Entrepreneurs and Venture Capitalist Discuss Future of Business in Utah
The Wasatch Innovation Network (WIN) Venture Summit gathered the next generation of entrepreneurs alongside mentors, investors and key stakeholders from Utah’s entrepreneur community today at the Little America Hotel. This informative, dynamic and thoughtfully curated invitation-only, day-long event included inspiring speakers, panels of thought leaders about relevant topics and networking opportunities.
Disruption Advisors CEO Whitney Johnson provided the morning keynote inspiring attendees to grow themselves, grow their people, grow their company and that when committing to the practice of deliberate self-innovation or personal disruption, organizational growth is accelerated.
“As our state continues to grow it is important that we continue to invest in our innovation ecosystem,” said Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber and Board Co-chair of the Wasatch Innovation Network. “Through the Wasatch Innovation Network and the Venture Summit, we can help facilitate connections between the VC and startup communities, in turn, strengthening and diversifying our economy. We are excited to see what the future holds for our state with this emerging group of founders and their ability to innovate and solve problems.”
Attendees heard from speakers who have helped pave the way for Utah’s growing innovation ecosystem on various topics such as why businesses should get involved in the policymaking process, the importance of culture and social responsibility, challenges and pitfalls of raising capital and more.
“This Summit was a pivotal next step in our quest to build up a thriving innovation ecosystem in Utah,” said Paul Ahlstrom, Co-founder of TechBuzz News and Board Chair of the Wasatch Innovation Network. “After launching the WIN100, the time was right to connect these entrepreneurs to venture capital – the lifeblood of a startup ecosystem. We are doing everything we can to foster the right mentors, values and companies to continue Utah’s legacy of being a great state to live, work and raise a family.”
The WIN Venture Summit Founding Partners are IsoTalent, Salt Lake Chamber and TechBuzz News. Presenting Sponsors include Fraizer Group, Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity and Kickstart Fund. Atomic, Pando Ventures, Sorenson Ventures and Sweater are the Venture Sponsors, and the Startup Sponsors are Diversified Insurance Group, Epic Ventures, EY, Hillcrest Bank, Mayer Brown and Peterson Ventures.
For full schedule and speaker information, visit winutah.org/win-venture-summit.
