unleashing
national impact
igniting local
transformation
When Erwin Germain immigrated to Summit County from France, one of the culture shocks he observed was the high traffic on I-70. After two winter seasons, he was determined to pursue an environmentally and socially conscious solution: carpooling.
"The SBDC was definitely helpful and I'm very happy with my experience now and when I first started. They identified my needs correctly and I was able to have advisors who understood my goals. Every time I speak with someone who is interested in starting their own business, I always recommend the SBDC."
In 2017, Erwin engaged Northwest Small Business Development Center to assist with strategic planning for an app platform connecting drivers and passengers: TreadShare. Over the next few years, he received support regarding entity formation, finding a co-founder, pitching, regulations, licensing, pricing, service agreements, creating the app, marketing, and more.
The innovative app aims to promote sustainability and fight climate change by allowing noncommercial drivers to share trips they already planned to take. The passengers simply share the cost of the ride, with a portion continuing to fund the app. Drivers reduce their trip costs, passengers receive needed transportation at an average of 60-70% less than an Uber or taxi, roads are less congested, and — from vehicle exhaust to energy consumption — the negative environmental effects of cars on the road are lessened.
While TreadShare launched in 2019, the ride wasn't over. While building the user base, receiving grants, and seeking further investment, the app and others like it elsewhere in the state were shut down as their efforts seemed to be ahead of laws on the books. A Summit County elected representative became an advocate for changes in the law specifically addressing the concept of carpooling. A new bipartisan effort passed in April 2021, and TreadShare relaunched later that year. Continuing its prior work, the company drove growth by developing business-to-business partnerships, expanding the original vision to encompass workforce transportation support.
In 2024, Erwin worked with the SBDC for further assistance with applications to venture capital groups and a few business accelerators, and to refocus on funding. TreadShare's business plan and pitch deck also needed updating, in addition to devising a marketing push. He's hoping this year's efforts will result in an almost $1M investment.
Kenneth Zittel faced numerous challenges when starting his business, primarily due to his youth. As a high school student, he designed his first product, the ARC SKATE, during shop class. While his passion and vision were clear, his age often made it difficult for others to take him seriously. In addition to learning how to transform an idea into a viable business, Kenneth had to quickly acquire the basic business knowledge that many older entrepreneurs already had.
Time management was another significant obstacle. As a full-time student, Kenneth had to juggle his schoolwork, a part-time job, and the development of his business. Balancing these commitments meant he had to make sacrifices that most of his peers didn't face. While they were enjoying free time and social activities, Kenneth often had to dedicate his evenings and weekends to working on his business.
The sacrifices paid off, but the journey was not easy. He needed to find the discipline to stay focused and push his company forward, even when it meant missing out on the fun his friends were having. Ultimately, these early experiences shaped Kenneth's determination and prepared him for the challenges of being a young entrepreneur.
"It's important to have other people believe in you and your dream, the SBDC does that!"
The Southern Colorado SBDC played a crucial role in helping Kenneth Zittel overcome the challenges of starting his business at a young age. Unlike many who didn't take him seriously, the SBDC recognized his entrepreneurial potential and brought him into the Future CEO Summer Camp, where he learned the business fundamentals he needed. They also paired him with consultant Kurt Madic, who provided one-on-one guidance. Kurt helped Kenneth navigate the legal complexities of registering a business as a minor, ensuring he could legally operate his company before turning 18. Additionally, Kurt assisted Kenneth in securing a provisional patent for his ARC SKATE design, protecting his innovation and giving him the confidence to move forward. Through this support, Kenneth was able to turn his high school project into a fully-fledged business, gaining both the knowledge and legal protections necessary for success.
Once his business was officially up and running, Kenneth began finding clients who were interested in his unique product. The skills he gained through the SBDC, combined with his determination, allowed him to sell his first product and start thinking about expansion. Over time, he began developing new products and exploring additional business opportunities. The initial guidance from the SBDC helped him lay a solid foundation, enabling his business to grow and evolve beyond his first innovation.
When Konjo Catering was launched as the first and only Ethiopian catering company in Denver, in 2008, it was a labor of love. Fast forward to launching Denver's first Ethiopian food truck in 2015, The Ethiopian Food Truck, we opened our ordering window to a line that was two blocks long! We were able to fill a void that needed Ethiopian cuisine, fast. We knew that we wanted to open a stand-alone restaurant to become Denver's first fast-casual Ethiopian restaurant. The challenges that we faced were trying to find a location that was not only a good fit for us, but something that didn't cost us an arm and a leg. We knew that we had a solid business idea, but we needed the tools to ensure that our numbers and projections were correct.
"The SBDC was an integral part of our success. They gave us the tools and the confidence we needed to execute our vision."
In 2018 Konjo Catering was chosen to pitch our idea through the SBDC's "Trout Tank Food Frenzy" Pitch Competition. Here is where we were able to bring our idea to life. The SBDC prepared us to be able to manifest our dreams, onto paper. We needed to be able to show the feasibility and strength of our concept equipped with a market analysis, our revenue model and financial projections. We needed to SHOW why there was such a need for our idea and how it would be financially beneficial to not only us, but potential investors.
By utilizing the resources that the SBDC provided us through the pitch competition, we were able to win the "Trout Tank Food Frenzy" contest in 2018! This solidified to us that our business idea was solid. The following year in November 2019, Konjo Ethiopian Food, Denver's first fast-casual Ethiopian restaurant, was launched inside of The Edgewater Public Market. We are now coming up on our 5th year in business.