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Techstars Startup Weekend Food + Tech Boulder
Friday, November 17 - 19, 2017
Event Alerts and Updates
Get the latest on Techstars Startup Weekend, Boulder, and other local events through Techstars Startup Digest.
Techstars Startup Weekend Food + Tech Boulder
Friday, November 17 - 19, 2017
Friday, November 17 - 19, 2017
Event starts at 6:00 pm
New Hope Network
5541 Central Avenue
Suite 150
Boulder,
CO
80301
Buy Tickets
Come create the future of food, food systems, and food technology!
Let Food Be Thy Innovation and Innovation Be Thy Food
Have you ever had an idea that would change what we eat, how we eat, where we eat, etc? The whole food system is your oyster! Here's how we're thinking about food + food tech:
Here's your opportunity to transform your thoughts into action. Startup Weekend Food + Tech is a 54 hour experiential program where you'll be able to pitch your idea, form a team, and create your own startup. You'll meet like-minded individuals with diverse skills, passion, and dedication to help make your startup idea a reality. During the weekend you will build a minimum viable product/prototype, test your idea with potential customers, receive mentorship from some of the most experienced entrepreneurs and industry professionals, and win prizes that will help you take your venture to the next level!
We're looking for passionate foodies, students, entrepreneurs, developers, chefs, designers, and everyone in between, who want to innovate new systems and products related to food. Come learn the basics of founding and launching a successful startup while solving real problems we face in our food system.
We provide the space, meals, caffeine, and connections to local resources to keep you going throughout the weekend.
We hope you'll join us and can't wait to see what you cook up!
Have you ever had an idea that would change what we eat, how we eat, where we eat, etc? The whole food system is your oyster! Here's how we're thinking about food + food tech:
(1) Food Creation --- How do we change the where and how food is grown?
Thought starters: new farm and agricultural technology, vertical farms like Plenty or rooftop greenhouses like Gotham Greens, new crop/seed developments, etc.
(2) Food Distribution --- How do we change how food gets where it needs to go?
Thought starters: supply chain disruption, new delivery methods, last mile delivery, companies like Instacartl, FreshDirect, UberEats, etc.
(3) Food Manufacturing --- How do we change how food ingredients are transformed into products?
Thought starters: new production and packaging methods like HPP, new equipment ideas, new manufacturing processes, etc.
(4) Food Consumption --- How do we change how and what consumers interact with when it comes to food?
Thought starters: new CPG brands / concepts, new restaurant concepts, new retail concepts, food e-commerce, new food education platforms, social apps, etc.
(5) Food Disposal --- How do we change how food gets disposed of and limit food waste?
Thought starters: Boulder Food Rescue, CityHarvest, Copia, recycling and composting platforms, etc.
(6) Food Access --- How can we create people-centered food systems?
Ones' that address the barriers that limit a person's access to affordable, healthy, real foods: wages, geography, housing, transportation, health/childcare, institutional discrimination.
Thought starters: Alternative access points, distribution efficiencies, local economic development models, healthy corner stores, govt/business/nonprofit partnerships
Ones' that address the barriers that limit a person's access to affordable, healthy, real foods: wages, geography, housing, transportation, health/childcare, institutional discrimination.
Thought starters: Alternative access points, distribution efficiencies, local economic development models, healthy corner stores, govt/business/nonprofit partnerships
We're looking for passionate foodies, students, entrepreneurs, developers, chefs, designers, and everyone in between, who want to innovate new systems and products related to food. Come learn the basics of founding and launching a successful startup while solving real problems we face in our food system.
We provide the space, meals, caffeine, and connections to local resources to keep you going throughout the weekend.
We hope you'll join us and can't wait to see what you cook up!
EVENT SCHEDULE
Friday November 17th
6:00 pm
Registration
Arrive at the venue and get checked in
7:00 pm
Dinner & Networking
Eat food, share ideas, practice pitches, get to know fellow participants
7:20 pm
Welcome & Speakers
Review agenda for the weekend and introduce speakers, coaches, and community leaders
7:30 pm
Pitches Start
Optionally line up to give your pitch
9:00 pm
Voting
Attendees vote for the top pitches
9:15 pm
Form Teams
Teams start forming and discussing ideas
10:00 pm
Begin Work
Start to formalize teams and take an inventory of skills. Be honest, and direct about what resources and skills are needed for the weekend. You may stay and work as late as the venue will allow
Saturday November 18th
8:30 am
Breakfast
Arrive, delicious breakfast & coffee
9:00 am
Begin Working!
Join up with your team and setup your workspace for the weekend
12:00 pm
Lunch
1:30 pm
Group Check-In & Mentor Welcome
Post-lunch check-in and mentor introductions
2:00 pm
Mentor Meetings
Pairs of mentors will help guide individual teams. They are here to help!
6:30 pm
Dinner
7:30 pm
Check-In
After-dinner check-in, status reports, call for help
10:00 pm
Wrap-Up
Finished for the day. You may stay and work as late as the venue will allow
Sunday November 19th
8:00 am
Yoga
Join Jenna Bee from All Terrain Yoga before crushing Sunday! (No equipment required)
9:00 am
Breakfast
Arrive, simple breakfast & coffee
10:00 am
Mentoring sessions
Mentors arrive. Final opportunity to ask questions!
12:00 pm
Lunch
3:00 pm
Presentation Prep & Tech Check
Final hours of worktime should be focused on perfecting your presentation, tech-check for final presentations also takes place
5:00 pm
Final Presentations
Each team has 5 minute to present the work done during the weekend
7:00 pm
Judging & Awards
7:30 pm
Celebratory Dinner
Congratulations, you made it! Let's celebrate over dinner
8:30 pm
Wrap-Up
9:00 pm
Go Home!
Speakers
Steve Hughes
CEO & Co-Founder @ Sunrise Strategic Partners
Stephen Hughes is a pioneer in the natural and organic food and beverage industry, and a veteran food industry executive with over 30 years of experience. Most recently Steve was Founder, Chairman and CEO of Boulder Brands, a publicly-traded natural food and beverage company with a portfolio that included well-known brands EVOL, Udi's Gluten Free, Glutino, and Earth Balance. Steve has previously worked in leadership positions on such brands as Celestial Seasonings, Silk, Tropicana and Conagra, where he led the team that launched Healthy Choice in 1988. Steve's network includes relationships with the industry's founding leaders, key influencers and decision makers, including cutting edge retailers, sales and marketing organizations, advertising agencies and consultancies. But most importantly, Steve has been fortunate to have a strong partner - and love of his life - in his wife, Grace. Throughout Steve's career, she has always kept Steve focused on doing the right thing - which ultimately led them to Boulder and to Steve's passion for the natural products industry. In 1992, Steve was offered the coveted job as Chief Marketing Officer of Frito Lay. Grace's reaction was 'Do you really want to wake up every day and sell potato chips?' Always the first one to see the next new thing, this insightful comment by Grace completely changed the trajectory of Steve's career - for the better. Steve received a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Steve currently serves on the boards of Good Belly, Kill Cliff, Kodiak Cakes, Maple Hill Creamery, PACT Organic, Perky Jerky, Pure Growth Organic, Sunrise Strategic Partners, Teton Waters Ranch, Vital Farms.
Event Judges
Carlotta Mast
Senior VP, Content and Insights
Carlotta is the VP of Content and Insights at New Hope where she leads the content strategy and teams for Informa Global Health & Nutrition Network’s in-person, digital and print products. She's also the board president of Naturally Boulder, a 1,200-member trade group with the mission of nurturing community, leadership and innovation in the Colorado natural products industry. Carlotta was also the founder of paleo friendly Wholly Bites through their acquisition by Boulder-based 1908 Brands in 2016.
Shari Leidich
Founder
Shari is currently the founder of Know Brainer Foods, the author of Two Moms in the Raw, and founder of Two Moms in the Raw. Shari began making raw foods after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2004 and hasn't stopped since. She is committed to creating products that support the well being of your mind and body.
David Brown
Co-CEO of Techstars
David is a serial entrepreneur who has founded three startups and been involved with two others. He is one of the original founders of Pinpoint Technologies, Inc. which is now part of ZOLL Medical Corporation and provides solutions to the emergency medical services market. He was President of the company from founding through over $50M per year in revenue and over 250 people.
David later co-founded Techstars along with David Cohen, Brad Feld, and Jared Polis. He has been an investor and advisor to Techstars since inception. In 2013, he joined Techstars in a more active role as Managing Partner.
David has a B.Sc. degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from McGill University in Montreal, Canada. As a ski instructor in the past, David still enjoys hitting the slopes on a good powder day.
Vincent Love
Finance & CPG, Co-Founder/CFO/COO @ Sunrise Strategic Partners
Vincent Love is responsible for originating, due diligence, structuring and monitoring of Sunrise Strategic Partners’ investments. Prior to co-founding Sunrise Strategic Partners, Vincent spent 10 years in investment banking at Citigroup, focused on the consumer and retail sectors. Representative advisory transactions include Boulder Brands acquisitions of Udi’s Healthy Foods and Glutino Food Group, Colgate-Palmolive Company’s acquisition of the Sanex brand, the sale of Peet’s Coffee & Tea and the initial public offering and split-off of Mead Johnson Nutrition. Prior to Citigroup, Vincent spent three years working in Scotia Capital’s Mergers and Acquisitions Group. Vincent received a Master of Business Administration from New York University’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Manitoba’s Asper School of Business. Vincent currently serves on the boards of Kill Cliff, Kodiak Cakes, Maple Hill Creamery, PACT Organic and Pure Growth Organic.
Coaches and Mentors
Karina Costa
Director of Techstars Anywhere
Karina is the Director of the Techstars Anywhere accelerator program. Prior to that Karina was the the Global Director of Startup Next (former Techstars pre-accelerator program) and Entrepreneur in Residence at Techstars Boston.
Prior to that Karina was the co-founder and COO of Fábrica de Startups accelerator in Lisbon where she spinned off 6 national and international programs and worked with +90 startups that raised over €30 mio in capital. In 2009 Karina founded Glutone, a waste management hardware solution for fast food chains. Prior to that Karina worked in marketing at Kellogg's and other consumer Fortune 500 companies.
Prior to that Karina was the co-founder and COO of Fábrica de Startups accelerator in Lisbon where she spinned off 6 national and international programs and worked with +90 startups that raised over €30 mio in capital. In 2009 Karina founded Glutone, a waste management hardware solution for fast food chains. Prior to that Karina worked in marketing at Kellogg's and other consumer Fortune 500 companies.
Dan Andrews
Senior Software Engineer
Dan Andrews is a software developer and founding member of the engineering team at Techstars. He has spent his career building web sites, applications, services, and APIs, and has worked with or consulted various startups along the way. His passion is helping entrepreneurs and startup founders leverage technology to build innovative products.
He loves skiing and eating mexican food.
Ethan Hirshberg
Founder and CEO
Ethan was born on Stonyfield Farm in New Hampshire and raised by two organic food entrepreneurs. As a kid growing up in the natural products industry, he came to understand the impact that delivering real, delicious and organic products to people can have on their health and happiness. With his team at Ethan's, he launched his brand with a very simple goal: To make products that taste great and are great for you. Learn more at www.ethans.com.
Ashley Colpaart
Founder, CEO
Ashley Colpaart is the co-founder and CEO of The Food Corridor, a virtual food hub that connects food entrepreneurs to commercial kitchen space. Their mission is to enable efficiency, growth and innovation in local food. The Food Corridor is the first fully integrated software platform, handling scheduling and booking, compliance management, invoicing, billing, and community development. She is also the founder of the Network for Incubator and Commissary Kitchens, a community of practice that supports the food industry through sharing data, best practices, and technical assistance to build and grow successful shared-use kitchens businesses.
Ashley has a PhD in in Interdisciplinary Studies in Food Science and Food Safety from Colorado State University and is a Registered Dietitian. She earned a Master of Science in Food Policy and Applied Nutrition from the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, and was previously the Northern Colorado Food Cluster coordinator in her home of Fort Collins, Colorado. She has a unique system understanding of food and human health in social, economic, and environmental spheres.
Ashley has a PhD in in Interdisciplinary Studies in Food Science and Food Safety from Colorado State University and is a Registered Dietitian. She earned a Master of Science in Food Policy and Applied Nutrition from the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, and was previously the Northern Colorado Food Cluster coordinator in her home of Fort Collins, Colorado. She has a unique system understanding of food and human health in social, economic, and environmental spheres.
Michael Memsic
Co-Founder, CEO
Michael didn’t always want to be a brewer. In fact, when he was a kid, Michael was dead-set on playing baseball for the Oakland A’s. But after a string of injuries and a strong dose of reality, our boy Memsic came to terms with the fact that he may not be destined to go pro. It was in college that Michael began experimenting with what would soon become his lifelong passion: brewing. And as the story goes, what started as a hobby soon evolved into an obsession. During his time at the University of Colorado in beer-loving Boulder, Michael carved out time between classes and powder days to work at the town staple Oskar Blues Grill & Brew. Following graduation, he took over as a brewer at Boulder Beer where he would spend several years developing creative beers and chasing his dream of opening a production brewery of his own.
Catherine Walsh
Practice Coordinator
Catherine Walsh is the Food & Beverage practice coordinator at Holland & Hart’s Boulder office, and focuses her work on consumer packaged goods (CPG), with an emphasis on food, beverage, and natural products companies.
Catherine also serves on the board of Naturally Boulder and has previously co-founded Yummari leading up to its acquisition by 1908 Brands.
Catherine also serves on the board of Naturally Boulder and has previously co-founded Yummari leading up to its acquisition by 1908 Brands.
Bill Capsalis
Partner
As an avid healthy lifestyle expert, Bill works with emerging brands as well as mid-sized companies on everything from brand & sales channel strategy, finance, operational challenges and product innovation. He has held positions of VP of Marketing at Kinko’s (1985 -1997), EVP of GAIAM (1999 – 2003) and has been a co-founder of OurHouse (environmentally safe cleaning products). He has also worked as agency director at public relations firm Fresh Ideas Group. For the past 15 years he’s been a consultant, public speaker and trainer in the LOHAS and Natural & Organic Industry.
In addition Bill was previously a member of The Boulder Farm Team – a strategic consulting firm and after that a partner with Big Picture Brands – a consulting group dedicated to helping early stage food and beverage brands expand nationally. Presently he is in the early stages of forming a new company called Co-Lab that works on high level strategic issues for brands in diverse industries. He is the past President of the Board for Naturally Boulder, a trade association in Boulder with 1000 members and 150 sponsoring companies all involved in the healthy living and food space. He lives and works in Boulder Colorado.
In addition Bill was previously a member of The Boulder Farm Team – a strategic consulting firm and after that a partner with Big Picture Brands – a consulting group dedicated to helping early stage food and beverage brands expand nationally. Presently he is in the early stages of forming a new company called Co-Lab that works on high level strategic issues for brands in diverse industries. He is the past President of the Board for Naturally Boulder, a trade association in Boulder with 1000 members and 150 sponsoring companies all involved in the healthy living and food space. He lives and works in Boulder Colorado.
Fran Schoenwetter
Managing Director
Fran is a senior strategic communications specialist, a brand champion, who optimizes audience/customer engagement via digital integrated content marketing solutions coupled with live event audience centric programing.
She specializes in Values based CPG industry sector: Natural, Sustainable, Organic, Fair Trade and Social Responsibility.
She specializes in Values based CPG industry sector: Natural, Sustainable, Organic, Fair Trade and Social Responsibility.
Todd Budin
Managing Partner @ Boulder Insights
Todd has spent the last decade at the global information firm Nielsen, helping Fortune 500 companies (such as Ford, Verizon, P&G, Nestle, Citi and more) collect and analyze data to make marketing and business decisions. He is an experienced market research and product leader who stays close to the cutting edge of data and analytics. On client engagements, his expertise goes beyond just data and extends to helping translate the research insights into actionable strategy.
Today, Todd runs Boulder Insights Group (aka BIG), a boutique market research and strategy firm that brings the research expertise used by big brands to smaller companies. Todd is an adviser to several Boulder area start-ups, is a mentor at Techstars and advises the City of Louisville on economic strategy. Todd graduated from Oklahoma State University with a Bachelors in business, studied EU economic policy at Mid-Sweden University and earned an MBA from the University of Missouri. He lives in Louisville with his wife and 2 kids.
Andrea Blau
Director of Operations and New Business @ Natural Food Works
Andrea Blau
is the Director of Operations and New Business for Natural Food Works LLC (NFG)
with manufacturing facilities in the Denver and Boulder regions. NFG is
a co-packer for natural and organic brands specializing in granola, snack bars,
mixes, sauces, High Pressure Processing (HPP) and more. We make real food for
the real world and pride ourselves on our quality and safety practices. She has
over 15 total years in the food service industry, spent extensively
in supply chain and operations, as well as significant accomplishments with cost saving
initiatives, promotions execution, and project management.
Jennifer Rosenthal
Jennifer Rosenthal is a corporate partner in the Boulder office of Koenig, Oelsner, Taylor, Schoenfeld & Gaddis, PC (KO Firm). Jennifer's practice focuses on corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, venture capital and private equity investments, company formations and general corporate representation. Jennifer works with clients ranging from startups to public companies with an industry focus on consumer products and technology. Jennifer is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Colorado Law School where she teaches Venture Capital Drafting and serves on the Entrepreneurship Advisory Board for the Silicon Flatirons Center.
Pat Hughes
Vice President Commercial Operations @ Sunrise Strategic Partners
Pat Hughes is Vice President Commercial Operations at Sunrise Strategic Partners, which provides growth capital and expertise to emerging brands in the healthy, active and sustainable living space. Pat works with Sunrise’s portfolio companies in functional areas such as marketing, sales, and operations. He also is responsible for originating and performing due diligence on Sunrise’s investments. Prior to Sunrise, Pat held brand management and marketing positions at Boulder Brands, working across a portfolio of brands that included EVOL, Udi’s Gluten Free, Glutino, Earth Balance, and Smart Balance. Before Boulder Brands, Pat served with distinction in combat in Afghanistan as a U.S. Marine Corps officer with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion. Pat received a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Colorado Boulder Leeds School of Business.
Wendy Lu McGill
Founder/CEO @ Rocky Mountain Micro Ranch
Wendy Lu McGill is the Founder/CEO of Rocky Mountain Micro Ranch, Colorado's first and only edible insect farm. Raising crickets and two other species in a modified shipping container heated by solar power, Rocky Mountain Micro Ranch sells edible insects to food manufacturers, restaurants and anyone with the daring to chose a delicious, nutritious and sustainable food. Coming from nearly twelve years working with international aid agencies around the world, as well as a background in sociological research, Wendy Lu brings a global perspective and deep understanding of the why and how of enjoying insects as food.
Marshall Hayes
Marshall Hayes is the CEO and Founder of Amplio Digital, a digital marketing agency that focuses on helping brands grow on Amazon. An entrepreneur at heart, Amplio is 1 of 9 companies Marshall has started. Amplio has been names one of Colorado's top 50 Companies to watch as it continues to grow in the community.
Nick Molé
Vice President Investments @ Sunrise Strategic Partners
Nick Molé is Vice President Investments at Sunrise Strategic Partners, which provides growth capital and expertise to emerging brands in the healthy, active and sustainable living space. Nick is responsible for originating, performing due diligence on, and structuring Sunrise Strategic Partners' investments. Nick also works with Sunrise’s portfolio companies in functional areas such as financial planning and analysis, strategy, and business development. Prior to joining Sunrise Strategic Partners, Nick worked at Castanea Partners, a private equity firm focused on the consumer and retail sectors. Previously, Nick worked in investment banking at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Nick received a Masters of Business Administration, with Distinction, from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Science in Finance, summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, from Lehigh University.
Karen Frame
CEO & Co-founder @ Makeena
Karen Frame, Makeena's CEO & Co-founder, is passionate about being an entrepreneur and making the world a better place. She firmly believes that building a technology company in the natural products space will encourage people to shop healthier because Makeena will make it easier for them to make smarter choices. Karen became an entrepreneur in the early 1990s when she moved to Boulder, Colorado, and built and operated two interactive touchscreen kiosk companies, one for the real estate industry and one for the natural products industry. Since then, Karen has been general counsel for a number of emerging growth and publicly-held software and data analytics companies. Karen earned her degree in accounting and business from Indiana University and a CPA and law degree from the University of Illinois. She also attended Oxford University, focusing on international business transactions, and taught Principles of Business for Entrepreneurs in the Cross Campus Entrepreneurship Certificate Program at the University of Colorado.
Blake Mitchell
Principal @ Interact Boulder
Blake is the principal at Interact, a design firm in Boulder, Colorado. While known as a start-up in town, Interact has a 25-year history. From its inception in Toledo, Ohio, the company set its sights on the grocery industry. Since then, we have partnered with over 100 food and beverage clients on branding and package design projects.
Blake's involvement in the creative industry began a decade ago in Los Angeles. Originally, focusing on commercial production and worked with large brands such as Ford, Absolut, and Heineken. Additionally, he was briefly involved in reality television, working with both MTV and VH1.
After eight years in California, Blake joined Interact and moved the business to Colorado. Interacts placement in Boulder positions us closer to the forefront of natural foods innovation. With a passion for farmers markets, culinary hot spots, grocery stores, and worldwide industry trade shows, Blake enjoys keeping our team informed on global insights.
Joe Matta
Commercial Operations Manager @ Sunrise Strategic Partners
Joe works for Sunrise Strategic Partners, a Boulder based Venture Capital focused on investing in better-for-you food & beverage brands. He provides assistance to portfolio companies in functional areas such as marketing, sales, and operations. He is also responsible for originating and performing due diligence on Sunrise's investments, as well as providing assistance in functional areas such as financial planning and analysis, strategy development, and business development.
Prior to joining Sunrise Strategic Partners, Joe worked at Trilantic Capital Partners where he focused on investments in the Consumer and Business Services industries. Previously, Joe spent two years working in investment banking at Barclays.
Eric Bruno
Director of Strategy @ Interact Boulder
With nearly 25 years of strategic planning and consumer insight experience he’s worked deep inside many fascinating and incredible brands. From Starbucks to the International Rescue Committee, and ESPN to Home Depot, Eric has led research, brand architecture and product innovation projects across a wide and interesting range of categories.
From niche pharmaceuticals to global automotive Eric’s learned that every single project has a white-hot spot of inspiration within it… he’ll tell you many stories about how difficult finding that inspiration-bullseye can be sometimes.
He’s earned his Consumer Insight stripes on a wide range of brands in many diverse categories including- Chevrolet, Subaru of America, British Airways, Nike (training, running, Jordan), TD Ameritrade, Shire (ADHD) and many more.
Today, Eric is the Director of Strategy at Interact, a food & beverage-centric branding and design firm in Boulder.
Recently, Eric has been Lecturer at the University of Colorado’s Leeds School of Business. He focuses on entrepreneurship and being super-kind to his students by using the fewest number of powerpoint slides in his lectures possible.
At some point in the mid-nineties Eric graduated from Oklahoma City University, eventually winding his way to graduate school at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL where he earned a Masters in Integrated Marketing.
Eric and his family moved to Boulder after 10 years in NYC. He’s quite certain he’ll be “de-toxing” from the countless hours standing on subway platforms waiting for the F-train to arrive.
From niche pharmaceuticals to global automotive Eric’s learned that every single project has a white-hot spot of inspiration within it… he’ll tell you many stories about how difficult finding that inspiration-bullseye can be sometimes.
He’s earned his Consumer Insight stripes on a wide range of brands in many diverse categories including- Chevrolet, Subaru of America, British Airways, Nike (training, running, Jordan), TD Ameritrade, Shire (ADHD) and many more.
Today, Eric is the Director of Strategy at Interact, a food & beverage-centric branding and design firm in Boulder.
Recently, Eric has been Lecturer at the University of Colorado’s Leeds School of Business. He focuses on entrepreneurship and being super-kind to his students by using the fewest number of powerpoint slides in his lectures possible.
At some point in the mid-nineties Eric graduated from Oklahoma City University, eventually winding his way to graduate school at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL where he earned a Masters in Integrated Marketing.
Eric and his family moved to Boulder after 10 years in NYC. He’s quite certain he’ll be “de-toxing” from the countless hours standing on subway platforms waiting for the F-train to arrive.
Alisha Stagg
Managing Director @ Interact Boulder
Alisha lives to eat and has managed to make a career out of her obsession with food & beverage. After working for a large grocery retailer, a specialty foods distributor, and as a brand manager for various natural and organic brands, she realized that creatives have more fun. She is now Managing Director at Interact, a Boulder-based branding and design agency focused exclusively on the food & beverage industry, where she is fortunate enough to work with an insanely talented team to help visionary entrepreneurs and legacy CPG brands succeed in market. Alisha holds an MBA from Yale and despite working at a creative agency is most at home in a financial model, manufacturing facility, or making a mess in her own kitchen.
Jody Feihnor-Dennis
Founder and CEO @ Missy J’s Snack + Treats
Jodi Feinhor-Dennis, founded Missy J’s Snacks + Treats in 2011 after realizing the difficulty in finding a sweet indulgence that could work with her dietary sensitivities. (Caffeine, dairy, and sugar intolerances). Tired of saying, “No I can’t eat that” to most candy and desserts, she created the original Missy J’s recipes in her home kitchen in Boulder. Missy J’s Snacks + Treats is proud to manufacture in Boulder and is on the shelves of over 300 stores nationwide, including Whole Foods, Natural Grocers, Safeway and other natural markets across the country.Jodi is also a graphic designer and published interior designer. She graduated with honors from the Design program from the University of Cincinnati and the Sheffield School of Interior Design, NYC. From the packaging desgin, marketing materials and expo booths, she brings her keen sense of design (fresh, sophisticated, yet simple), into every aspect of Missy J’s venture. Her goal is for Missy J’s to be synonymous with “better-for-you snacks and treats”. She says, “Think if Mrs. Fields and Godiva had a healthy baby. That’s Missy J’s.”
Ross Shell
CEO @ Red Ideas Partners
Ross has spent his
professional career as a marketer and business strategist, as well as an
entrepreneur and
venture investor. His career has included serving as President of Tesser, a
nationally regarded
branding firm focused on the restaurant and food sectors, and working for IDEO,
a global innovation consultancy. Prior to launching Red Idea LLC, he directed client
services for a private investment firm which managed a platform of hedge fund
and private equity products, with offices in the U.S., U.K., Asia and Canada.
During his tenure, the firm grew from $250 million to a peak of nearly $700 million
in assets under management.
In 2008, Ross launched
Red Idea LLC, a "consulting + ventures works" firm, serving growth
companies, entrepreneurs and now corporate innovators. He has served on the Advisory
Board for Bhakti Chai, Board of Directors for Natural Foodworks Group, and currently
serves on the Board of Directors for Olomomo Nut Company. He is a strategic advisor
to Green Alpha Advisors, a public equity investor in eco-efficient
corporations. As a volunteer, he served on the Advisory Board of the Innovation
Center for the St. Vrain Valley School District. Ross serves as an Independent
Director for Financial Investors Trust, an affiliate of ALPS Holdings, where he
helps oversee approximately $13 billion in assets. Ross was a Boettcher Scholar
award winner, and graduated with honors from
Stanford University in
1993. He lives in the Boulder area with his wife and two sons. He is also the
author of Cooper's Crafted and Curious Kite Company, a children's book on entrepreneurship
and innovation, with copyrights owned by Red Idea LLC.
Event Sponsors, and Partners
The Techstars Startup Weekend Food + Tech Boulder team is grateful for the support of local community partners without whom this event would not be possible.
Learn how to become a sponsor here.
Signature Sponsors
The New Hope Network is at the forefront of the healthy lifestyle products industry. With solutions for the complete supply chain from manufacturers, retailers/distributors, service providers and ingredient suppliers, the network offers a robust portfolio of content, events, data, research and consultative services.
Silver
Gold
Food Provided By
Cravings Satisfied By
Beverages Provided By
Organizing Team
Techstars Startup Weekend Boulder is 100% led by volunteer community leaders.
Learn how to get involved here
Facilitators
Event Staff
Carlotta Mast
Senior VP, Content and Insights
Carlotta is the VP of Content and Insights at New Hope where she leads the content strategy and teams for Informa Global Health & Nutrition Network’s in-person, digital and print products. She's also the board president of Naturally Boulder, a 1,200-member trade group with the mission of nurturing community, leadership and innovation in the Colorado natural products industry. Carlotta was also the founder of paleo friendly Wholly Bites through their acquisition by Boulder-based 1908 Brands in 2016.