TLDR: A Grand Junction-based tech startup, The Confluencial, co-led by Colorado Mesa University (CMU) alumna Avery Kane and CMU guest lecturer Kyler Cheatham, has received global recognition for its groundbreaking AI shortlisting tool, River.AI. Cheatham was named a finalist in the 2025 #empowerHERaccess Women in Cloud Global Prestige Awards and recognized by The Soltesz Institute as one of the Top 30 Voices Shaping the Future of Payments, Banking, and Fintech. The awards highlight the company’s commitment to ethical and inclusive AI solutions for enterprise decision-making.
GRAND JUNCTION, Colorado – The Confluencial, a Grand Junction-based tech startup, is making significant waves in the artificial intelligence (AI) landscape, earning global accolades for its innovative approach to enterprise technology. Co-led by Colorado Mesa University (CMU) guest lecturer Kyler Cheatham and powered by CMU alumna Avery Kane, the firm has been honored with two major global awards for developing a first-of-its-kind AI shortlisting tool.
Kyler Cheatham was recognized as a finalist in the prestigious 2025 #empowerHERaccess Women in Cloud Global Prestige Awards. This acknowledgment specifically highlights her pivotal role in creating ethical AI solutions that support enterprise decision-making. Further cementing her influence in the tech sector, Cheatham was also named one of the Top 30 Voices Shaping the Future of Payments, Banking, and Fintech by The Soltesz Institute, an honor that underscores her dedication to responsible technology leadership and a values-first business strategy.
The Confluencial’s proprietary decision intelligence tool, River.AI, is at the heart of this recognition. Designed to streamline complex enterprise technology selections, River.AI aims to remove bias, reduce guesswork, and elevate strategic alignment within organizations. The tool empowers companies to effectively shortlist and select technology systems that genuinely fit their operational needs, reflecting The Confluencial’s core belief that ‘great technology should serve people, not the other way around.’
“This is a team award,” stated Kyler Cheatham. “We built this tool to serve people, not sales quotas. That was only possible with the brilliance of Avery Kane, our head AI engineer and a proud CMU grad, and the leadership of our CEO, Adam Cheatham.” She further emphasized the company’s philosophy, adding, “Tech should be a place where we build boldly, think critically, and support each other without pretense. That’s always been the heartbeat behind our work at The Confluencial.”
Also Read:
- Texas Showcases AI Leadership: Innovators Honored at Inaugural Global Summit and State-Wide Initiatives
- Synchroni Global IT Solutions Honored for Pioneering AI-Driven EdTech Solutions at 11th Education Leaders Conclave in Hyderabad
The startup’s success also underscores the powerful synergy between industry innovation and academic preparation. The Confluencial maintains a strong partnership with Colorado Mesa University, with Kyler Cheatham serving as a guest lecturer in the CMU business school, bringing real-world enterprise tech and AI leadership directly into the classroom. This collaboration not only equips the next generation of leaders with critical thinking and ethical building skills but also demonstrates that global impact and innovation are achievable from Grand Junction, far from traditional tech hubs.
