Meet Val Nosler Beck, recent loan recipient and founder of UPSTREAM. Being a business owner is never easy, but as a mother and a cancer survivor, Val’s journey has been especially challenging. A year ago, her cancer diagnosis forced her to pause—a rare moment of stillness for someone who has spent her career thriving in the fast-paced world of politics. Now cancer-free, Val is back with a renewed sense of purpose, determined to grow her business and succeed with a clear vision of what truly matters in life.
What is your name? And what is the name of your business?
Val Nosler Beck – Founder of UPSTREAM
How long have you been in operation? And what services/products do you provide?
Started in July 2020.
Upstream: Provides consulting services for campaigns and organizations. We focus on campaigns and nonprofits that serve local communities in Colorado. The people we hire to work with our clients are campaign staffers or come from the advocacy community. We train them on the job so they can have lasting careers in political and advocacy work, often building their own consulting business.
What has been the driving force behind your business? And in what ways are you hoping to grow in the future?
My business has been driven by finding what people love to do. In this line of work, some people are “data nerds” others love research, and many are event planners and community organizers. At Upstream our team makes sure people are doing what they love, and then we connect them with campaigns we end up most of the time delivering for our clients because everyone on our client’s team loves the work they are doing so we get creative, fresh campaigns for our candidates and organizations we serve.
I want to grow our company to better serve our clients and the people who work for Upstream by expanding into polling and research, providing access to resources that campaigns need through Upstream Rentals. We also are partnering with Community Investment Alliance to launch The Steady Pilot Program to provide Advocacy and Campaign Training through their 501 C3 organization.
As an entrepreneur what is one challenge you’ve faced in the past? And how did you overcome it?
I am currently going through the biggest challenge of my life. I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Rectal Cancer in June 2023 and have been going through treatment. I have not overcome it yet. I have two children, a husband, and a close family. My business has so far survived, but because I have had to hire so many people to help fill the gaps of my absence, my business that once was turning a great profit that let us consider investment in other programs like rentals and polling is now barely turning a profit. We are working to recover, and I have an incredible team, but we have by no means overcome it. I am very hopeful that we have learned new efficiencies through this ordeal and will be better for it long-term.
How was your overall experience working with Energize Colorado? What solution did Energize Colorado provide? And how did/will the solution benefit you and your business?
I reached out to Energize and applied for a $75,000 loan to launch our rental business and pay a contract employee for a 3-month maternity leave. I received the first installment of the loan in July 2023. The Energize Loan ultimately went to saving Upstream. In June 2023, after I had applied for the loan, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Rectal Cancer, and my whole world changed. The Energize loan gave me the breathing room to be able to bring on some other contractors to help run my business while I navigated my health and family’s needs. Without the support of the Energize loan, we would not have made it beyond November of 2023.
Additionally, the Energize team believed in Upstream and what we are working toward in Colorado. As a business owner, having Energize come in and say, “We think you are on to something really great.” Was something that kept me going as a woman business owner in some of my darkest moments.
What is one piece of advice you would give to someone with aspirations to start a business of their own?
As you build your business, build your client base, but also build your other revenue streams. Plan for the unexpected, both the good and bad. Know that things are going to happen and you are going to let clients down, but don’t beat yourself up. Learn from that. Are you growing too fast? Do you have someone doing a job that they don’t like doing? I’ve got so much advice, but there are a couple tips