Founded in 2022 by Fort Collins scuba divers Austin Niles and Chloe Rogozinski, Reef Healers addresses declining ocean health. Recognizing their inland Colorado community’s role in marine protection, they connect water quality and ocean health through education, events, and cleanups. Their “upstream” mission, sparked by the fact that over 80% of ocean pollution originates inland, focuses on the direct link between local waterways and the ocean. Utilizing Colorado’s high per-capita number of scuba divers, they began local river cleanups and educational events.
When they joined the EforAll Business Accelerator in 2024, they had passion but little business experience. The program helped them refine their structure, gain confidence, and learn the practical side of entrepreneurship—from marketing and financials to crafting an elevator pitch. “At first, even having an elevator pitch felt impossible,” Chloe shared. “By the end, we were pitching confidently and realized, if we can do that, we can do anything.” The mentorship and cohort community also became a huge source of support. “It felt like a little family,” they said. “We’re still connected with many of them today.”
Since graduating, Reef Healers has completed over a dozen cleanups, removing more than 800 pounds of trash and planting hundreds of coral fragments through international restoration partnerships. They launched their flagship product line and expanded into service-based offerings, such as contracted river cleanups for local organizations. Most importantly, Austin and Chloe now operate with the structure, clarity, and confidence to scale their impact, bringing their mission to new waterways and proving that you don’t need an ocean nearby to protect it.
Follow Reef Healers on:
Published December 2025