Tentiko Brings Unique Experiences to Denver
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The tour group, Tentiko recently took groups to the 3D Printing Store in Denver, Colorado for an up-close look at technology that is revolutionizing the world. Curiosity seekers were able to talk with the owner of the store and watch as different objects were printed layer by layer. Tentiko co-founders, Cyd Crouse and Jim Chesebro, started Tentiko with the idea that people are looking for interaction over materialism.
Carri: How did you come up the idea for Tentiko?
Jim: I had the idea for Tentiko a couple of years ago. I was buying less “stuff” as a result of the economic/cultural shifts. I wanted to create memories for me and my family and I couldn’t do that if I spent all my money buying the next cool gadget. I really felt that I wasn’t alone and other people I knew were more in to experiences than stuff. So it seemed like there was an opportunity because there wasn’t a single place I could go to buy experiences. At least not ones that were local, authentic and affordable!
I was also influenced by Rachel Botsman’s book “What’s Mine is Yours” and the collaborative consumption movement. Basically, the premise is that we have all of these barely used assets lying around the house and that we can sell access to those things (car sharing, AirBnB, etc). I loved those ideas and starting thinking about what other under used assets people had that they could sell to make a second income. I started thinking that they could sell their knowledge, passion and expertise in the form of “experiences” that they could craft for other people to buy.
That’s about as far as I got with the idea before running it past Cyd, who started helping me answer the question of “How to make it happen?”. We agreed that it was an idea worth pursuing and we’ve been working on it since.
Carri: What makes for a successful experience?
Jim: First, the experience really has to be something special. Something that our guests will remember and tell ten of their friends about. Basically, our goal is to create awesome memories for our guests. When we do that, they come back and tell their friends. Creating the special experience can take a lot of different forms, but the hosts have to be awesome (unique, passionate, creative, knowledgeable) and the experience has to give people something special like access to people or places they don’t normally have access to. The great thing is that Denver is filled with the unique individuals that we’re looking for and they are excited to offer a Tentiko experience.
Carri: What is the significance of the the name Tentiko?
Jim: Our name comes from the Papiamentu word for authentic. Papiamentu (or Papiamento), spoken on the island of Curacao, is a mixture of Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English, French, and it also has some Arawak Indian and African influences. Papiamentu is one of the few Creole Languages of the Caribbean that has survived to the present day. One of our founders lives on Curacao and was studying the language when we were creating the company.
Outéntiko means authentic. We loved the word, but it seemed like a mouthful. We shortened it a little and fell in love.
That’s how we became Tentiko. (pronounced ten·tee·ko)
Click here to check out upcoming experiences- including rock climbing, farm and creamery tours and even mixolgy classes.
Carri also caught a sausage making experience with Tentiko with Chef Mark Mark DeNittis/
- Jim Chesebro, Co-founder of Tentiko
- Cyd Crouse, Co-founder of Tentiko
