Mile High Makers

A strong product claim can help a brand stand out. But what happens when the words on a label, website, or social post create risks the founder did not anticipate?

Majid Boroujerdi and Jeff Schell sit down with Greenberg Traurig attorney Justin Prochnow to explore the business behind food, beverage, supplement, and CBD claims. Drawing on his work with emerging and established brands, Justin discusses the tension between persuasive marketing, supporting evidence, and legal exposure.

In this episode:
• How FDA, FTC, state regulators, and class-action plaintiffs approach product claims differently.
• Influencer disclosures, customer testimonials, and Amazon’s automated screening of product language.
• Why “GLP-1 friendly,” protein, “natural,” and “clinically studied” claims deserve careful scrutiny.
• The distinction between research on an ingredient and evidence supporting a finished product.
• CBD’s evolution, the 2018 Farm Bill, and the uncertainty brands face across state and federal rules.
• Distribution agreements, bringing in experienced operators, and Colorado’s strengths and constraints as a home for growing food brands.

The conversation also touches on Justin’s path from Denver prosecutor to food-industry counsel, public education, and the limits of relying on AI without expert review.

This interview shares general business and legal perspectives, not advice for a particular product or situation. Regulatory discussions reflect the conversation at the time of recording.

Subscribe to Mile High Makers on YouTube for more conversations with Colorado’s founders, operators, and business leaders:
https://www.youtube.com/@milehighmakers

This episode includes sponsorship messages from Whiteford.

What does it take to build a youth-sports business that helps children improve—not just teams win?

Majid Boroujerdi and Jeff Schell sit down with Lasse Lobmeyr, co-founder of Fussbally, to explore the business behind developing young soccer players in Colorado. Lasse shares his path from Germany to Denver, the gap he saw in coaching for children of different ability levels, and the decisions behind growing a hands-on service business.

In this episode:
• Why youth-soccer costs differ between Germany and the United States.
• Ability-based training and incentives focused on individual development.
• Recruiting coaches, earning families’ trust, and maintaining quality as a business grows.
• Using AI to reduce registration and administrative work while redirecting staff effort.
• Lessons from Charlie Munger and Sam Walton, and the trade-off between focus and new opportunities.
• Helping children develop intrinsic motivation without imposing parents’ ambitions.

The episode opens with Jeff and Majid’s discussion of youth-sports access and Colorado’s business ecosystem before the interview. The conversation shares Lasse’s perspective on coaching, entrepreneurship, and building long-term value—not a one-size-fits-all formula for young athletes or founders.

Subscribe to Mile High Makers on YouTube for more conversations with Colorado’s founders, builders, and business leaders:
https://www.youtube.com/@milehighmakers

This episode includes sponsorship messages from Whiteford.

What does it take to turn a promising food idea into a brand that can scale?

Jeff Schell and Majid Boroujerdi sit down with Raj Babu of BFG Partners to explore the realities of building, financing, and growing consumer brands—and what Colorado needs to help more of them succeed.

Drawing on his experience at WhiteWave, Birch Benders, and Cappello’s, Raj discusses the challenges founders face beyond creating a great product: understanding cash flow, managing retail economics, building the right team, and knowing when to bring in outside capital.

In this episode:

• What Raj looks for in founders, margins, and proof of concept.
• Lessons from growing Birch Benders and preparing a business for an acquisition.
• Why Colorado is strong at launching food brands—and where scaling gets harder.
• How manufacturing, experienced operators, capital, and mentorship support growth.
• Where AI and changing consumer preferences are creating opportunities in food.

Whether you’re launching a consumer product, investing in emerging brands, or helping build Colorado’s business community, this conversation offers an operator’s perspective on moving from idea to execution.

Subscribe to Mile High Makers on YouTube for full video conversations, highlights, and lessons from Colorado’s founders, investors, and builders:

https://www.youtube.com/@milehighmakers

Follow Mile High Makers in your podcast app to hear future episodes.

Explore the show: https://milehighmakers.com/

Thank you to Whiteford for supporting Mile High Makers.

Welcome to Mile High Makers — candid conversations with the founders, investors, operators, and local insiders shaping Colorado’s economy.

In our debut episode, hosts Jeff Schell and Majid Boroujerdi sit down for their first on-mic conversation after a friendship that began at Northwestern more than three decades ago.

Jeff is a Denver patent attorney, founder and entrepreneur who has built and exited companies. Majid is a brand, innovation and growth leader whose career has included Procter & Gamble, startups, CBDistillery and The Hershey Company.

We dig into what happened to Denver’s startup momentum after COVID, whether Colorado founders need to leave the state to raise capital, and whether the bigger constraint is actually talent. We also explore downtown Denver’s commercial real estate opportunity, Colorado’s strengths in quantum and aerospace, the state’s “give-first” culture, and why Colorado shouldn’t simply try to recreate Silicon Valley.

The final part of the conversation turns to AI and professional services, including Jeff’s argument that general-purpose AI could flatten the difference between average and exceptional expertise — and how he is using custom AI agents instead.

#MileHighMakers #ColoradoBusiness #DenverStartups #ColoradoStartups #Entrepreneurship #VentureCapital #DenverBusiness #ArtificialIntelligence #LegalAI #FounderStories