Learning How to Grow: Entrepreneur Launches Ambitions at LCCC

Alejandro Romero’s 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.

“This is a make-or-break one for me,” Alejandro says with a smile. “This is definitely the biggest [greenhouse] I’ve done so far, and I’m putting the most into it, being that it’s going to be their year-round gardening sanctuary.”

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 LCCC Welding Program. Welding instructor Sam Graham saw Alejandro’s blueprints for greenhouses in a welding assignment. Sam, knowing about Alejandro’s business idea, told his student about the Entrepreneurship Program, and suggested he take advantage of the opportunity to bring his idea to fruition. 

“Sam told me, ‘This is your whole reason for being here; don’t miss this chance,’” Alejandro says. “It ended up being such a blessing to connect with those people and learn so much.”  

LCCC’s 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’s 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’t sure whether he’d walk away with money. 

It was clear, however, that he’d made an impression on his audience. 

“I walked into the lobby and I didn’t know if I had won any money,” Alejandro says. “But as soon as I walked out into that lobby, people were coming up to me saying, ‘I loved your pitch—I want you to build a greenhouse. I want your contact information.’ First place or not, I’m meeting new people, acquiring clients. I said to myself, ‘This is a good thing.’”

Alejandro’s potential was evident to the judges and he ended up walking away with the day’s top prize of $8,000. 

“I was ecstatic,” he says. “Now I knew right off the bat that I could buy my trailer and have some money left over for tools and materials.” 

The ball is rolling for Alejandro and his startup. Since the Everyday Entrepreneur Competition, Alejandro says he’s 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. 

“From day one, it was nonstop people with people encouraging and reassuring me that I just needed to stay focused, stay goal-oriented and don’t lose that drive,” he says. 

“I don’t know where I’d be if it wasn’t for LCCC, but I don’t think I would have known how to take these important first steps.”