2025 Judging Panel
Mary Grothe
Founder & CEO
Sunday Salmon
Stanley Hickory
Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Stan Hickory is the Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative at CU Boulder, where he plays a key role in advancing innovation and entrepreneurship across campus. With a background in venture development and startup mentoring, Stan supports students, faculty, and alumni as they turn bold ideas into impactful ventures.
He is Director of CU Boulder’s New Venture Challenge and serves as a connector between campus innovators and the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem. Passionate about education and real-world learning, Stan helps shape programs that give students hands-on experience in startups and venture creation. His work reflects a deep commitment to empowering the next generation of changemakers at CU Boulder and the broader startup ecosystem in Colorado.
Mike Jones
Founder
Datavail
I grew up ranching and roughnecking, which instilled in me an early appreciation for hard work and the comfort of air conditioning.
My professional journey began in the 1970s at Accenture. I had the privilege of learning from technology leaders across a broad range of industries and ended my time there as an Associate Partner.
In the 1990s, I had the opportunity to serve as CIO at Corporate Express and Level3 Communications, two Boulder County startups that grew into multi-billion-dollar enterprises largely driven by technology. In the 2000s, I became CEO of iStructure, which was eventually sold to Wipro. I also founded Datavail, a company that continues to operate out of Broomfield today.
For the past two decades, I’ve been fortunate to be involved in Colorado’s vibrant startup community, where I’ve been able to support founders in turning their ideas into reality. Throughout my career, I’ve been lucky to cross paths with incredible people and have been grateful for every opportunity that’s come my way.
Mike Landes
Senior Manager of Business Development
Colorado OEDIT
Mike Landes serves as the Senior Manager of Business Development in the Global Business Development Division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. He is the state's lead on business attraction and retention, and he works closely with public and private stakeholders in external markets to raise awareness of Colorado's viability as a place for business expansion. Mike oversees the state's incentive process for businesses considering growth in Colorado, and he regularly contributes to the development of legislation and programming designed to support business development.
Prior to his role in Global Business Development, Mike served as the state's Opportunity Zone Czar in OEDIT's Business Funding & Incentives Division. In his previous professional life, Mike has worked in politics as a political consultant and campaign operative. He holds bachelor's degrees from Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary, and he received his Master's in Public Policy from the Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy.
Brandon Melton
Partner, Strategic Relationships
Chief of Chaos
Justin Vaughn is a 30-year experienced business attorney providing general counsel, board governance, and advisory services to for-profit and non-profit businesses. Based upon broad experience in litigation, transactions, and governance, Justin is focused on helping to resolve legal issues and minimize risks. His business experience also includes developing strategic priorities, team building, problem solving, succession planning, and guiding strategic and private equity M&A transactions.
With a successful background in public speaking and analytical thinking, Justin’s early career involvedsubstantial litigation. After years of successful trial work, his career shifted away from litigation and toward a dedication to building, protecting, and selling privately held companies. He has taken middle market businesses through stages to up to 20x growth multiples and managed private equity M&A transactions between $30M and $710M in enterprise value.
His positions within corporate structures currently include outside general counsel, entrepreneurialcounsel, VP, governing board member, and/or advisory board member. Justin’s objective is always to provide collaborative strategies and solutions and assist business owners and C-level executives with the full range of business and legal matters.
Philanthropy is also quite important. In addition to serving on numerous charitable boards, Justin’s charitable work has included founding two legal clinics, founding a branch of United Way, serving asChair of a Chamber of Commerce, and serving as a Rotary President. Current charitable efforts include serving as a director on the board of Make-A-Wish and as the recent Past Chair of the Board of the Douglas County Community Foundation. In 2007, Justin was honored as the Philanthropist of the Year in his county.
Justin’s career has involved significant professional studies and hands-on experience in business law, leadership, negotiations, counseling, finance, team culture, and business operations. His personal life experiences include professional scuba diving, marathons, piloting, cooking, reading, and churchactivities.