From a young age, Hayden Alworth showed a knack for all things tech. Homeschooled and naturally curious, he dove into projects that spanned everything from carpentry and gardening to computers and robotics. His first deep dive into technology came at age 13 through a 4-H project that introduced him to building computers. That early spark turned into something much bigger when, at just 14, he joined the robotics team at Trinidad State College (TSC)—a move that would shape the rest of his path.
“It started with just wanting to see how things worked,” Hayden says. “And then it grew into something much bigger.”
That robotics program, led by mentor and instructor Cindy Clements, gave Hayden hands-on experience with programming and electronics. The passion stuck. Not only did he take numerous programming classes at TSC, but he eventually returned as an advisor to help guide the next generation of robotics students.
Launching a Business by Accident
By the time he was in his mid-teens, Hayden had launched a computer repair business—almost by accident. What began as helping friends and family troubleshoot their PCs turned into a steady stream of requests from local businesses. Before long, he was providing IT support, network troubleshooting, and system management for companies across Southern Colorado—including law enforcement agencies and rural governments.
The business, which he aptly named The Computer Kernel, grew quickly. “It just kind of took off,” he recalls. “One day I was fixing a friend’s laptop, and the next I had contracts with businesses across Trinidad, Raton, and Aguilar.”
As the workload piled up, Hayden’s parents stepped in to help. His mom took over the bookkeeping, and his dad—whose technical skills were reignited by the venture—even earned his own computer repair certification to support the growing demands.
Redefining Connectivity With Rednet Internet
But it wasn’t long before Hayden hit a major roadblock—one that would lead to an entirely new business. Living in a rural area outside Trinidad, Hayden struggled with poor internet access. Satellite options were slow, unreliable, and capped.
Frustrated by constant dropped connections while working on client servers, Hayden went in search of a solution. What he found was a gap in the market—and a surprising opportunity.
What began as a personal mission to boost his home internet signal turned into the launch of Rednet Internet, a locally owned internet service provider that now serves customers across rural Colorado.
“There wasn’t a guidebook for this,” Hayden says. “I couldn’t just Google how to become an internet provider—most of it I learned through trial and error.”
With the help of his parents and a small team of employees, Hayden built the infrastructure from the ground up—sourcing upstream bandwidth, managing wireless towers, and developing the processes to keep people connected around the clock. Rednet Internet is more than a clever name—it’s a lifeline for families, remote workers, and small businesses who were previously disconnected from the digital world.
Staying Rooted in Rural Colorado
Despite opportunities to move to a larger city or work for a national tech company, Hayden chose to stay rooted in Trinidad.
“People always ask why I didn’t leave,” he says. “But I realized I could do the same kind of work right here—and I’d have more freedom to try new things.”
His decision to stay wasn’t just about lifestyle—it was about impact. In small towns, tech professionals are often few and far between, and Hayden quickly became a vital resource in the region. Helping a business stay online or providing broadband to homes that previously had none made rural life more viable for hundreds of people.
A Future Full of Ideas
Looking ahead, Hayden sees potential to scale both businesses while exploring new ideas. He envisions building and inventing new tech products and systems that can support small communities like his own. But one thing is clear: he wants to stay grounded.
“I’m definitely going to keep running the businesses,” he says. “But I also want to try out new ideas and see where they lead.”
For others considering a path in tech—or debating whether to stay in a rural area—Hayden offers simple advice:
“There’s opportunity everywhere. Even if something’s missing in your community, that just means there’s an opportunity to build it. Starting something like this takes work. But if you put in the time, the payoff is real. It’s not always easy, but it’s absolutely worth it.”
