Silicon Slopes | The Entrepreneur Capital of the World

On this episode of the Silicon Slopes Podcast, Clint meets with Utah native and co-founder of Storyy, Connor Snyder. They talk about the impact of social media on children and adults today, including how these apps affect behavior and our world view. Many people think going to university is an absolute must in order to have any career success whatsoever, but today's leaders are putting more value on experience and contribution, rather than strictly degrees. Connor talks about the power of authenticity in business and why no one wants to be 100% transparent, but he explains why leaders should be vulnerable and authentic with their customers anyways. It's no secret that Utah is at the forefront of social media engagement and building communities online; tune in to learn why! "Authenticity's kind of a tired word. Know, like, and trust are kind of tired words. I think that for me, the way that you really build those things isn't by being too disingenuous or strategic about it. It's about just focusing on what you know. Share what you know."

On this episode of the Silicon Slopes Podcast, Clint is joined by Shaun Dee, the Hypno Hick. Shaun dives into the science behind hypnosis and how he was inspired to create the Hypno Hick act after learning about the human brain and psychology in school. He shares some hypnosis tips and tricks and he talks about the power of suggestion. Shaun also does hypnosis to help people navigate different life struggles like stress reduction, building confidence, quitting smoking habits, and even improving sports and athletic performance. If you've ever wondered how hypnosis works or are curious about what goes on behind the scenes, this episode is perfect for you! Tune in to learn more. "Meditation and hypnosis are not different. People think they're different; they're not. They're the exact same on the brainwave scale."

On this episode of the Silicon Slopes Podcast, Clint meets with Trevor Crump, who is the co-founder of Bestie. Trevor shares insights to capturing a market and scaling it, growing a business in Utah, and how scale can be highly dependent on customer loyalty. They talk about the psychological intelligence that goes on behind the scenes in business and how nine times out of ten, the best business is the one solving a specific problem in the market. Trevor and Clint discuss marketing on social media and how the algorithms on different platforms can affect audience engagement. They also talk about the massive brands coming out of Utah and why the movement is expanding every day. Tune in to learn more! "Tech is so different than running brands and services. Tech is different but it's a fun different for sure...If you can do it right, it's worth a lot more money than your multiples or much higher in those spaces."

On this episode of the Silicon Slopes Podcast, Clint meets with the Founder and CEO of Crumbl Cookies, Jason McGowan. Popular for its signature chocolate chip and birthday cake cookies, the bakery has expanded rapidly across North America, but originated here in Utah. Jason explains how the two keys to maintaining consistent cookie quality are technology and exceptional bakers, and it certainly doesn't hurt to have iconic branding, such as Crumbl's, as part of your arsenal. He dives into creating Crumbl's branding and focusing on the experience their cookies present; just like receiving a bouquet of flowers, but better. Having an unforgettable brand experience is a major draw for many of Crumbl's consumers and Jason hints at some fun things people can expect in the future. "I think people are capable of so much. Even individuals don't realize how much ability they have inside them."

On this episode of the Silicon Slopes Podcast, Clint is joined by Owen Fuller who is the CEO at Marq. They discuss all things Utah tech, including the creation of Marq and how it evolved from Lucidpress. With Utah's techscape constantly expanding, it attracts a lot of entrepreneurs and Owen shares some of the fantastic leadership collaborations he's experienced in this ecosystem. Utah presents unique opportunities to its entrepreneurs and Owen hopes to see the state thrive even more in the future as a community of great minds. They also touch on the subject of foreign affairs and how those ripples are felt around the world. Tune in to learn more! "I hope that we are trying really, really hard, I see a lot of people doing this, to make capital accessible to people from every background and walk of life...I hope more for everyone to feel like they can find their place here."

Jared Stewart joins Clint for this episode of the Silicon Slopes Podcast to talk about founding TribeHouse and navigating relationship intelligence. They talk about leading with authenticity and how being authentic naturally grows your network because it attracts genuine people. Jared's an excellent community leader and is known for his strides in building communities for the sake of revolutionizing relationships and how we interact with others in professional environments and at home. Jared talks about achieving scale and how so many companies struggle to achieve this, and he shares his vision for the future of TribeHouse. Having connection between your peers is essential for workplace flow and Jared helps leaders understand that meaningful collaboration is key to success in business. "Just because they're together doesn't mean they're connecting. We need to make sure they're connecting in ways that are away from the current and that are actually going to force them to open up and actually be vulnerable."

On this episode of the Silicon Slopes Podcast, Clint meets with Ryan Starks who is the Executive Director for the Utah Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO). Having spent most of his life in Utah, Ryan's passionate about helping the state become a hub of business and tech opportunity by advocating to keep manufacturing as close to home as possible. Something Utah's known for is the healthcare innovations and life sciences coming from its universities, which have robust programs in these fields. They discuss Utah's recent recognition by U.S. News & World Report as having the best economy in the United States and what that means for those who live here. This amazing state is continuously expanding and has an undeniable impact on those who visit, and Ryan is highly optimistic about its bright future. "As industries grow, we attract talent from other states and so that just continues to add to the richness and vibrancy of our economy."

CEO of Motherly, Jill Koziol, joins Clint for this episode of the Silicon Slopes Podcast for a conversation about establishing her business here in Utah. She dives into making the move to Park City and compares Silicon Valley to Silicon Slopes, and what makes both so distinguishable as innovation hubs. In her industry credibility is extremely important, especially when it comes to parenting, and she finds that empathy is often missing in tech. Involving stories in your work is a great way to build empathy within your brand because they not only display your voice, but also help to build a community based on sharing, acknowledgement, and unity. Jill explains how data is a key player in understanding her audience and she uses it to create a safe space for mothers to connect and be empowered. "We use storytelling also as a way to expand people's perspectives and see a different point of view. And when you humanize it through storytelling, I think people are more open to it."

Blake Modersitzki joins Clint on this episode of the Silicon Slopes Podcast for a conversation about VC, tech, and all things Utah business. Blake shares his story of launching Utah Ventures and what the VC environment was like in Utah during the early 2000s. He talks about writing his first venture checks and what a journey it is to help tech startups flourish. They discuss the slippery slope that is deciding who can and can't make decisions at a company and why it's important to stay diligent in this industry. Utah's VC scene is booming and in the future, Blake hopes that collaboration will be everyone's focus as we celebrate entrepreneurship together. "I think that we are primed to be a leader in AI. We're seeing some amazing, early-stage AI companies right now."

Robbie Tripp joins Clint for this thrilling episode of the Silicon Slopes Podcast to talk about all things rap, self-expression, and building the life that you want for yourself. Having grown up in Utah, Robbie always understood that he was meant for more, like playing basketball professionally or focusing on his musical craft. He talks about using social media to launch his brand and how one post in particular exploded online, garnering him a lot of attention and traction for his career. Robbie's faced a lot of negativity online for following his dreams and he shares how he stays focused on his vision without letting critics get in the way. In a world where we're so focused on what other people might think of us, it's important to stand out simply by being our true selves, Robbie's story of hope will inspire many to be authentically creative as often as possible. "I realized I can create up there with the best of 'em. And I've always known it, so let's get it. I'm starting my journey."