By Margaret Hedderman
We’re pleased to introduce the November 2024 cohort of the Founder Coopetition // Idea Factory. This group has a heavy focus on building businesses that prioritize health, wellness, and community engagement. From fostering young entrepreneurs to creating spaces for holistic health, these founders are working to address important needs in their communities.
“I’m very proud of this cohort already,” says Program Coordinator Josef Scarantino. “The group’s interaction and collaboration have been outstanding from the start. It’s shaping up to be a truly impactful cohort, and I’m excited to see where they take their ideas.”
The Founder Coopetition’s Idea Factory program provides peer support, a network of rural entrepreneurs, and access to experienced advisors. Participants will refine their strategies and develop clear plans for launching their businesses, while building connections that strengthen their communities.
Nicole Burns, Vaca Valet—Breckenridge
Nicole Burns, founder of Vaca Valet in Breckenridge, has created a marketing app designed to empower local small businesses while supporting community nonprofits. The app allows businesses to allocate a portion of their proceeds to local causes, blending affordable advertising with meaningful community impact. By incorporating charitable giving into their marketing efforts, small businesses can build credibility while addressing issues like food insecurity.
Erica Cicero, The Double Helix Doula Program—Carbondale
After hiking the Colorado Trail, Erica Cicero moved to Carbondale, CO, and founded The Double Helix Doula Program. The organization provides doulas to any woman entering Valley View Hospital and ensuring these professionals are fairly compensated. The Double Helix Doula Program also trains women to become doulas within their own communities—particularly women in recovery supporting those with substance issues or Latinas assisting fellow immigrants. This approach not only empowers the doulas but also creates meaningful support for pregnant and laboring women.
Candice Freeman of Waymaker Collective—Grand Junction
Candice Freeman, an adventurous, lifelong learner with deep roots in Dolores and now based in Grand Junction, Colorado, is the driving force behind Waymaker Collective. After a successful 22-year career in mortgage lending, she founded Waymaker Collective to empower young adults with the skills they need for a confident transition into adulthood. Focused on real-world strategies not typically covered in school, her program equips youth with the tools, insights, and optimism to thrive in their personal and professional lives.
Erica Hines, Founder and CEO of MindReels, is leveraging her 20+ years in B2B health and wellness to revolutionize how we use screen time for personal growth. Based in Durango, Colorado, MindReels delivers personalized, immersive videos aligned with your unique goals and aspirations, leveraging the science of neuroplasticity to craft content tailored specifically to you. By blending neuroscience and AI-driven assessments, MindReels creates personalized video experiences that empower users to harness the power of their minds, uncover their true potential, and make meaningful changes – all within a few intentional moments each day.
Founded by Aly Lewis, Summit Sol Yoga + Wellness is an inclusive sanctuary in the heart of Summit County, blending yoga, mindful movement, and holistic wellness. Tailored to support each individual’s journey—whether it’s building strength, finding balance, or reconnecting with oneself—Summit Sol Yoga + Wellness offers a supportive community for all levels. More than just a studio, it integrates modern wellness with nature-inspired healing. Recently voted the 2024 Best of Summit Yoga Studio, Summit Sol Yoga + Wellness ensures wellness should feel accessible, enriching, and uplifting, no matter where you’re starting from.
Mike Mayer’s journey into meditation, breathwork, and other healing modalities revealed that true health comes from aligning the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. This passion led him to found TerraForm Projects, a real estate development company that designs and builds health and wellness campuses. In addition to leasing space to wellness businesses, TerraForm Projects generates revenue from tenant rent, home sales, and development fees. TerraForm Projects goes beyond the traditional development model by offering curated events, strategic marketing, and community engagement, creating vibrant spaces that amplify the healing process and foster personal growth.
Growing up in Indiana, Mike Milakovic describes himself as an “overweight kid.” It wasn’t until he found sports, that his relationship to food changed and he went on to become a college scholarship athlete, wellness professional, and entrepreneur. Today he is the founder of Mighty Mike’s Foods, where he has turned his personal journey into a mission to transform healthy snacking. Disappointed by the bland options on the market, he developed a line of healthy snacks that proves superfoods can be appealing, healthy, and good tasting. His flagship product, Crunchy Kale, uses natural spices and flavors to make eating vegetables fun for everyone—especially kids.
Kellen Priest , the founder of Shar(e)on Lightly, turned to yoga for healing after a personal loss and injury. Drawing from her journey, she now helps others navigate their own grief through embodied yoga life coaching. After becoming a 500hr yoga teacher, Kelleen completed a 200hr somatic embodied yoga life coaching program, which she now leverages in her work as a coach. Shar(e)on Lightly empowers individuals to process emotions, release physical tension, and connect their body, mind, and spirit—ultimately finding their path back home.
Sam Sickles, co-founder of Stock the Fridge, is transforming the way visitors experience their Summit County vacations. Alongside her best friend, she launched a grocery delivery service that stocks, delivers, and organizes groceries and party essentials before guests even arrive—making vacations truly stress-free. What sets Stock the Fridge apart is its commitment to community: any unused items are donated to local food pantries, like their partner Smart Bellies, ensuring that each delivery also gives back to those in need.
Kylie Springer, a retired ski patroller from Australia, found her passion for Pilates after 11 years on the slopes in New Zealand, Australia, and Colorado. Now based in Crested Butte, Kylie founded her Pilates studio in a small 120 sq/ft space, where she offers traditional, classical Pilates as a transformative fitness method. Inspired by her own journey from chronic pain to restored vitality, Kylie’s vision is to expand into a larger, community-focused Pilates gym, making this powerful practice accessible and affordable for local mountain residents.
Heidi Steltzer, founder of the Center for Earth Theology in Cortez, CO, blends her background as a scientist, theologian, and mystic to create a cross-disciplinary community space. With a PhD from the University of Colorado at Boulder, Heidi’s passion for mountains and their impact on human well-being inspired her to establish a hub for thought leadership and visioning. The Center is a retreat and event space, a think-and-do-tank, and a field station where people can explore the region through the process of science and theology.
Founded by Janita Walker in Durango, CO, Start Young Biz Camps empowers young entrepreneurs by turning hands-on learning into real business ventures. Inspired by her experience as a mother and educator, Janita launched the camp in 2006 after witnessing her own children develop businesses to achieve their goals. At Start Young Biz Camps, students create handmade products, market them at community business fairs, and gain critical skills like communication, collaboration, creativity, and character. With over 1,000 young entrepreneurs launched, Start Young Biz Camps supports a next generation of entrepreneurs in developing power skills and professional success.
