Learning How to Grow: Entrepreneur Launches Ambitions at LCCC
Alejandro Romero鈥檚 startup, Cultivate LLC, began its most ambitious project yet in
early April: constructing a 40-foot-long by 14-foot-wide greenhouse with a 12-foot
ceiling. The project, taking shape at a residence just north of Cheyenne, was commissioned
by a customer Romero met at a local restaurant. This marks a significant step forward
for Cultivate, which is carving out its niche in sustainable agriculture.
鈥淭his is a make-or-break one for me,鈥� Alejandro says with a smile. 鈥淭his is definitely the biggest [greenhouse] I鈥檝e done so far, and I鈥檓 putting the most into it, being that it鈥檚 going to be their year-round gardening sanctuary.鈥�
Alejandro, a 25-year-old Cheyenne native, first conceived his business idea for building greenhouses out of used shipping containers during the pandemic. Inspired by his own love for gardening, he wanted to find a way to share the hobby with people in his community, realizing his skillset could allow him to build the needed infrastructure for gardeners with year-round growing ambitions.
To harness his skills for building those greenhouses, he enrolled in the 香蜜影视Welding Program. Welding instructor Sam Graham saw Alejandro鈥檚 blueprints for greenhouses in a welding assignment. Sam, knowing about Alejandro鈥檚 business idea, told his student about the Entrepreneurship Program, and suggested he take advantage of the opportunity to bring his idea to fruition.
鈥淪am told me, 鈥楾his is your whole reason for being here; don鈥檛 miss this chance,鈥欌�� Alejandro says. 鈥淚t ended up being such a blessing to connect with those people and learn so much.鈥�
LCCC鈥檚 Entrepreneurship Program is designed to provide students with comprehensive training in starting and managing their own businesses. It covers a range of essential skills, including feasibility testing of business ideas, sales and branding techniques, creating business plans and digital strategies for online presence. Additionally, the program focuses on financial planning, business communications, marketing for small businesses, and is structured to be adaptable as either an add-on to other degrees or as a standalone certificate.
Alejandro鈥檚 journey in the Entrepreneurship Program culminated in the Everyday Entrepreneur
Pitch Competition on Feb. 15. Eight unique pitches were presented, each a unique reflection
of the diverse talent at LCCC. The judges, tasked with the challenging job of allocating
the
$32,000 prize fund, were looking for more than just business viability; they were
looking for innovation, impact and the potential for growth.
After his pitch, Alejandro wasn鈥檛 sure whether he鈥檇 walk away with money.
It was clear, however, that he鈥檇 made an impression on his audience.
鈥淚 walked into the lobby and I didn鈥檛 know if I had won any money,鈥� Alejandro says. 鈥淏ut as soon as I walked out into that lobby, people were coming up to me saying, 鈥業 loved your pitch鈥擨 want you to build a greenhouse. I want your contact information.鈥� First place or not, I鈥檓 meeting new people, acquiring clients. I said to myself, 鈥楾his is a good thing.鈥欌��
Alejandro鈥檚 potential was evident to the judges and he ended up walking away with the day鈥檚 top prize of $8,000.
鈥淚 was ecstatic,鈥� he says. 鈥淣ow I knew right off the bat that I could buy my trailer and have some money left over for tools and materials.鈥�
The ball is rolling for Alejandro and his startup. Since the Everyday Entrepreneur Competition, Alejandro says he鈥檚 had several thousand-dollar contributions from people who believe in his venture.
The connections he has in the community seem promising for starting to provide a steady stream of work.
鈥淔rom day one, it was nonstop people with people encouraging and reassuring me that I just needed to stay focused, stay goal-oriented and don鈥檛 lose that drive,鈥� he says.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know where I鈥檇 be if it wasn鈥檛 for LCCC, but I don鈥檛 think I would have known how to take these important first steps.鈥�