Welcome to Quad Shot Espresso, a local coffee shop providing caffeine for your daily grind. We have been family-run since 2023 and love and care for our community. Our drive-thru is perfect for all coffee lovers and remote workers. We understand those early mornings are rough, so we are open at 5 am to help you get through the morning. We can guarantee that you will get the best quality coffee in a timely manner. We understand that there are other coffee shops in Valdez, AK, but we pride ourselves in amazing customer service, quality coffee, and to get you on your way to work. Being a small business, we find many ways to support our community.

Check out Quad Shot Espresso!

Serena Allen

Serena Allen is a passionate Fairbanks resident and leading mind in outdoor air quality innovation.

At just 22, she founded AirVitalize Innovations, a startup dedicated to combating outdoor air pollution, motivated by the alarming fact that particulate matter contributes to 1 in 9 premature deaths, extreme environmental degradation, and trillions in economic losses annually.

As CEO of AirVitalize, Serena continues to drive change. She is a 2024 Larta Institute Venture Fellow and a 2023 Planet Tech Fellow at the Watson Institute, and was recognized as a High North Young Entrepreneur 2024 by The Arctic Congress. In her free time she hosts entrepreneurship education workshops for young inventors in 4th to 12th grade.

She is interested in expanding innovation to improve outdoor air, and actively working to expand entrepreneurship in the space.

Connect with Serena!

Check out AirVitalize!

Jane Thomas

Jane Thomas, founder of JST Heath Coaching, helps people prevent dementia and reverse mild cognitive decline.

Scientific breakthroughs related to dementia in the last decade are bringing good news. One key discovery is that many risk factors involve lifestyle choices that are within our control.

Using Apollo Health’s Bredesen Protocol, Jane helps people to identify their top risk areas and learn about changes they can make to reduce those risks. Then she empowers them to set and meet achievable goals, starting wherever they are and work together in the direction of their vision of wellness. She helps people find hope.

Connect with Jane!

Dawn Sheets

Dawn Sheets is the founder and operator of Triple S Ranch, the only horseback riding facility on Prince of Wales Island, Alaska. With a lifelong passion for horses and a commitment to integrity, compassion, and fun, Dawn created Triple S Ranch to share the joy and therapeutic benefits of riding with her community. The ranch offers lessons, traveling events, field trips, and summer camps, all designed to build confidence, foster mental well-being, and create unforgettable experiences.

Connect with Dawn!

Kir Moore

Together is a family-forward destination experience for food, gathering, and childcare– where children, parents, and caregivers gather, recreate, and relax in a safe, supportive, and beautiful environment.

Stay tuned for more news in 2025!

Connect with Kir!

Joshua Coleman

Shannon Riley

Mestiza Naturals is a unique enterprise inspired by the richness of heritage and the elegance of natural wellness. Founded by Shannon Riley, Mestiza Naturals offers a bespoke turndown service with a romantic focus, dedicated to enhancing moments of rest and connection. Combining artisanal craftsmanship with carefully sourced natural products, the company embodies a seamless blend of luxury and authenticity. Whether creating intimate settings or curating a soothing aromatherapeutic experiences, Meztiza Naturals invites customers to rediscover relaxation and love through the lens of nature’s finest offerings.

Haden Bricker

Haden Bricker is the founder of Bobbin Around Creations. This venture stemmed from a family lineage of seamstresses and adventurers. The company began as a recovery effort from a rock climbing injury, allowing Haden to stay connected to her climbing community. Since this creation, the vision has grown from just sewing products to empowering others to create. The mission of Bobbin Around Creations is to Stitch Together Community. This is done through sharing passion and expertise in intimate classes.

Connect with Haden!

Check out Bobbin Around Creations!

Kristin Kniss

I’m Kristin Kniss. I moved to Alaska 6 years ago with my family. My husband recently retired from the Army, and we plan to stay in Alaska. With him home more, it has allowed me to focus on my business idea. I’ve been self-employed for 15 years, contracting for web design agencies and individual clients. I have a vision to “clean up the web" by offering website audit services. The end result will ensure websites are reaching their maximum potential, ultimately driving business growth and revenue.

As a long-term plan, I hope to create a training program for stay-at-home moms, military spouses, and women in underserved areas so they can develop a skill set that allows them to work from home with flexible hours during challenging times. I’m hoping to build equity in UX mess to fund the development of a training program.

Connect with Kristin!

Check out UX Mess!

Caleb Forestal

Caleb is the founder of Powder.ly, a platform dedicated to making the mountains accessible to everyone by connecting independent ski instructors with students seeking personalized lessons. Inspired by his time on the slopes in Alaska and Colorado, Caleb created Powder.ly to empower instructors with tools to grow their business while offering students an affordable, flexible alternative to traditional ski schools. Caleb is also beginning his major in Computer Science at the University of Alaska Anchorage, combining his passion for technology with his drive to break down barriers in skiing and snowboarding, making the joys of the mountains available to all.

Connect with Caleb!

Korina Cramer

Kyle Ekstrand

Kyle likes tech. He's the owner of a Juneau tech firm named MishMash Technologies. Their first publicly available app, Aurorapulse, was created to help people connect and share their experiences with the aurora. It is (or will be) available on the Play Store and Apple Store.

Connect with Kyle!

Check out Aurorapulse!

Lucy Selanoff

Welcome to Quad Shot Espresso, a local coffee shop providing caffeine for your daily grind. We have been family-run since 2023 and love and care for our community. Our drive-thru is perfect for all coffee lovers and remote workers. We understand those early mornings are rough, so we are open at 5 am to help you get through the morning. We can guarantee that you will get the best quality coffee in a timely manner. We understand that there are other coffee shops in Valdez, AK, but we pride ourselves in amazing customer service, quality coffee, and to get you on your way to work. Being a small business, we find many ways to support our community.

Check out Quad Shot Espresso!

Gary Francis Stout

A trailblazing innovator, educator, and businessman, Gary Francis Stout is renowned for his inventive contributions to creative design and STEM education. Gary has devoted his professional life to encouraging the next generation of scientists and engineers via practical education and creative play as the founder of Gravity Wizards Inc. and the Gravity Powered Air Derbies Association. His endeavors, which include patent-pending innovations like gravity-powered rockets and the Magic Lamp, aim to make science and engineering interesting and approachable for young brains.

Upstart Alpha Cohort 6

Cohort 6: Fall 2024

Margo Fliss

Connect with us:

1901 Bragaw Street, Suite 199 Anchorage, AK, 99508