2026 Fremont County Start-up Challenge Pitch Night
Date: April 24th, 2026
Time: Doors open at 5:30 PM
Location: Wind River Hotel and Casino, Blue Sky Conference Room
- Free and open to the public
- Free food and free drinks
- Audience choice award
Finalists

Kirbie Despain
Forrest & Fawn
Learn More
Hello! I’m Kirbie Despain the heart behind Forrest & Fawn. A former librarian turned small business owner, book lover, and community builder. As a mom to three amazing kiddos and wife to a truly supportive husband, I know firsthand how powerful stories can be in shaping imagination, connection, and belonging.
Forrest & Fawn was created from that belief a cozy, welcoming space where books are more than just pages; they’re experiences waiting to be discovered. Whether you’re finding your next favorite read or sharing the magic of stories with your family, this shop is built with love, intention, and a deep passion for bringing people together through books.
Facebook-

Blair Hurtado
Bison Basin Soaps & Salves
Learn More
Bison Basin Soaps & Salves is a collaborative effort of a husband & wife duo; he’s a silent partner but the very best guinea pig around. Keeping the products glycerin & aluminum free is important to us & we strive to procure as many ingredients as possible from our backyard. We have recently been fortunate enough to utilize local beeswax in our products as well; taking them to the next level! What started out as dabbling in soap making 5 years ago has now evolved into something much larger. While the sole proprietor continues to produce the products that are familiar to customers, there is a fueled desire to continue adding new & exciting “goods” to the lineup. All products are made by hand in small batches.

RJ Jubber
Q Score
Learn More
RJ Jubber is a seasoned operations leader with over 25 years of experience in oil and gas support services, consumer packaged goods, construction, and electric utilities. Since 2017, he has specialized in Human and Organizational Performance (HOP), helping organizations worldwide integrate HOP principles to improve safety and operational efficiency.
In 2024, RJ founded Q-Score, a real-time risk assessment SaaS platform that serves as the last line of defense for high-hazard industries. Drawing on his frontline leadership experience, Q-Score quantifies consequence severity at the point of work using HOP principles. Following successful beta testing that showed a 30% increase in hazard identification, Q-Score officially entered the market in early 2026 and is now scaling across Wyoming’s heavy industrial sectors.

Gwenith Wachter
Melaney & Co
Learn More
Gwenith Wachter is the founder of Melaney & Co., a community-focused business rooted in beauty, self-care, and sustainable living. With over 20 years of experience as a nail technician and salon owner, she has built her career on creating a welcoming space where clients feel valued, cared for and confident.
Through Melaney & Co., Gwenith is expanding her work beyond the salon to include handcrafted skincare products through Society Soap Co (societysoapco.com), as well as a future flower farm focused locally grown blooms and seed & tuber cultivation. As a rural entrepreneur she is passion about providing high-quality, locally made products while contributing to the growth, connection, and resilience of her community. On her YouTube channel (Cultivate with Gwenith) you can find gardening tips to cooking tutorials and little of everything in between. The online landing pad for Melaney & Co (melaneyco.com) is under construction and should be ready just in time bouquet season for all the summer market updates.

Kodie Andersen
Herd Wise
Learn More
Hello everyone my name is Kodie Andersen, I am from a small town in Wyoming named Yoder. Currently I am a student at CWC studying business and a member of the ranch horse team. I love everything ag and always strive to play my part in evolving the ag world. Right now, I’ve been working on an app called Herd Wise, which is designed to help with cattle tracking and management. The goal of the app is to make it easier to organize information, keep track of livestock, and improve decision-making for ranchers. It’s something I’ve put a lot of time and effort into because it connects to my interests and has real-world value.

Sheridan Davis
Sunnyside Daycare
Learn More
Sunnyside Daycare believes that playing and learning are one and the same. We take the opportunity to lay their educational foundation while they are enjoying their daily activities. We also believe that we are here to help the parents of the children that we serve. We’ve simplified admissions and tuition payments by transitioning to an electronic based system. We also strive to serve parents of all demographics and schedules by offering full-time, part-time and drop-ins as a well as Saturday care. We opened May 1st 2025 by Shane Hart and Sheridan Davis. Shane holds a bachelors degree in physical education. Sheridan holds an associates degree in secondary education and a bachelors degree in business management and entrepreneurship. Both owners have a passion for childcare and ensuring the health, safety and development of our youth. It’s due to these beliefs that Sunnyside Daycare is as strong as it is today. We can’t wait to make the next big step for our childcare and open our doors to more children!

Marisha Graves
The Busy Mother
Learn More
My grandmother taught me the love of cooking and to love through cooking. What began as just a little girl helping grandma in the kitchen has grown into a lifelong passion of creating food that brings joy to others. After earning my culinary degree and bringing that dream to life, I was hit with an unexpected curveball: food allergies. That’s when the real struggle began and I had to completely change my way of thinking. With my knowledge, experience, and extensive research, I began refining recipes—testing, failing, and recreating them with new, allergen-friendly ingredients. This new path began as a personal necessity and grew into something much bigger. Over the past few years, I’ve had the opportunity to connect more deeply with my community and discovered so many incredible people facing the same challenges. With the rapid growth of our clientele, we’ve officially outgrown our home kitchen. The Busy Mother LLC is now taking the next step—transitioning from a small home bakery to a mobile kitchen. This journey has become more than just food- it’s about creating comfort, trust and offering meaningful moments for everyone to enjoy. I carry her love and lessons through every step and every recipe, knowing that Grandma would be beaming with pride at how far this journey has taken us.

Ella Svensson
Smart Fridge
Learn More
Ella Svensson is a Business Administration student at Central Wyoming College with a strong interest in entrepreneurship and sustainability. Originally from Sweden, she enjoys developing ideas that make everyday life simpler while also reducing environmental impact. She is currently working on Smart Fridge, a mobile app designed to help people track their groceries, reduce food waste, and plan meals more efficiently.
Outside of her studies, Ella is a member of the college’s volleyball and beach volleyball teams. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and spending time with friends and family.
Judges

Christine Langley
Startup Wyoming, Director of Founder Success
Learn More
Christine Langley is the Director of Founder Success at Startup Wyoming, bringing more than fifteen years of experience supporting entrepreneurs and advancing innovation-driven economic development across the state. She previously served as Chief Operating Officer at the University of Wyoming’s Wyoming Technology Business Center (now IMPACT 307), where she oversaw incubation programs and guided founders through early-stage validation, capital strategy, and company growth.
Before joining Startup Wyoming, Christine led statewide business education and coaching initiatives at the Wyoming Women’s Business Center, expanding access to entrepreneurship training and support for emerging founders. A lifelong entrepreneur, she has launched and operated multiple ventures and is deeply committed to helping others build confidence, capacity, and momentum through innovation and purposeful action.
In her role at Startup Wyoming, Christine leads programs and founder-facing services designed to ensure entrepreneurs at every stage have the resources, connections, and strategic support they need to succeed.

Ryan Hedges
Wyoming Community Bank, Branch Manager Lander / VP Commercial Loans
Learn More
Ryan Hedges is a Wyoming Boy through and through, graduating from Star Valley High School and attending CWC and the University of Wyoming where he received a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business. Ryan joined WCB in February of 2023 and enjoys helping the local community achieve their personal and business financial wants and needs. Ryan is on the Jr. Livestock Sales Board and serves on the Fremont County MOVE Committee.

Rylan O'Bryan
Wyoming Business Council, Venture Development Manager
Learn More
Rylan O’Bryan, a Wyoming native, is committed to expanding our state’s venture ecosystem. He has played a foundational role in supporting economic development by working closely with funders, founders, and leaders to support companies in achieving their goals. Rylan has experience working with a variety of both company types and stages, from high growth startups looking for their first customers to mature businesses looking to expand or relocate.
As the Senior Associate at WYVC, Rylan brings curiosity to challenge current perceptions, a data driven mindset, and a passion to help. He’s driven by the opportunity to change the future of Wyoming through entrepreneurship and dreams young professionals like himself will have more opportunities without feeling the need to look out of state.
Rylan is a University of Wyoming graduate and holds certifications from UC Berkeley and Harvard. While attending UW, he studied Finance, Entrepreneurship, and Blockchain and served in leadership positions at student clubs, such as the Financial Management Association. He currently lives in Cheyenne with his dog and spends his free time camping, fishing, and snowboarding. Go Pokes!

Cindy Olson
Riverton Chamber of Commerce, Executive Director
Learn More
Cindy Olson Roden is a proud Riverton native with deep roots in the community, following in the footsteps of generations of local business leaders. Both of her parents were raised in Riverton, and her family’s legacy in business spans decades. Her father was a longtime banker who chartered Riverton State Bank in the late 1970s—now the Wells Fargo location on Federal Boulevard—while her maternal grandparents owned and operated a men’s clothing store on Main Street in the 1950s and 60s.
Cindy built her own successful career in the business world as a travel agent for 35 years, including 25 years as the owner of her own agency in Riverton. After a brief time in the banking industry, she brought her experience, leadership, and passion for community to a new role as Executive Director of the Riverton Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center in October 2024.
With a lifelong connection to Riverton and a deep understanding of local business, Cindy is committed to supporting economic growth, promoting the community, and helping local businesses thrive. Business isn’t just her career—it’s part of her heritage.











