At MESA, we’re lucky to work with some of Minnesota’s brightest tech leaders—people who not only bring deep expertise but a genuine desire to give back. Dustin Bruzenak is one of those leaders. A veteran technologist with a track record spanning Adobe, Ecolab, and multiple startups, Dustin is now the CEO of Modern Logic, a software and AI consultancy based in Minneapolis. He joined MESA as a mentor a few years ago, and his thoughtful, founder-first approach makes an impact. We sat down with Dustin to learn more about his journey, why he continues to mentor, and what makes MESA such a meaningful part of his professional life.
Tell us a little about your background, Dustin.
My whole career has really been about helping put complicated software into the hands of people who aren’t technologists and making it accessible. I’ve worked on everything from reviving my dad’s portfolio management software into a banking startup to enterprise automation at Ecolab, and helping build Adobe Lightroom when digital photography was just taking off.
At Adobe, I had the opportunity to work directly with Thomas Knoll, the creator of Photoshop. That was incredible. I worked with a brilliant team to help define digital photo standards that are still in use across phones, browsers, and operating systems. After Adobe, I co-founded an analytics company, sold it, and then launched Modern Logic, where we’ve focused on building high-quality software in ways that most Minnesota companies hadn’t seen before. I wanted to bring that pro-level software development experience back home.
How long have you been a MESA Mentor, and why did you decide to become one?
I think it’s been about three and a half years as a mentor, and we’ve been a MESA partner even longer than that, maybe four years. I first met Jim Moar (co-founder and president emeritus) when we were both attending a networking event. I didn’t know what MESA was, but once I heard about it, I immediately thought, “How do I help?”
At the time, we didn’t have the bandwidth to be a full partner, but I started referring some of the startups we were working with to MESA. As we grew, we became a partner. Jim eventually encouraged me to become a mentor. I wasn’t sure I was “qualified,” but he convinced me otherwise—and I’m so glad he did. Mentoring has become a genuinely positive and grounding force in my life. People underestimate how good it feels to help someone else—and to realize that, hey, maybe I do have some wisdom worth sharing.
Are there any highlights from your experience working with MESA mentees?
So many. Most recently, I’ve been working with Chamfr—Julie Schulte is just brilliant and has an amazing brain for business. I love being able to offer technical insight, but also help founders navigate the emotional side of the startup journey. A lot of founders are running themselves ragged, skipping vacations, burning out—and I try to be the voice that says, “You matter, too.” Take care of yourself—this is a marathon, not a sprint.
Working with Joe Connolly at Visana Health was also a huge highlight. Watching him grow that company from just an idea to a major player in women’s health, with contracts in all 50 states. That’s been amazing to witness. I like to think I helped a little along the way, but he was always going to be successful. Still, if mentoring can make someone’s path a little easier, that’s a win.
What keeps you involved? What do you get out of being a MESA Mentor?
I definitely get more than I give. It’s rejuvenating. MESA keeps me connected to the MN tech community in a way that fuels me, especially on the hard days in my own business. Being able to help other founders also helps me put my own challenges in perspective.
In a way, it’s like being able to go back in time and help your younger self. I can’t undo my own startup mistakes, but I can maybe keep someone else from making the same ones. And the mentor community here? It’s unbelievable. Every time I’m in a room with other MESA mentors, I think, “How did I get so lucky to be part of this?” They’re not just smart—they’re generous, thoughtful, and just genuinely good people.
What would you say to others about MESA?
First off, just that MESA exists, so many founders don’t know about it, and they should. It’s this incredible resource that gives you access to mentors who have no agenda except helping you. That’s rare.
Every founder needs two things: peers and mentors. MESA fills that mentor role in the best possible way. I honestly think mentorship reduces the risk of startup failure. Sometimes the sessions are all about business strategy, but sometimes they’re just about the founder—what they need emotionally or mentally to keep going. And that’s where MESA really shines. No one in the room is there for your board or your investors—we’re there for you. That’s powerful.
