Small Business Spotlight: Bowls by KO

"We were able to complete our restaurant build out with the funding from CEF, purchase large equipment and open the restaurant in a timely manner."
Owner: Katelin Overton

Q&A with Owner, Katelin Overton

Give a high level overview of your business.
Bowls by KO is a fast casual restaurant concept serving globally inspired and allergen-friendly grain bowls to the Denver area. We are located at 16th and Raleigh Street in the Sloan's Lake neighborhood of Denver. Bowls by KO started in 2019 as a small meal delivery service, opened a food truck in 2020, a food stall in Avanti in 2022 and finally our first Brick & Mortar in 2025. The
concept has always been the same, to make nourishing food accessible to our community.
 
How did the idea for your business come about? 
Bowls by KO was born from my love of the food industry (thanks to my dad running small ice cream shops growing up) and my healing journey from eating disorders and hormonal disorders. I learned how to cook and eat in a way that nourished and fueled my body and wanted to share that with my community.

What neighborhood is your business located in and what do you love about that location?
We are located in the Sloan's Lake neighborhood. When we moved in we became a go-to lunch and dinner spot for our active neighbors, many of who have become regulars. It feels like a true community and our small business is so supported.

What led your business to seek out new/additional funding?
I grew the business without any outside funding for 6 years. The proof of concept was there, however, starting a restaurant is very expensive. Operating as a small business never allowed us the cash flow to open our own location without additional funding.

What was your experience like when trying to get funding for your business? 
We looked for a partner for 6 months before finding CEF, spoke to more than 20 lenders and went through underwriting with more than 5. It was a long, difficult journey! Most lenders wouldn't loan to restaurants or businesses of our size.

What was different about working with CEF compared to other lenders?
CEF was so much more flexible than other lenders. The people were incredible to work with and really cared about the details. So many other lenders worked in a "check the box" capacity and if one box wasn't checked, it was an automatic no. CEF was patient and flexible and helped us get there.

What were you able to do with the funding you received from CEF? 
We were able to complete our restaurant build out with the funding from CEF, purchase large equipment and open the restaurant in a timely manner (they helped us work with our contractors, keep pricing aligned, etc).

What advice would you give to another small business owner going through the loan process?
Never give up! No one knows your business like you do.Even after so many nos I knew in my gut this business would work, and I had the numbers to prove it. All I needed was the right partner. It's a difficult journey but it is always worth it to bet on yourself.

What recent success(es) have you experienced in your business?  
We recently won the reader's choice for Westwords Best of Denver, selected as "Best Gluten Free Restaurant" for 2026. Having that level of community support less than 6 months into operating meant the world to us.