The Denver ScaleUp Network (DenSUN) was built to give growing founders the strategic guidance, mentorship, and peer support they need to move from early traction to long-term scale. Backed by the City and County of Denver, CiviCO, and BEN Colorado, DenSUN provides tailored support for entrepreneurs navigating the complex realities of growth: building strong teams, attracting investment, and expanding impact while maintaining vision and culture.

Each year, a select group of founders join the program to sharpen their strategies, challenge their assumptions, and connect with an unparalleled network of advisors. We’re proud to introduce the Fall 2025 cohort of innovators and leaders whose ventures span technology, health, consumer products, community, and more.

Melanie Adams: Founder, Embher

After nearly two decades in oil and gas, where she was required to wear ill-fitting protective clothing, Melanie founded Embher to create flame-resistant PPE designed specifically for women. Determined to close the gap in a market dominated by male-focused designs, she learned patternmaking herself to develop apparel that prioritizes both safety and comfort. Embher’s professionally appropriate, stylish, and functional workwear empowers women in STEM and the trades to work with confidence. Through her leadership, Mel is redefining workplace equality and advocating for inclusivity in industries where protective gear is essential.

Tayaru Bayyana: Founder & CEO, SereniCare AI

Tayaru Bayyana brings more than 20 years of experience in the software industry to her role as founder and CEO of SereniCare AI, a digital health company transforming palliative care. Her inspiration came from her own caregiving journey, where she recognized firsthand the emotional and logistical gaps in end-of-life support. SereniCare leverages artificial intelligence to deliver personalized, empathetic care recommendations, from AI-powered pain management to seamless care transitions, making the journey more connected for patients, families, and providers. Tayaru’s combination of technical expertise and visionary leadership drives her mission to scale compassionate, data-driven healthcare solutions.

Bryan Coleman: Founder, Rosey

Designer and storyteller Bryan Coleman is the founder of Rosey, a smart recipe assistant helping families answer the timeless question: “What’s for dinner?” Rosey’s ad-free, personalized app turns the ingredients users already have into quick, enjoyable meals, reducing food waste and stress. After years designing campaigns for major brands, Bryan saw an opportunity to create technology that makes everyday life easier. Today, he’s building Rosey into a trusted kitchen companion that helps people eat better, waste less, and bring more joy to cooking.

Dr. Jessica Hammond-Graf: Co-Founder & President, Women’s Elite Rugby (WER)

A lifelong athlete and seasoned sports executive, Dr. Jessica Hammond-Graf is co-founder and president of Women’s Elite Rugby, the first professional women’s rugby league in the U.S. With a career spanning 25 years in Division I athletics and higher education, Jessica brings extensive leadership experience to building the six-team league, which debuted in March 2025. Having played, coached, and studied the game, she views rugby as a platform for women’s empowerment. Today, she oversees WER’s operations and growth, championing visibility for women+ athletes and creating new role models in professional sports.

Ahmed Hashem: Founder & CEO, Agroptics

With a background as a senior irrigation engineer, Ahmed Hashem founded Agroptics to bring precision agriculture into everyday practice. By using cutting-edge remote sensing technologies such as satellite imagery, radar, and meteorological data, Agroptics enables growers to optimize irrigation and energy use while improving crop yields. The company’s solutions can reduce water consumption by up to 15%, saving money and protecting our climate. Ahmed’s expertise bridges technology and sustainability, positioning Agroptics as a key player in the future of efficient, responsible agriculture.

Melissa Jenner: Founder & CEO, Actvo

Melissa Jenner is the founder and CEO of Actvo, an AI-powered learning platform that helps companies grow by empowering employees to take charge of their own development. With over two decades of experience spanning global finance, brand leadership, and innovation, Melissa has seen firsthand how fear, burnout, and disengagement can erode even the strongest businesses. Actvo was built to close this gap, making personal development accessible, adaptive, and aligned to real business needs. Melissa’s mission is rooted in her belief that emotional intelligence and human-centered design are essential to creating high-performing, resilient teams.

Landon Johnson: Founder & CEO, AdRev Digital

Colorado native and former college athlete Landon Johnson brings his competitive edge to AdRev Digital, an AI-driven marketing agency helping businesses grow with clarity and speed. After years in media sales and ad agency leadership, Landon bootstrapped AdRev from scratch, building a team that helps executives and agencies turn short-form AI interviews into thought leadership and automate outreach to book more qualified meetings. With a roster that includes brands like Nvidia and CBS, AdRev remains proudly bootstrapped and committed to serving underdog businesses with one clear goal: more money in the client’s pocket.

Jess Lindsley & Heather Bahlmann: Co-Founders, Hey Birdie

Jess Lindsley and Heather Bahlmann are the co-founders of Hey Birdie, a venture reimagining how women connect, heal, and thrive together. Their partnership began with a shared frustration over the limited options for intentional community, leading them to design gatherings that inspired curiosity, courage, and connection. Jess brings nearly two decades of experience in nonprofit consulting, event planning, and community organizing, where she specialized in creating impactful programs and collaborations. Heather complements this with over 20 years in health and wellness leadership, known for her ability to cultivate human-centered cultures and elevate individual potential. Together, they’ve built Hey Birdie into a platform where women explore their power, embrace pleasure, and grow in authentic community.

Margo Jordan: Founder & CEO, Enrichly

Social entrepreneur and U.S. Army veteran Margo Jordan is the founder of Enrichly, a digital youth wellness platform focused on self-esteem and mental health. One of the few Black women to raise over $2M in venture capital, Margo has been recognized globally for her impact, including features in Entrepreneur Middle East and INC Magazine’s Top 250 Female Founders. Enrichly uses gamified, AI-powered tools to assess and improve self-esteem, anxiety, and resilience in children, offering evidence-based interventions in healthcare settings. With over 200,000 lives impacted to date, Margo’s mission is to empower youth with the confidence to thrive.

Sheila Van de Graaph: Executive Director, YouthRoots

Originally from Kenya, Sheila Van de Graaph is the executive director of YouthRoots, a nonprofit empowering underrepresented youth to lead change in their communities. With more than 20 years of leadership experience in philanthropy, youth empowerment, and systems change, Sheila brings a global perspective to her work in Denver. YouthRoots equips young people with skills in leadership, philanthropy, and research, enabling them to influence policy and fund local nonprofits. Sheila is passionate about amplifying youth voices, ensuring the next generation has the confidence and platforms to create a more equitable future.

Kyle Wandishin & Wade Turner: Co-Founders, Arterial

Co-founders Kyle Wandishin and Wade Turner lead Arterial, a company leveraging AI to help municipalities keep roads safer and better maintained. Kyle, with expertise in software scalability and automation, drives the technological vision, while Wade leads client operations and ensures solutions meet real-world needs. Together, they’ve developed AI-powered dash cameras that automate hazard detection using existing city vehicles, providing municipalities with real-time insights for proactive maintenance. Their approach bridges cutting-edge technology with public safety, delivering infrastructure that works quietly and effectively for everyone.

Monica Wang: Founder & CEO, Epic Horizon

Monica Wang is the founder of Epic Horizon, a social enterprise blending premium wellness with social impact. A certified yoga instructor, ultramarathon runner, and seasoned corporate leader, Monica designs nature-based retreats that integrate outdoor adventure, yoga, and mindfulness. Through Epic Horizon Access, its nonprofit arm, she also provides scholarships for veterans, first responders, healthcare workers, and educators. Monica’s leadership roles in SAME Denver Metro Post and ACEL Denver Chapter reflect her deep commitment to community. Epic Horizon stands apart by uniting wellness, nature, and accessibility to make healing experiences available to more people.

This impressive group of entrepreneurs represents the diversity, creativity, and resilience of Denver’s startup ecosystem. We can’t wait to see the impact they’ll create, not only in their businesses, but across industries, communities, and the broader economy.

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