entrepreneurship is taking a risk all the way down to your core, your guts, and your values. It’s you, with a company, pouring every single part of yourself into it.”

That mindset also shapes how she balances the intensity of building. Rather than slowing down, Needham thrives on momentum, believing that activity fuels her rather than drains her. With endless things all moving at once, she’s learned that staying busy is what keeps her focused and grounded.

“I think there are people who are drained by activity, and I think there are people who are energized by it. And I’m somebody where the more things I have to do, the more successful I am at all of them.”

As she continues developing Wagyl and pushing forward her climate-focused project, the Deming Center remains a constant throughline in her journey. That straightforward college decision has evolved into a long-term support system. For Needham, the work is far from finished, but it’s clear that she’s continuing to build with purpose.

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A New Chapter for Donny McCauley and Shredhead

Colton Sontrop — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 12:30:00 +0000

A New Chapter for Donny McCauley and Shredhead Colton Sontrop Thu, 01/15/2026 - 05:30

Colton Sontrop

At first, it was clothing. Then, the jump was made to an app. Now, it’s more professional and streamlined than ever.

When Donny McCauley and Shredhead were last seen on The Pulse, it was a completely different company. The app connects skiers and snowboarders to encourage shredding with new faces, but when it had a “swipe-to-match” interface, McCauley was focusing on a world of different things. Now, he’s making a splash in local news headlines, including CBS, and another upcoming story with 9 News.

As a senior in the Leeds School of Business, McCauley has now already found his great idea, his unique solution, and his methods for scaling and lifting his project.

His lifetime passion, along with his willingness to help and connect others, has led to years of hard work. It wasn’t always easy for him, and he admits there have been bumps along the way, but now he has an avalanche of momentum, and it’s only up from here.

“It’s been a project I’ve worked on for years, and it definitely hasn’t been straightforward, but once you keep applying the idea, that momentum really starts to build.”

Now, he’s finding ways to push across the brand's new positioning and identity, with the ultimate goal of Shredhead becoming the go-to app for what used to be just skiers and snowboarders…

Not Just Any App

Over the past year, McCauley’s focus has primarily been on refining the app and brand to create a more professional and user-friendly interface. His inclusive personality has now directed the app into other hobbies.

“Eventually, we just want people to get used to the concept that this is a space for all kinds of shredding sports. Long term, it can be anything, whatever sport someone wants to connect around.”

The app has also expanded its functionality limits, including mutual connections and resort check-ins to expand shredder outreach. It’s also working on implementing a carpooling feature, which could function as a massive update to the CU ski/snowboarding club systems.

A New Look

McCauley outlines Shredhead’s broader vision as a freemium, licensable platform for organizations and individuals. Large ski towns like Breckenridge have already expressed interest, allowing him to promote at events and reduce congestion through coordinated carpooling.

In fact, McCauley is already slated to promote at events, most notably the upcoming Hill Jam. The Hill Jam is a high-energy winter event hosted by ��ý�� Freeride, bringing together skiers and snowboarders from around the community.

For Shredhead, the event represents a pivotal real-world launch moment.

“This Hill Jam event is the opportunity to pull the trigger and start posting Google Ads, Instagram ads, and start launching our full-on campaign.”

McCauley and his team will be set up with a branded tent, using the space as both a visibility play and a hands-on demo environment where students can immediately understand how the app solves real pain points within ski and snowboard social interaction. Rather than relying on passive promotion, Shredhead is meeting its core audience where they already gather.

With the Hill Jam, students have the opportunity to become an ambassador for Shredhead. It’ll be a chance to support and promote an up-and-coming student business while gaining hands-on experience in brand promotion and social media collaboration. It also grants early access to future roles & partnerships as the company continues to scale.

Together, McCauley and the student ambassadors will focus on shaping and amplifying Shredhead’s evolving brand image. Ambassadors will help communicate Shredhead’s laid-back but polished identity. As Shredhead continues to grow, this grassroots approach ensures it is built by the same students and riders it’s designed for.

What’s Next for Shredhead

Of course, Shredhead is destined to build off of this momentum, both on campus and in the mountains. With increasing traction through downloads and ski towns, along with local media coverage, it’s clear Shredhead is beginning to resonate beyond its initial student base.

Rather than rushing to scale, McCauley remains focused on refinement. His priority is ensuring the app delivers the best value to users, guaranteeing that when he does eventually scale, he’ll be putting his best foot forward.

“We aren’t particularly too worried about the user count, because we want to make the app perfect before we start scaling it.”

Events like the Hill Jam are just a starting point, and as the platform expands into new markets, it represents years of persistence paying off. His initial personal problem has now evolved into the next big app.

Since Donny McCauley's last edition in The Pulse about a year ago, there have been significant changes to his app, Shredhead. A new interface, new markets, and a new brand image are just some of the things he's doing to build on his momentum. With multiple news segments, Shredhead is becoming the next big thing...

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The Best Way to Tour the Hill...

Colton Sontrop — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 12:30:00 +0000

The Best Way to Tour the Hill... Colton Sontrop Thu, 01/08/2026 - 05:30

Colton Sontrop

Throw everything at the wall and see what sticks.

That’s the philosophy of Tour the Hill co-founder Ben Chwalek. It’s the ideal that shaped the entire company. From how it was founded to how they carry out day-to-day marketing activities to how they plan to grow in the future.

Tour the Hill was born from simple yet repeated questions about life outside the classroom at CU ��ý��. Campus tours are great for understanding a student's daily academic life and an overall campus vibe, but they can’t encapsulate everything. Factors such as post-freshman housing, Greek Life, and other social scenes all influence where an aspiring student spends four of the most important years of their life.

That’s where Tour the Hill comes into play. The Hill in ��ý�� is the most iconic social spot for students at CU. When Chwalek, along with his other co-founders, Liam Zirkle and Parker Henrichon, began answering these questions, it became the perfect opportunity to launch their company.

Their insights into extracurricular activities and clubs as CU students are what differentiates them from traditional campus tours. Make no mistake, however, as they aren’t trying to replace campus tours, but rather complement them.

Pursuing an undergraduate degree can reveal a lot about an individual's personality, friend preferences, hobbies - everything about themselves. Tour the Hill can help guide aspiring students to the right spot. With CU being the desirable school it is, it's no wonder people want to learn its social side.

“After a little while, you look at ��ý�� once, and you realize if you don’t go there, you feel like you’re gonna be missing out on something.”

That perspective was shaped long before Tour the Hill existed. The founders’ own journeys to CU, and to each other, laid the groundwork for what the company would become.

Founders From All Over

Tour the Hill didn’t start as a polished business plan. It started with three students whose paths crossed in unlikely ways. But it was their interests that kept pulling them back to the same conversations.

Chwalek and Zirkle met in their freshman year in Willard Hall. They came from opposite parts of the country, one from Colorado Springs and one from Massachusetts, but bonded over the shared curiosity for business and how students were finding success in the world of entrepreneurship.

They had received questions from family friends regarding outside life. But it wasn’t until Henrichon entered the picture that the company was finally able to take off. Henrichon and Chwalek met abroad, where the two immediately hit it off and became perfect co-workers and founders.

Henrichon’s insights as a campus tour guide really sparked their idea. He was able to amplify what CU tours showed, but more importantly, what they didn’t. Pair that with Zirkle’s technical skills and Chwalek’s people-first approach to business, and that idea was now a fully operational business.

Guerrilla Marketing

It all ties back to Chwalek’s opening statement: “throw everything at the wall and see what sticks.”

Tour the Hill officially launched in August of 2025, beginning with a small number of tours during welcome week. Like all startups, their start was a little slower than anticipated, but it’s been their “guerrilla marketing” that has brought them to light.

Email outreach, alumni networks, Google ads, social media, printed flyers, everything. These are just some of the extensive things they’ve done to get it up and running. It was their email outreach that slowly opened new doors for them, most notably partnerships with the Sink and other Pearl Street businesses. These efforts have already led to community partnerships that provide discounts and added value for tour participants, reinforcing the company’s position as a local, student-embedded business.

“There’s so many school resources that we’re really trying to leverage… We’ll just hit people up and be like, ‘Hey, this is what we’re doing, do you have any ideas?’”

This idea has also tied into other aspects of their business. Their pricing has been full of experimentation, trying different price ranges for different groups. At one point, it was per person; now it’s per group. Although it may be subject to change, their main goal is to position themselves as a premium company that offers authentic tours.

Authenticity's Role

Authentic. That’s the keyword for Tour the Hill. While they strive for professionalism in each tour, that doesn’t stop them from traditional formality. Their private tours allow them to showcase Greek Life, the best restaurants/bars, and which housing companies to pursue, or more importantly, avoid. Tour the Hill showcases outside life at ��ý�� through the general opinion and understanding of an undergraduate at CU.

“Because they’re private, dads will just ask ridiculous stuff, things they would never ask in a group tour, and that’s where the real value comes from.”

That authenticity is also represented through their VIP option. Families get the opportunity to spend an entire day in ��ý��, providing a more immersive experience. It’s fully customizable, built around the interests and priorities of the visiting family. The idea isn’t just to show buildings, but to simulate what a real day in ��ý�� might feel like as a student. They don’t just showcase the aforementioned areas, but they dive right in with the families, giving them a full-on experience.

While it’s still early and adoption has been limited, the option reflects how Tour the Hill is willing to test unconventional ideas and meet families wherever they are. For the founders, experimenting now is part of building something that can last beyond a single admissions cycle.

A Helping Environment

Tour the Hill is still in its early stages, but its direction is already clear. Built by students who understand ��ý�� beyond brochures and scripted tours, that authenticity is what drives their company.

For the founders, progress isn’t about getting everything exactly right. Each decision they make becomes an opportunity to better understand what prospective students and their families actually care about when choosing where to spend the next four years.

Looking ahead, success for Tour the Hill won’t be defined solely by volume, even as growth remains a clear focus for 2026. Their bigger ambition is to become part of the natural rhythm of a CU visit. Most importantly, they’re here to help people, which ties into their philosophy about entrepreneurship as a whole.

“When we picture entrepreneurship, we picture something that has no constraints or ceiling, something you can take anywhere. But it’s also about helping people and holding yourself accountable. You can’t build something meaningful and then show up late, bail on people, or cut corners. It’s kind of chaotic, but it’s all effort toward a goal.”

It ties back into everything they do. They strive to educate about CU in the highest possible capacity. By stepping in after the campus tour ends, families begin asking the questions that truly shape their decision. They’re about commitment while creating value for others throughout the whole process. It’s that mindset that continues to guide them.

Three founders. Endless questions. One mission. Tour the Hill is striving to provide a unique tour experience. For aspiring students eager to learn about life outside the classroom at CU ��ý��, Tour the Hill is here to help. Learn how each founder is bringing their skills and vision to their private and personal tours.

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How Jackson DeAndrea is Building a Captivating Personal Brand

Colton Sontrop — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 12:30:00 +0000

How Jackson DeAndrea is Building a Captivating Personal Brand Colton Sontrop Thu, 12/11/2025 - 05:30

Colton Sontrop

One post.

That’s all it took for Jackson DeAndrea to get his personal brand off the ground.

It’s the pinnacle of entrepreneurship. One post, one moment, one action. Everyone says to “just start”, but that statement is vast.

For DeAndrea, it was one TikTok post about Jamal Murray’s buzzer-beater in the first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs that kick-started his online presence, Gotta Talk Sports. He wasn’t expecting much, but his start was a surprising success.

“The video got like 1,000 views and like, I don’t know, 15 likes, and I was like - I was so happy about that… I think 1,000 views for a first video is genuinely incredible.”

And he built on that momentum. As a third-year student in the Leeds School of Business, DeAndrea has already built a larger social presence than millions of aspiring content creators could ever dream of.

This past year, his account skyrocketed from 10K total likes to now amassing 500K. But it took years of grinding to get to that point.

“Content creation kind of dawned on me, I’d say like sophomore, junior year of high school… I created a TikTok account, didn’t post on it. I was so scared to.”

He went from being afraid of posting at all to growing his account 4,900% in a single year.

The exponential growth has given DeAndrea the confidence and opportunity to capitalize. Like all things, there was a large underlying root and motive for his beginning.

An Outspoken Family

For as long as he can remember, DeAndrea has cherished talking about sports. Specifically, his brother, Brooks DeAndrea, heard the most of it. He credits him with the inspiration that started his online presence.

Brooks is forging his own path in politics, something Jackson describes as “unexpectedly entrepreneurial.” It’s a field where personal branding and public presence matter just as much as policy.

Watching that has shaped Jackson more than expected. Seeing his brother confidently articulate what he stands for has pushed him to do the same in sports media. Showing up, speaking clearly, being consistent, taking ownership of his voice are all things Jackson now implements into his daily life, only in an online environment.

Fostering conversation with his brother around sports sparked an idea: to expand the conversation among others. Whether it’s controversy or agreement, he's constantly sparking activity on his page.

“I always try to just put something out there that's going to start a conversation and get people talking… it just starts a conversation between you and the people around you, and between other people that are consuming sports.”

It’s rooted in the idea that “all press is good press”, a backbone concept of sports media. These ideas and actions have been enhanced by DeAndrea’s participation in his sports media minor.

Like all entrepreneurs, DeAndrea has capitalized on his success, but not just by growing his online presence. He’s making a concrete, in-person presence as well. As a statistician for KOA sports, his experiences there have flowed into his online presence, creating a symbiotic ecosystem.

The Mind Behind the Mic

Behind every post is a process that looks far more intentional than most people realize.

DeAndrea does more than provide in-the-moment reactions. All of his videos involve extensive preparation and studying.

His giant Excel spreadsheets with predictions for every college basketball team. His outlines for every NFL team and what they bring each week. It’s a fluid framework that makes his videos so successful.

“I did a lot of prep before the season started looking at players I wanted to follow, teams I wanted to follow, storylines… so as the season goes on, there’s just things already in my brain that I see and I’m like, I want to talk about that.”

It ranges anywhere from broad storylines to specific players to track. It’s a level of pre-work uncommon for creators his age, but essential for the volume and quality of content he pushes out.

Part of this discipline comes from understanding the true product of sports media. He knows that entertainment is beyond surface-level humor and drama. The way he captures someone’s curiosity within seconds is the key piece.

“Rule one of content creation is capturing someone's attention… If you're not getting to a point, like immediately in the video, if you take too long to get to the point, people are going to scroll and they're going to move on.”

But consistency isn’t the end goal. DeAndrea sees content creation as the foundation for something larger. He envisions a future in sports journalism or reporting, using the platform he’s built to springboard into professional storytelling.

The skills he develops online are the same ones required in the field he hopes to enter, and his current success is only chapter one. Together, they paint the picture of someone who isn’t just posting for fun. He’s building a craft. He’s building a brand. And most importantly, he’s building a path forward.

A Newer Form of Entrepreneurship

As all entrepreneurs understand, entrepreneurship can take place in unlimited forms, and building a personal brand fits right into that category.

“Rather than like, ‘oh, this is my business,’ this is me - Jackson DeAndrea. This is Gotta Talk Sports. What people can grow to know.”

It’s something he’s built from the ground up. It’s not specifically a physical business, creating a physical product. The product in this case is entertainment.

Perhaps the greatest triumph of DeAndrea’s story is his consistency. With millions of different videos on the internet and even more global viewers, it’s essential to maintain stake in a constantly changing environment. His vast knowledge across all sports is what makes his account so appealing.

“That entire NBA and NHL playoffs, I made a video to every single game that happened… and then NFL season rolled around, and I just took it and ran.”

Now, he creates videos not just about game recaps, but also offers different takes and ideas that many people don’t think about. It’s videos that trigger endless emotions: nostalgia, excitement, controversy, agreement, all emotions that tie right back into that idea that “all press is good press”.

“It could be a video I see, or it’s something really funny I stumble across in a game that leads me down a rabbit hole of me researching something… like Seahawks-Cardinals 2016… and I dive into that. There’s so many things in your everyday life that you can just have an angle on or opinion on that you can turn into something.”

Owning the Process

What makes DeAndrea’s journey distinctive isn't just the volume of content. Every post has intentionality, has iteration. Every take is a learning opportunity, every conversation a doorway to something new. His entrepreneurial instinct shows up not in a traditional venture, but the discipline is still extremely present.

What started as one reluctant post has become his own growing media ecosystem. And like all strong entrepreneurs, he treats his brand as a living project, something he refines and elevates every day.

For DeAndrea, sports aren’t just games. They’re stories waiting to be told, conversations waiting to happen, and opportunities waiting to be captured. And he’s only just getting started.

Jackson DeAndrea, third-year student in the Leeds School of Business, has already built a strong personal brand through his online presence, Gotta Talk Sports. Learn how he started, his process behind each video, and how he's growing everday.

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The Resilient Path of Eli Marx-Kahn

Colton Sontrop — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 12:30:00 +0000

The Resilient Path of Eli Marx-Kahn Colton Sontrop Thu, 12/04/2025 - 05:30

Colton Sontrop

Entrepreneurship rarely unfolds in a straight line. It twists, redirects, and reshapes itself as people learn who they are and what they want to build.

For Eli Marx-Kahn, that path began long before today.

Originally from Berkeley, he grew up in a place where academic culture, entrepreneurial zeal, and access to nature lived side by side. When he moved south to San Diego for college, trading the Bay for the beach, he spent four years surrounded by both science and surf culture. At UC San Diego, he studied neuroscience, and though he did not yet know it, those themes would form the foundation of the entrepreneur he would later become.

When entrepreneurship began to take shape in his life in a more formal way, the transition was gradual. But it carried him directly into an early venture, resulting in profound lessons and experience during the last 6 months of undergraduate school.

Colorado entered the picture next. During the pandemic, Eli relocated to Fort Collins before eventually settling in ��ý��, where he found a deeper connection to the mountains. ��ý�� gave him a sense of community. It became the place where he wanted to build a long-term presence, both personally and professionally.

An Early Beginning

It was during this time that he founded a holistic education startup aimed at equipping high school students with life skills beyond the classroom. The mission was to help students develop not only academically, but personally and emotionally. Marx-Kahn and his co-founder took the venture through Berkeley SkyDeck, an accelerator at UC Berkeley, but the company ultimately did not gain enough traction to sustain itself.

After contemplating a pivot, he and his co-founder eventually decided to go their separate ways. He sees this experience not as a tragedy, but rather a triumph, and more specifically, a learning experience. It would become a guiding factor for years to come.

The startup showed him how complex building something from scratch can be. It also revealed the importance of having a real problem at the center of any venture. He learned that beginning with a shiny idea can feel exciting, but unless it solves a clear pain point for real people, the spark fades quickly.

“A lot of aspiring entrepreneurs keep a list of business ideas. I think a better orientation is to keep a list of problems you want to solve… start with a very clear problem, not a shiny hammer looking for a nail.”

Once his startup sunsetted its core product, Eli did not step away from entrepreneurship. Instead, he stepped into consulting, a path that allowed him to apply everything he had learned while gaining new experiences with every client he met.

It was a transition built on both necessity and opportunity. He had worn many hats during his time as a startup founder, and those skills transferred naturally into supporting other early-stage companies in bringing their products to market.

Navigating Pressure and Possibility

Now, he is pursuing graduate studies in Leeds to sharpen his technical skills in finance and data while strengthening his network to build a long-term career in Colorado. He is currently balancing school with his consulting practice, so he can put his newfound MBA knowledge to work inside of real companies.

His graduate studies did not arise from a need for a credential, but from a desire to fill gaps he felt as both a founder and a consultant. Working with more than two dozen companies exposed him to the reality that strategy alone is not enough.

To build or advise effectively, he knew he needed deeper financial and analytical abilities. Leeds offered not only those courses but the chance to embed himself more fully in the ��ý�� entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Like his original startup, he is evolving with experience. Each client, each team, each business has their own culture. They have norms they abide by, ideal communication channels, specifics they are willing to change, all factors that make each team so different. It is Marx-Kahn’s responsibility to provide the best knowledge and insights to make them successful.

“Treating each engagement as an opportunity to learn from the people I’m working with lets me serve them better.”

His consulting philosophy has evolved dramatically since he first began. Early on, he approached companies like a typical consultant, arriving with solutions and a desire to fix whatever seemed inefficient.

But he quickly realized that no amount of strategy matters if the team is not ready or willing to adopt change. Instead of pushing sweeping transformations, he now embeds himself in the organization, observing how people communicate and identifying where change is welcomed. This shift has made his work more effective and more human.

Sometimes his work is marketing-led, sometimes sales-led, sometimes product-led, which is why he now refers to himself primarily as a go-to-market strategist rather than just a marketer. As he says, this mindset not only makes him more effective, but it also continually sharpens his own understanding of what it means to contribute meaningfully to a team.

Grounded in Real People

Every project becomes an educational opportunity for him. The variety of companies he works with, ranging from AI startups to established food and beverage brands, forces him to adapt and listen deeply. Though he may have specialized knowledge in positioning and growth strategy, the people inside the company hold domain knowledge that he may lack. His job is to meet them where they are and help them move forward.

This perspective runs parallel to his definition of entrepreneurship. To him, entrepreneurship means solving real problems for real people. It means grounding solutions in actual conversations, not assumptions or imaginary customer personas. It reflects the same pattern that has shaped his own journey.

“To test our hypotheses, we need flesh and blood. We need to interact with the human beings we’re trying to serve and bring curiosity into every conversation we have.”

Marx-Kahn’s path is not linear, and that is exactly what gives it strength. From neuroscience to holistic education, from consulting to graduate school, every step has layered new insight onto the last.

His entrepreneurial mindset is not defined solely by the companies he builds, but by the way he approaches people and problems. Whether consulting for established brands or working toward becoming a founder again, his philosophy remains the same.

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Behind the Spark CU Team

Colton Sontrop — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 12:30:00 +0000

Behind the Spark CU Team Colton Sontrop Thu, 11/20/2025 - 05:30

Colton Sontrop

In its first year, Spark CU has brought together a uniquely committed group. Each member comes in with their own story, their own edge, their own vision. They use the program to ignite entrepreneurship on campus. It’s a cohort defined not just by ideas, but by the people bold enough to chase them.

Lilah Greenberg

Lilah Greenberg is a Sophomore at Leeds with an emphasis in management and entrepreneurship. Originally from the East Coast, she grew up loving all things about it. The culture, the beach, and of course, the Philadelphia Eagles.

It was through the Innovation Workshop Series that she became involved with The Deming Center. Loving the environment, she quickly became a Deming ambassador, where she creates and informs students about their events. Of course, this position led her to an opportunity in Spark CU.

Spark CU has given her a pathway to her startup. Through mentorship from other members and resources provided by Spark, she’s learning how to turn her idea into reality. That idea is a collapsible jacket designed for concerts, bars, football games, or any setting where people need an extra layer without carrying a bulky coat.

She’s received hands-on help from CJ Riggins, program manager for The Deming Center, and other mentors, from fabric decisions to prototyping. She’s also working with a manufacturer in India despite having no experience with fashion or fabric.

To her, entrepreneurship is identifying a problem and using whatever skills and resources you have to make an impact. She emphasizes you don’t have to be an expert in anything, but taking the courage to start is how you’ll thrive. Greenberg believes entrepreneurship is versatile and creates supportive communities. The Deming Center, especially Riggins, has been central to her growth by offering connection and encouragement.

“Even if you don’t think you have those resources and even if you’re not an expert in the field, you can still make an impact… you’re more capable of solving problems than you think you are.”

Benjamin Scarbeary

Ben Scarbeary is a Sophomore at Leeds with an emphasis in marketing and entrepreneurship. He came to CU for his strong family legacy, the entrepreneurship community, and perhaps most importantly, the skiing. As an avid skier, he spends many weekends in the mountains with his friends.

His journey into entrepreneurship began during a time when opportunities were low: 2020. At age 14, he launched a YouTube channel as a creative outlet. As it grew, he began consulting for brands on social media strategy, which exposed gaps in influencer marketing and inspired his startup, Retrofuse.

Retrofuse helps brands repurpose already-posted creator content into paid advertisements. Spark CU has allowed him to grow it through his peers and mentorship. Not only do they test and troubleshoot, but they’ve also created a genuine friendship-based environment.

“Usually, after the meetings, we stay late for 20 to 30 minutes just talking about whatever. It’s a friendship.”

To Scarbeary, entrepreneurship means the ability to create something from nothing and make meaningful change. As one of Deming’s ambassadors, he credits them with opening the door to strong connections and opportunities. It’s one of the main reasons he became deeply involved in entrepreneurship.

Mason Levy

As a Senior at Leeds with an emphasis in business analytics and finance, along with a minor in economics, Mason Levy joined the Spark team to take on a consulting and mentoring role.

With his years of experience in consulting, including roles with Leeds Consulting Group, Bain & Company, and even as a teacher’s assistant, he’s built a strong foundation. Spark CU became the perfect opportunity to build on that legacy.

A Colorado native, Levy has always been exposed to a high level of academics. Through many accolades, including Leeds Scholars, Honors, the Dean's List, and most recently, the OLIA (Organization Leadership and Information Analytics) advisory board, it’s safe to say that Levy is a decorated undergraduate.

However, his experience before and during Spark isn’t just for resume builders, but to fulfill his passion. He’s the mentor in the group, providing valuable insights to enhance other businesses.

He’s bringing his friendly, “people-first” face to a group of ambitious learners. Through his extensive help with each situation and team member, the group can thrive. With experience in unfamiliar places, including Bocconi University in Milan, Levy is a clear, trustworthy source.

But above all, he loves the friendship and community they’ve built at Spark. To him, it’s that “professional friend group” they all talk about that makes Spark CU that much more worthwhile. He’s able to exercise “playful banter” with team members, despite having vast differences in emphasis and experience. This is just the beginning of a fantastic career for Levy.

Geoff McIntyre

A self-proclaimed “super-duper senior”, Geoff McIntyre is as ambitious as it gets. However, that ambition didn’t come out of nowhere, as he’s had quite the wild ride throughout college. After 7 semesters at the Colorado School of Mines, he sought a school with a better electrical engineering and entrepreneurship program. CU provided just that.

McIntyre proves that you don’t need to have a primary emphasis in Leeds to be an entrepreneur. In fact, it’s more common than you may think. For him, engineering provides the hard skills, and entrepreneurship is the “Spark” for his startup, TinyCore.

TinyCore is a hardware-software platform that lets students and makers from any field add electronics to their prototypes without the usual complexity. Put simply, anyone can use it, no electrical engineering skills needed.

McIntyre pushes back on the idea that entrepreneurship is exclusive. In his view, it’s open to anyone willing to create.

“Everyone is creative… I have the strongest belief that everyone is creative in some way, and therefore, entrepreneurship is for everyone.”

To him, it’s the act of taking an idea in your mind and impressing it onto the world, leaving a positive mark on society by making something real. Through CU’s remarkable resources, he encourages students to stop hesitating and start building.

Kiara Blacher

Kiara Blacher is a senior in Leeds with an emphasis in marketing & strategic entrepreneurial thinking.

Originally from San Diego, she’s always had a passion for building and developing projects. This was exemplified through her non-profit charity, Kids for a Cure. It organized benefit concerts and fundraising events that raised over $5,000 for St. Jude. The impact resonated just as much with the people it supported as it did with her.

“That (the non-profit) is a big part of who I am, and I want to incorporate that into a business.”

Seeking an out-of-state experience, along with prior knowledge of Leeds’ fantastic program, Blacher ultimately landed at CU. She first learned about Spark CU while working as a barista at Violet Peak, when a customer informed her about the program. Fast forward a couple of months, and she’s now using the program to build her start-up, Caffi.

The venture reimagines the traditional Italian moka pot by combining its design with an electric base. Essentially, it creates a fast, simple, and affordable stove-top style espresso maker that doesn’t require pods or a high-end machine.

Spark CU is shaping her understanding of building a business in the U.S., especially as a first-generation American with limited exposure to entrepreneurship within the country. The team circles and guest speakers provide her guidance and help strengthen the team's bond.

In the future, she looks to use her compassionate and selfless personality and pour it into entrepreneurship. Her experiences in nonprofit work shape how she creates value and serves others. It’s why impact, not income, guides the way she builds.

“(Entrepreneurship) is watching something important to you grow, even if it’s not necessarily for revenue, just seeing the reach your idea has with everyone else and the impact it has.”

Finn Conway Reiser

Finn Reiser may be a freshman at Leeds, but he comes across with the confidence and composure of someone far beyond his first year. Through his personal brand, his maturity suggests he’s had experience in the field for many years. That instinct is spot on.

Growing up, he aspired to be an influencer, and in classic entrepreneurial fashion, he made it happen. As early as 4th grade, he consistently posted on social media platforms, specifically YouTube. It’s a common gig for kids to do, especially in his era, but following through is the part most never reach.

That’s where Reiser is an outlier. Throughout middle & high school, he created a monumental following through a strong personal brand. However, it’s one thing to build the following, but it’s another to act on it.

“If you can build your personal brand along with your business, there’s no limit to what you can do, because once you have that following, you have such a large audience to promote to.”

Through his multiple accounts and channels, finnontrack and finnontren, he’s made a name for himself. After producing viral videos for major supplement brands like Fairlife, GNC, and Liquid IV, he realized how much revenue his content generated compared to his earnings. This ignited the creation of his personal venture, Rocky Mountain Supplements.

Now, Spark CU is giving him the needed tools and business skills to enhance his career. He teaches other Spark members how to build their own brands and create efficient content using platforms like N8N and LangGraph. Even with his experience, he sees the program as an opportunity to build and influence an amazing community.

Meet the Spark CU Team. An incredible group, each member with an equally incredible story!

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How Two Sophomores Designed CU's Latest Club Phenomenon

Colton Sontrop — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 12:30:00 +0000

How Two Sophomores Designed CU's Latest Club Phenomenon Colton Sontrop Thu, 11/13/2025 - 05:30

Colton Sontrop

Ryder Nicolaus & Oliver Welsh are smashing Leeds School of Business headlines. As Sophomores, they’ve already engineered the hottest new club and put themselves on the bigger stage.

Their main goal? To put their names out there and leave a mark on the community. After spending their first year getting involved across campus, they realized it was time to build something of their own, something that reflected their shared passions. Tracing back to their high school years, they had already established clothing brands, and it was their passion for fashion that kick-started their entrepreneurial careers.

Thus, the CU Fashion Case Club was born. After noticing the absence of design and fashion-focused communities on campus, they set out to fill that gap, and quickly exceeded their own expectations. While the club centers on fashion, its foundation is rooted in its entrepreneurial mindset.

An Inevitable Duo

Both Nicolaus & Welsh are well-rounded individuals. With eager mindsets, the two bring different perspectives and skillsets to achieve one goal.

Welsh, a finance major with a family accounting background, began his fashion career as early as a Sophomore in high school through a personal clothing brand.

“I’ve always loved drawing and design, and fashion just became the perfect way to bring that art to life.”

Originally, he aspired to be a comic book illustrator and writer, but ultimately recognized that there were few career opportunities. When his dad showed him an app where he could upload photos he drew on his iPad onto t-shirts and order them, a perfect path had been laid out for him.

Like Welsh, Nicolaus also has a clothing brand. Admittedly, he credits Welsh as a “better natural designer”, but Nicolaus’s profound interest in Marketing is what drives his skills. His discovery of the popular thrift and clothing app DePop kick-started his brand.

“I started my own clothing brand in high school, just for my love of fashion, and wanting to get a sense of what I’d be doing in college, which was business. I learned a ton about marketing and business analytics, which is what drove me to Leeds specifically.”

Together, their strengths created a natural partnership. Though their paths into fashion were different, their shared ambition, and the opportunities they found through Leeds and the Deming Center, brought them together at exactly the right time.

Only a Matter of Time

Both Nicolaus and Welsh grew up in Longmont, Colorado, a mere 30-minute drive from ��ý��. They’re the same age, graduated in the same class, and walked the same high-school hallways. On paper, it seems like the kind of setup that would naturally lead to a long-standing friendship.

But a closer look tells a different story. While they knew each other and got along, they never ran in the same circles and had no idea their paths would eventually collide in such a meaningful way.

“We’ve always been friends, and we’ve not necessarily always been the same friend groups. I mean, coming to college, we were friends, but we didn’t really know what we were gonna be doing or anything. We’ve just kept intertwining with one another. With fashion, having our own brands, that’s really connected, really everything.”

In the workplace, their dynamic feels natural. They push each other to think more creatively and aren’t afraid to give honest feedback. When one of them has an idea, the other helps shape it, and that balance has become a core part of how they lead the club.

As friends, their relationship is steady and easygoing. They give each other space, but always reconnect through their shared interests in fashion and business. Building the club has strengthened their bond and proven that a strong partnership can grow from mutual ambition rather than a long shared history.

Involvement is The Key

The founders’ commitment to the Leeds School of Business was the beginning of everything. As freshmen, they said yes to everything, encouraging everyone to follow suit. Through clubs, staying engaged in classes, and making connections in and outside of Leeds, they obtained the necessary foundation for the Fashion Case Club.

One of the first ways they marketed their club was through a tabling at Leeds’ kickoff event, Leedsapalooza. In an attempt to connect with students, they also connected with staff, particularly CJ Riggins, program manager of the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship. As of this year, however, she took on an advisor role for the new club, giving them resources and confidence to scale their club to the next level.

“We were really lucky to come across her. We talked for a while, and she was interested in sharing her experience in the outdoor industry. From there, we kept meeting, and she eventually became our official advisor.”

From there, their club has sprung off the ground. Through guest speakers and valuable insights, they’ve caught traction quickly.

An Open Environment

The CU Fashion Case Club is designed for Leeds students with passions for design and, of course, fashion. However, they emphasize it doesn’t stop there. It’s open to anyone looking for inspiration.

The club takes a “business is fun” approach, preaching that mindset to all of its members. Through intriguing events, including guest speakers like Ryan Broida from the North Face, they’ve already created a perfect nonverbal pitch to potential new members.

However, the club didn’t gain so much traction by chance and luck. Their astute entrepreneurial and managerial skills did that. Recognizing the need for overall recognition, they established an executive board, dedicating three members solely to marketing. That tactic has ensured a steadily increasing social media following, along with event building and involvement.

Limitless Possibilities

The CU Fashion Case Club is just the beginning of what should be illustrious careers for Nicolaus and Welsh. Driven by confidence and involvement, and supported through their managerial and entrepreneurial skills, they hope to take not just this club, but their careers to the next level.

Neither of them has the details ironed out yet, but it certainly involves their clothing brands. For Welsh, his dream is for the brand to eventually become his full-time focus, though he’s open to balancing both paths.

Nicolaus sees his future in Marketing, particularly in consumer analytics and trends. He’s drawn to the creative side of marketing and wants to find ways to merge that creativity with business strategy. His marketing mindset is what drives his work in fashion and what he hopes to carry into a future career blending creativity and data.

Through the Fashion Case Club, Welsh and Nicolaus are learning what it means to turn passion into opportunity. For both founders, it’s not just a student organization but rather a reflection of their shared belief that business can be as creative as the art it supports. As they continue to shape their own paths, they’re simultaneously shaping Leeds’ future in fashion.

Sophomores Ryder Nicolaus and Oliver Welsh have captivated CU's club spectacle. Through a love for fashion, combined with smart entrepreneurial and managerial skills, they're building the future of Leeds' design.

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The Spark Samuel Benton Gave to CU

Colton Sontrop — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 12:30:00 +0000

The Spark Samuel Benton Gave to CU Colton Sontrop Thu, 11/06/2025 - 05:30

Colton Sontrop

He’s only a sophomore, but he’s making a huge impact in the startup incubator world.

A student-run study showed that schools throughout the nation, including prestigious universities like UC Berkeley, have incubators for founders in the extremely early stages of their companies. CU ��ý�� didn’t, until Samuel Benton changed that.

Spark CU is a brand-new startup incubator initiative run and supported by the Deming Center. It’s the driving force behind programs like Startups & Sandwiches and the Innovation Workshop Series, and Benton is right at the center of it all.

A company run by Benton’s grandfather sparked his interest in entrepreneurship from a young age. When COVID-19 hit, Benton began teaching himself about business and market communities through YouTube videos. These interests drew him to the Deming Center, where he participated in their numerous programs, most notably Startup Summer and ��ý�� Venture Club. There, he exercised startup and pitching skills that created the foundation for his program.

A Breakthrough for Aspiring Founders

It all began when Gabe Moltz and Jesus Soto performed the aforementioned study for startup incubators. Finding the lack of programs at CU ��ý��, they made it happen. Now, Benton has brought his mindset and passion to fruition through Spark CU, an incubator for student founders with extremely young companies. It provides resources and knowledge to bring a startup to life.

Spark CU operates on two levels. Spark Founders involve the six selected founders, who receive constant targeted mentorships, workshops, and resources. They meet weekly in founder circles, where they share progress and tackle challenges together. They also have access to special opportunities, like hearing from guest speakers and mentors from across ��ý��’s entrepreneurial network. These sessions allow founders to learn directly from experienced entrepreneurs while supporting each other through the ups and downs of starting a company.

“They’ve fostered a really great community. When we have our meetings, they’re all talking and helping each other—I don’t even have to facilitate that myself. They’ll sit in a circle and start chatting about different things, asking questions, and offering help. I think that’s going to be one of the best parts of the program if that can continue.”

The other level, Spark Community, involves anyone interested in entrepreneurship. Benton emphasizes it isn’t limited to the highlighted founders, representing its uncharted opportunities. Through featured events like Startups & Sandwiches and Innovation Workshop Series, students have the opportunity to learn and network with founders throughout the community. It gives aspiring entrepreneurs a front-row seat to see what the founder experience looks like, helping them gain confidence to one day apply for the program themselves.

A Symbiotic Relationship

Benton’s relationship with the Deming Center began early in his CU journey, when he sought out programs that would challenge his entrepreneurial curiosity. Drawn in by the center’s reputation for hands-on learning, he joined initiatives like Startup Summer and ��ý�� Venture Club. These two programs gave him real experience in ideation and collaboration, and helped him see entrepreneurship wasn’t just about launching a business, but about surrounding yourself with a community that pushes you to grow.

“That’s when I really started to see what entrepreneurship was all about. It wasn’t just launching a company, it was learning from people and being part of a community.”

Those early experiences also introduced Benton to mentors like CJ Riggins and Betsy Klein, who encouraged him to bring his ideas to life. Through Deming’s support, he began to understand the power of creating something student-driven, something that would give others the same access to guidance and community he had received. This environment of encouragement and experimentation became the springboard for what would soon become Spark CU.

Of course, the creation of Spark CU wouldn't be possible without Gabe Moltz, a senior at CU ��ý��. Benton credits the "spark" of the program to him, as he was a driving force in lifting it off the ground. Moltz was instrumental in the summer before launch, taking charge of many logistics to ensure success.

Today, Spark CU and the Deming Center share more than just a partnership. Deming provides the structure, resources, and visibility, while Spark CU brings the next generation of founders ready to build and learn. Together, they’re cultivating a space where students can take their first steps toward becoming entrepreneurs.

Fostering the Next Generation of Founders

Now, Benton is taking the needed steps to ensure Spark CU’s future growth, as he views it as a large addition to ��ý��’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The goal is to continue growth through new cohorts and criteria.

The vision is to create an inclusive incubator that supports all founders “starting from zero,” while building a strong and collaborative community of founders. He can’t stress enough the value of the relationships between the current founders.

“It’s like a professional friend group. We’re all feeding off each other’s energy, making sure everyone succeeds together.”

Looking ahead, Benton hopes Spark CU will become a long-term fixture at CU ��ý��. He envisions future cohorts expanding into new industries, welcoming founders from every background and discipline. Most importantly, he wants Spark CU to remain a place where students feel empowered to take risks and learn from one another.

A Community Effort

For Benton, entrepreneurship is about persistence and the willingness to keep going when things get difficult. To him, the best founders aren’t always the ones who move the fastest, but the ones who continue learning every day.

He’s quick to remind others that entrepreneurship isn’t a solo journey. The community you build around yourself is what keeps an idea alive. Those who challenge you, support you, grow alongside you: those are the ones who will be imperative to your success. Spark CU’s founders have become just that for each other.

Benton also sees entrepreneurship as a mindset that anyone can develop. It’s about taking agency and believing that you can make an impact, even if you’re starting from zero.

“To me, entrepreneurship is someone who continues to go after something. It’s about trying, failing, learning, and not giving up, because that’s how you grow.”

Benton is putting Spark CU in the best possible situation to succeed, whether it’s through the founders or the community. The supporting environment for founders is something he hopes to maintain for a long time, regardless of who’s running it. It’s the beginning of a friendly and entrepreneurial ecosystem that’ll foster innovation for years to come.

Sophomore Samuel Benton brought a Spark to CU that aspiring founders needed - through Spark CU. Learn his story and how he's supporting Leeds' entrepreneurial community.

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Inside Chris Bentley’s Vision for MALA

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

Inside Chris Bentley’s Vision for MALA Colton Sontrop Thu, 10/30/2025 - 05:30

Colton Sontrop

Lifelong eco-warrior and “eco-preneur” Chris Bentley is the kind of connector who seems to know everyone, and more importantly, makes sure they know each other.

He has a vision to spread peace and love not only within local communities, but also across states and the nation. While that may seem far-fetched, it’s through his good heart and healthy mindset that he believes it’s attainable.

Bentley has spent decades building and supporting sustainability-minded efforts. Through the creation of his many sustainability businesses, 13 to be exact, he’s been contributing to the environment for years on end.

It’s these qualities that have led him to proclaim himself as an “eco-preneur”. It’s self-explanatory, meaning he’s an entrepreneur well-versed within the realm of sustainability, but it suits him perfectly. From early visions that helped catalyze a Pet Sustainability Coalition to newer projects in ��ý��, he’s heavily involved in the community.

Bentley recently celebrated his 70th birthday at the new Limelight Hotel where over 150 students, dozens of his mentees, city leaders, entrepreneurs, non-profit builders, CU leadership, and our US Representative attended. However, he pushed that the celebration wasn’t about him, but about the community. He reflected on his years of connecting and mentoring others, highlighting specific stories that guided his career.

Through this, he introduced MALA, his aspiring movement to spread peace and love across communities. It’s not a pitch, but rather, a community practice. The “why” is peace, the “how” is participation, and the “who” is anyone willing to show up.

A Man Built for Connecting

The creation of MALA is an astute representation of who Bentley is. He loves and cares deeply about others around him and the environment.

Bentley’s focus is constantly on the future, and he keeps that focus through merging, mentoring, and MALA. He’s about connecting people, so they can share ideas, and contribute to new peace, his celebration being a perfect example.

He considers merging to be his lever to move the world. He pushed others at the celebration to branch out and talk to those they normally won’t, including students, founding fathers, government officials, and sustainability professionals, the list goes on. The point was, there were people of all backgrounds and all professions, and Bentley was there to connect them all.

This profound ability propelled him into the world of mentorship. It began 13 years ago at the alumni center, where he was attending a talk by Erick Mueller about happiness, and was inspired by his words.

“One of the biggest things that can make you the happiest and most successful is a great mentor.”

Right then and there, one of the MBA students he had been talking to turned and asked him to be her mentor. She became the first of his now hundreds of official and adopted mentees.

Bentley preaches the mentorship programs at CU, most notably, the Professional Mentorship Program led by Sally Forester. Even at his celebration, he explained its value, providing QR codes for easy program access.

He has a knack for finding mentees, with one of his more memorable ones being at a TEDx talk, when he simply observed someone actively taking notes and paying attention. It’s people with these qualities and traits he’s looking to help push the message of MALA and guide students into sustainability careers.

What makes mentoring so special is the scaffolding around it. With personalized matches and clarified expectations, both mentors and mentees are equipped with guidance on how to work together. There are touchpoints to kick things off with an encouragement to cross-pollinate. Bentley’s not trying to run a one-man show but setting up a system to scale mentoring without losing the human touch.

The Birth of a Movement

His philosophy sets the stage for MALA, his new movement and push to spread peace and love. Standing for Make America Love Anew, Bentley frames it as a movement that begins locally and spreads through conversations with family and friends.

MALA is a movement that brings everyone together, perhaps during a divided time. It isn’t about making things ‘great again’, but making them greater now. He encourages fellow eco-warriors to take a step forward with him, not back.

But the term “eco-warrior” isn’t limited. To him, it’s anybody with a pulse who fosters peace and environmental action.

Bentley says the L in MALA can stand for any optimistic L ideas, like laugh, learn, live, love, and lead. It represents the mindset he has, and it’s reflected through his character. Specific details like an Earth flag on the back of his wheelchair, or a wood peace sign, represent his push for a sustainable and loving planet.

Specific details in MALA accentuate it. The heart in the logo is big to represent love, not hate. It’s green to represent to color of the Earth in all of its glory. If you zoom out, MALA is Bentley in movement form. It merges people who wouldn’t otherwise meet. It mentors by empowering anyone to lead with care. It centers sustainability without turning it into a purity test. And it keeps the focus on what communities can do together this week, not on the noise of yesterday’s arguments.

To Bentley, the beginning of MALA came from the idea of starting fresh. We often hear calls to go back to a time when things were supposedly better. He preaches we can’t build tomorrow by clinging to yesterday, but rather choosing to create something new.

MALA is designed to create a future around love. It’s a movement inspiring a culture of open love, freely laughing and expressing our emotions, listening and learning deeply while critically thinking. But fostering it all is peace.

An Open Invitation

Back on campus, this translates to clear on-ramps for students. In Bentley’s world, sustainability is not a side dish. It’s baked into how teams form. MALA just gives that orientation a name and a recognizable mark.

As this takes shape, expect more micro-activations than grand pronouncements. Think mixers that end with three new collaborations. Think classes that pair case discussions with community meetups. Think city partners who adopt MALA as a friendly frame for service days and climate projects. The emphasis stays on love and care in action with small, repeatable moves that add up.

It’s easy to see why so many people take his call. He makes rooms feel bigger and paths feel closer. He leaves space for students, celebrates the veterans, and insists that everyone can contribute something useful. When you carry yourself that way for years, people notice and respond.

So, where does this go next? Keep the tone neutral and the mission local, then spread throughout our Mother Earth: kindness first, planet in view, entrepreneurship as the engine. MALA is a simple container for all of that, and it reflects the same principles that have guided Bentley’s mentoring and community building from the start. If you’re looking for a lever you can actually pull, that’s it.

The invitation is open. Bring your class, your club, your company, or your crew. Merge with someone new, offer your experience, and put a little more love into the mix. That’s how movements grow, and how communities get better, together.

Lifelong eco-warrior and “eco-preneur” Chris Bentley is the kind of connector who seems to know everyone, and more importantly, makes sure they know each other.

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