✦ Our Story ✦
Frontier Spirit. Modern Method.
Our Mission
Why Vail Preneur Exists
The great accelerators in the world have proved that concentrated mentorship, peer community, and capital access can compress years of progress into weeks. Vail Preneur brings that model to the Rocky Mountains — with the added conviction that where you build matters as much as how you build.
The Vail Valley is more than a world-class destination. It is a community of ambitious, resourceful people who understand hard work, long winters, and the rewards of going higher. We believe it is the ideal crucible for building enduring companies.
Vail Preneur was founded to connect that entrepreneurial energy with the capital, expertise, and structure it deserves.
"The mountains teach you that preparation, persistence, and the right partners make the summit possible. We bring all three."
- Rigorous selection of entrepreneurs committed to the valley
- Hands-on mentorship tailored to your needs
- Equity stake and program fee — we win when you win
- Curated investor events matched to your specific market
- Lifelong alumni network and community access
The Team
The People Behind the Program
Our team brings together decades of entrepreneurial, investment, and operational experience — all with deep ties to the Vail Valley and a shared belief in what can be built here.
John Finley holds degrees in Physics and Marketing. Following his career in corporate finance with Citibank and JPMorgan Chase, John became CFO and CEO of a public company and later an independent entrepreneur by acquiring a business from a Fortune 10 company. He currently manages five businesses involved in research, commercialization, organizational consulting, business brokerage, and capital development.
A veteran of the U.S. Army, John has worked with numerous research universities and national laboratories in the U.S. and U.K. He and his wife live in the mountains of Colorado, and on Lake Erie in Ohio.
Entrepreneur Jennifer Coulson grew up in Kansas City and graduated from SMU. As a Vail Valley Realtor, she works with Buyers, Sellers, and Dreamers. Helping a Valley local television station led to hosting and producing a daily show for 15 years.
Jennifer annually receives recognition for her service to the Salvation Army, Vail Board of Realtors Foundation, Mountain Youth, Bright Future Foundation, Vail Veterans Program, several local schools, Metro Boards, Girl Scouts, Colorado International Scholarship Pageant, and the Vail Valley Academy of Dance. Jennifer and her daughters live in the Vail Valley and Cabo San Lucas.
Entrepreneur Lisa Bauer graduated from Mount St. Mary's University and completed graduate-level coursework in International Business and Relations at American University. Her career includes leadership roles with HP, Dell, Lenovo, and several start-up companies, where she worked with enterprise clients, national partners, and global organizations to align complex initiatives with practical business and financial outcomes.
Currently launching a new health business, she focuses on analytical discipline, strong business and financial perspective, and a people-centered approach. Lisa and her husband moved from South Carolina to Vail so their son could participate in the Vail Ski & Snowboard Academy.
Kayla Viddauri grew up in Taos, New Mexico, and has been a longtime resident of Eagle County. Focusing on accounting and finance, she has an extensive background in real estate sales, strategic investing, and client relations, paired with a genuine passion for helping others. Kayla manages administrative functions for Vail Preneur.
Outside of work, she embraces Colorado's outdoor lifestyle through snowboarding, camping, and fishing, drawing inspiration from the beauty and energy of the mountains year-round. Kayla is a mother of three and lives in the Vail Valley.
Entrepreneur Carolyn Johnson is a mechanical design engineer, systems engineer, project manager, and founder of GuardUs Innovations. She has spent the last two decades in product development across complex mechanical systems, including surgical equipment, aerospace mechanisms, and advanced electromechanical devices.
An animal lover, Carolyn is driven by a mission to reduce livestock losses while supporting coexistence between agriculture and wildlife. Through her company, she is applying engineering to protecting livestock, improving producer outcomes, and reducing reliance on lethal predator control. Active in climbing and outdoor fun, Carolyn and her husband live in Laporte, Colorado.
Entrepreneur Steve Borne is an Emmy award-winning sound designer, mixer, and producer in film, television, streaming, and music. He has worked for HBO, Netflix, Showtime, ESPN, and major motion picture studios. Now the founder of HearLabs, he is solving one of the most common audio frustrations: interference of background noise in movie and television entertainment and in conversations.
His patented, real-time Digital Signal Processor technology is designed for diverse hearing profiles and modern listening environments. A "Triple Bypass" athlete with deep family connections to the Vail Valley, Steve and his wife reside in New York City.
Entrepreneur Rob Smith has led global technology teams and large-scale initiatives in the financial services and electronic trading industries. He is now launching a startup with the experience of senior leadership roles in Singapore and London, covering all of Asia and then Europe.
Rob specializes in algorithmic trading systems, as well as the design and architecture of cloud-based systems. With degrees in Computer Engineering and Finance he teaches Python programming and mentors students in software engineering, data analysis, and machine learning. Following Rob's busy international career, he and his wife now live in the Vail Valley, an attraction for their grown family.
Join the Frontier
Ready to Build Something Lasting?
Whether you are a founder, an investor, or a community champion — Vail Preneur is building a network as strong as the mountains around it.
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