By Margaret Hedderman
March was a busy month at Startup Colorado! In addition to launching a Food & Ag focused Founder Coopetition cohort, we also hosted a virtual Idea Factory program. Over the course of four weeks, eight rural founders from across the state came together to refine their business models and strengthen their capacity to grow and fund their ventures.
This cohort represented a wide range of industries—from health and wellness to healthtech and food and beverage—demonstrating the diversity and creativity of Colorado’s rural startup ecosystem. Each founder brought a distinct vision and set of challenges to the table, contributing to a collaborative and practical learning environment.
The program culminated in a final pitch presentation where each founder produced a 90-second video for members of our Advisor Network . After careful review, three founders were selected for their strong business models, growth potential, and compelling pitches.
Diane Bailey, the cohort coordinator for Startup Colorado, said, “The winners were able to tap into the empathy of their audience and showed the WHY behind their startup.” She added that this helped the reviewers understand their potential impact.
Meet the Winners
Jelena Subotic — Mandi —Johnstown
Mandi is the first AI-powered platform designed to simplify TMJ care, guiding patients through diagnosis, treatment, and long-term care with personalized plans and AI-driven diagnostics, creating a clear and accessible path to relief. By partnering with providers, insurers, and researchers, their goal is to build the largest TMJ patient data set in existence, unlocking real-world, data-driven breakthroughs that will transform the future of care.
“The Founder Coopetition helped me grow Mandi from a raw idea into an actionable 90-second pitch and clear plan, shaped by direct feedback from investors and business leaders focused on driving real-world impact.”
Rosie Evans — Evans Early Childhood Center — Fort Morgan
Rosie Evans is the founder of Evans Early Childhood, a childcare center dedicated to nurturing children from 6 weeks to 12 years old through critical stages of early development. Grounded in the belief that early childhood education shapes not just individual futures but entire communities, Rosie’s work supports both families and the broader economy. With plans to expand to a second location at a local hospital, Evans Early Childhood is also addressing workforce challenges by offering on-site childcare to support employees.
“Participating in the Founder Coopetition/Idea Factory helped me refine my business ‘ask’ and set my business in a new direction! The support and the community of mentors and peers was the most valuable part of the experience!”
Jenn Fortin — Pretty Moving — Crested Butte
A kid at heart, Jenn Fortin aims to inspire more authentic connection as a multi-modal artist, adventurer, and educator. With Pretty Moving, she offers nature-based emotional coaching and workshops that deepen emotional intelligence through playful exploration. With a background in education, guiding, ski patrolling, and a Master’s in Play, her work strikes the intersection of psychology, emotional depth, and adventure.