About Startup Utah

Startup Utah is a regional initiative driven by entrepreneurs to increase the visibility and connections among entrepreneurs and supporting organizations, improve access to entrepreneurial education, and build a more vibrant entrepreneurial community across the state of Utah.Startup Utah’s various programs are intended to encourage greater entrepreneurial activity that will deepen the communal backdrop out of which new companies emerge. Vibrant new company creation, by extension, improves the broader economic base of Utah. Our first year goals currently include:

  • Evaluate current barriers that entrepreneurs face, including an assessment of what best practices are in place at entrepreneurial communities around the US and world
  • Expanding new tech meetups, open coffee clubs, and community office hours in Park City, St. George and Ogden
  • Creating an entrepreneurial winter camp in Salt Lake (talented college students from throughout Utah will work as interns for Utah startups)
  • Support entrepreneurial education in the Wasatch Range and via Web Conferencing or other platforms
  • Engaging larger companies in the entrepreneurial ecosystem through commitments to help entrepreneurs
  • Building the Startup Utah website to be a user-friendly, thorough database for information and connections.

Led By Entrepreneurs, For Entrepreneurs

For an entrepreneurial initiative to be successful, it must be entrepreneur led. Startup Utah is based entirely on the efforts of entrepreneurs; from our chairpersons to our individual project leaders, entrepreneurs are front and center in our efforts. If you want to get involved then just start doing something and let us know about it and we’ll try to spread the word and help any way we can. Please email us at info@startuputah.com or reach out to some folks listed below

Startup Utah is also looking for more Entrepreneur Champions to join the current groups. Startup Utah is currently chaired by Robb Kunz – Startup Salt Lake, Alex Lawrence – Startup Ogden, Eric Roach – Startup Park City; Jason Wells – Startup St. George; and Christian Faulconer – Startup Provo; its Executive Director is Howard Haines. Startup Utah is further supported by Brent Drew, Richard Swart, BoomStartup, Grow Utah Ventures and BTJD.

Long-term view

Building a sustainable and successful entrepreneurial community requires taking the long view. By working with entrepreneurs and building on grassroots connections, Startup Utah is focused on supporting entrepreneurship in an organic fashion so as to develop an ecosystem that lasts.

Engaging the Entire Entrepreneurial Stack

Over the long-term, Startup Utah will focus on all levels of entrepreneurship: serial entrepreneurs, first-timers, would-be and wannabe. Only through engagement with all levels of the entrepreneurial scene in Utah will be build the long term viability necessary for sustained success.

Talent Flow: The Lifeblood of Entrepreneurial Community

For any entrepreneurial community to have long term vibrancy, it needs a continual influx of new talent, both from higher education and from industry. Startup Utah is engaging with both educational institutions and established companies to ensure that new talent is continually entering the system.

 

Supporting Organizations