Behind the Scenes at Blazin’ Joe: Our Journey and Mission

My name is Maddie Cataldo, the founder and chief of fire at Blazin’ Joe. I'm beyond thrilled to spill the beans on the heart and soul behind our incredible all-natural fire logs. Thanks to my dad, I discovered in high school that spent coffee grounds and coffee chaff, the often overlooked byproduct of the roasting process, both destined for landfills, are currently emitting harmful methane into the atmosphere. Additionally, coffee waste is a great source of fuel as it burns hotter and cleaner than wood! During my senior year capstone class at CU Boulder, I worked with an amazing team of 5 to turn this idea into reality by utilizing the high energy content of coffee waste to upcycle them into all-natural firelogs.

This class turned the spark of an idea into a flame. It has surely been a wild ride fueled by passion, perseverance, and a hint of caffeine. A massive shoutout to Brad Werner, our guiding star during those intense moments in New Venture Creation. The Deming Center, my entrepreneurial haven, played a crucial role in shaping Blazin' Joe into what it is today.

Following the success of Blazin’ Joe in my capstone, we competed in the Female Founder competition at the New Venture Challenge – a challenge that was empowering and opened many doors for us. Little did I know, those moments were laying the groundwork for the Blazin' Joe journey.

Post-graduation took me on a detour to South Africa, where I immersed myself in consulting for township entrepreneurs through the EESA program. This hiatus from Blazin’ Joe taught me invaluable lessons: how to analyze a business from an external perspective, make a tangible impact on a business, navigate resource constraints, and above all, the grit required for success.

Since returning to Boulder after this amazing experience, I have dedicated myself to Blazin’ Joe full-time. The journey continued with milestones such as completing the Small Business Development Center's accelerator program and the Crowdsolve Climate Startup Bootcamp. These experiences refined Blazin’ Joe, preparing us to bring our eco-friendly fire logs to the world.

Today, my dad is not just the guy who gave me the idea; he's also playing a major role in the business, handling production and sales on the East Coast, our hometown!

Your feedback means the world to us as we continue this incredible journey. Thanks for being part of the Blazin' Joe story – where passion for fireside memories meets a commitment to the planet!