I love Colorado for the sustainable agriculture.

Matias Gutknecht grew up immersed in his parents' Denver business, where he developed a deep appreciation for the sense of community it created. "I worked there after school and during breaks, and I fell in love with entrepreneurship and the hospitality industry," he recalls.

Although Gutknecht had always wanted to pursue an MBA, it was on the back burner until he discovered CU Denver’s accelerated MBA program. He enrolled and quickly dove into core business topics like finance and strategic management. "The program offered more than just classroom learning," he says. "Consulting opportunities and extracurricular projects really strengthened my experience."

At the end of the program, Gutknecht wrote a business plan for a restaurant, but this was more than an academic exercise—he intended to make it a reality. With feedback from classmates, professors, and mentors, he fine-tuned his vision.

Two years later, he co-founded Taco Uprising in Denver, built on the foundation of that plan. The restaurant focuses on sustainability and community impact, aiming to reduce food waste, donate unused food, compost, recycle, and support the local economy. 

"One of our main goals is to put people before profits." 

Gutknecht and his co-founder are also working toward B Corp Certification, a prestigious designation that recognizes businesses meeting high standards for social and environmental performance. "One of our main goals is to put people before profits," Gutknecht says, noting that B Corp Certification would highlight how this approach can work in the restaurant industry.

Reflecting on his journey, Gutknecht credits CU Denver’s MBA program with helping him get his business off the ground. "The feedback on my business plan was invaluable," he says. "It helped us secure a small business loan and opened doors for us."

Today, Gutknecht remains involved with CU Denver’s Business School, giving back by offering students real-world experience through studying and planning for Taco Uprising's future. "That's the power of CU Denver’s community," he says.