Daddy’s Homemade Syrup embarked on its journey with a mission to provide families with an all-natural alternative to traditional syrups and pancake mix. What started as a homemade treat for their own kids evolved into a business inspired by their daughter’s drawings, adorning each label with a touch of family creativity. Beyond breakfast, the unique flavors found their way into various culinary delights, becoming a household staple.

The entrepreneurial journey began in February 2020, just before the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Amidst raising three children and dealing with health issues, the founders faced the demands of scaling their business. The Small Business Development Center became a crucial ally during this time, providing support and resources.

Equipped with experience in the food industry and business management, the founders found the CPG industry and wholesale space to be unfamiliar territory. The SBDC proved invaluable, offering advisors and resources to navigate complexities. Virtual courses and meetings facilitated continuous learning and growth.

Describing their entrepreneurial journey as empowering, Daddy’s Homemade Syrup transformed from a desire to share syrup into a CEO-led venture. The business evolved into a symbol of unity, togetherness, and cherished moments, inspiring creativity in the kitchen. It’s not just about delicious toppings; it’s about building lasting memories and fostering a sense of unity through shared experiences. 

- Daddy’s Homemade Syrup
For more info visit https://www.daddyshomemadesyrup.com/

Beyond Microgreens was founded with a clear mission in mind: to connect people with powerful plants and fill nutritional gaps in their diet. Although founder Stephen Cowan spent 10 years in software sales selling enterprise solutions, he felt that there was more he could do for others. “My inspiration was a trip to the jungles of Peru,” Cowan said. There, he discovered the health and vitality of plants, and how connected the local communities were to their environment. This trip spurred a passion in Cowan to connect and educate others on the health benefits of plants. It was this passion that led to the creation of Beyond Microgreens. Cowan describes himself as a “first-time entrepreneur.” 

While there have been challenges, Cowan found success with Beyond Microgreens, winning the Social Impact Startup of Colorado award in 2021, and recently winning Trout Tank: Food Frenzy with the Denver Metro Small Business Development Center (SBDC).

After attending classes at the Denver Metro SBDC, Cowan learned how to “simplify the business.” Some of his biggest takeaways have been scaling different parts of his business so that internal operations cover everything from cleaning, shipping, marketing and more. He now also recognizes when to lean on partners and what his role entails. All these lessons have helped influence the future growth and development of Beyond Microgreens. Cowan recently finished his second round of Trout Tank: Food Frenzy. 

A message that Cowan wishes to emphasize with the public is to eat more plants, and to understand the power and magic of photosynthesis. Plants eat light, and when you eat plants, you are filling yourself with that light, and he hopes to spread that.

- Stephen Cowan
For more info visit BeMicro

An accomplished SBDC client and finalist for Small Business of the Year at the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce 2022 Business Awards, Rupp’s Drums serves the Denver community with a wide range of music merchandise from drums and apparel to lessons and rentals. Run by a team of experienced musicians, they certainly know their stuff! 

Rupp’s Drums began back in 1984 and was later purchased in 2018 by Alex Simpson, a passionate artist with the goal to serve drummers around Colorado and bring the community together. He later recruited a talented team of individuals to uphold the mission of the company, that is, “To serve drummers from all backgrounds with integrity, exceptional product representation and a level of expertise that can only be provided by a team of passionate, experienced drummers.” With a vast selection of products and services, they uphold their promise to serve a diverse range of customers.

Like many small businesses, Rupp’s Drums must answer the question, why should I shop at a small business? In response, the Rupp’s Drums team emphasizes the nature of the products they sell and the quality of service they provide: “We believe in personalized customer service, expert product knowledge, no-strings-attached technical support, maintaining a physical retail location where customers can touch and hear our products, creating unforgettable memories for our customers, providing opportunities through global networking and operating with full transparency and honesty.”

-Alex Simpson
For more info visit Rupp's Drums