Silicon Slopes | The Entrepreneur Capital of the World

On this episode of the Silicon Slopes Podcast, Clint speaks with Jeff Burningham about his experience in Utah politics and what it's like to join the race for Governor. They talk about the emergence of modern AI and common fears people currently have with this newer technology, particularly the disruption it could cause in work and in public opinion. With an extensive background in angel investing in Utah, Jeff is a key player in the state's startup culture, helping entrepreneurs actualize their dreams. He speaks on helping founders get access to capital and starting that fund in Utah County, which wasn't heard of until he dabbled in the industry. Utah business is booming and Jeff is at the pinnacle of its success. "I knew that the missing ingredient here in Utah…was just access to capital. There was an oversupply of good entrepreneurs in the state, no doubt about it, and then an undersupply of good capital."

You know her from The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, Lisa Barlow joins Clint for this episode of the Silicon Slopes Podcast. They talk about her rise in entrepreneurship and how she landed a spot on the hit television series that helped to make her a prominent figure in this space. She shares her experience of being on the show and how it requires a lot of inner reflection and accountability to stay true to her core mission. Lisa discusses the responsibility she feels as a Utahn in the spotlight and how she chooses to use her platform for positive impact, showcasing how far Utah has come as an industry giant. In a market that's extremely hard to get into, Lisa hit it big and she shares some fun behind the scenes info as to how her tequila business rose to prominence. "What you're able to create is more important than how pretty you could ever look so I think when you're raised that way, I see things and I know that my actions have impact for good or bad. So I think it really holds you, in yourself, super accountable. Like how do I want to be as a person? What kind of mom do I want to be on TV? What kind of business owner do I want to be? I really make good decisions based on my core."

On this episode of the Silicon Slopes Podcast, Clint is joined by Nate Walkingshaw who is the CEO and Founder of Torus. They have an eye-opening conversation about his innovative ideas for modern energy storage and how Nate found great success in this industry working with, not against, Mother Nature. They discuss building a company sustainably using decades of experience to start a legacy of future-forward solutions. Nate talks about the harsh intersection of politics and climate debates, and how science is a key player in this discussion. In an environment that can be so divisive and difficult to navigate, Nate's work is a breath of fresh air, delivering hope and resilience for future generations. "Collectively as a community, we can be as strong as this community over here, with more control, with more integration, with more prediction. That's where we win."

On this episode of the Silicon Slopes Podcast, Richie Norton joins us all the way from Hawaii for a conversation about entrepreneurship and living life to the fullest as much as possible. Richie is an award-winning author and the Co-Founder and CEO of Prouduct. With a distinct background in international business, he's a serial entrepreneur, helping people to change the way they work and how they live. They discuss how his book was inspired by entrepreneurs who start a business hoping to get time and financial freedom, yet get hooked into giving all their time and money to the startup. Richie talks about something all entrepreneurs should hear - using your time to focus on what you love and not putting important things aside for the sake of success. "When you sacrifice what you love for success, you get neither. How you spend your time is how you show your love. When you bake a cake without sugar, you can't expect it to be sweet. Value your time, don't time your values."

On this episode of the Silicon Slopes Show, Clint chats with Alex Lawrence about working at Weber State University and being an entrepreneur in the world of electric vehicles. With a PhD in business and an extensive background in starting, investing, and running companies, Alex is constantly seeking new opportunities for growth and leadership. They talk about tech bootcamps and different routes of schooling people can take who want to get started in the field. Alex discusses the interesting effects politics can have on the cars we drive and how Elon Musk has impacted the industry with his businesses. The future looks bright for EV Auto and Alex shares updates on their expansion in Utah. Tune in to learn more! "It was really fun, really entrepreneurial. Very rewarding. You feel like you're working on something that was hopefully going to have an impact beyond just making money."

Matt Riley is the founder of Stanza, a platform offering a creatively modern approach for connecting office owners with those in need of a flexible workspace. Think of it like the ultimate dating app for matching the ideal commercial real estate location with the right company. Matt's witnessing first-hand how AI is affecting this industry and he discusses the interesting dynamic between the work-from-home-crowd and AI. Matt talks about the massive growth Stanza's experienced within the investing ecosystem of Utah and how this is a great place for scaling startups. There's something magical about working together as a team, especially when it can be done in person and at the right location. "I think that we're probably weeks away from officially starting to engage more seriously with investors because the momentum is only going one direction. And it's only getting more intense and more exciting and so it's a fun story to tell at this point."

On this episode of the Silicon Slopes Podcast, Clint meets with Gonzalo Peña Jr. who is an amazing storyteller and the host of the InnoLatino Podcast. With a community-first mindset, Gonzalo is an advocate for equal opportunities and his passion for diversity and innovation is contagious. In 2016, he realized that technology is a key element to bring people out of poverty. Using this knowledge in tandem with the rising businesses of Silicon Slopes, he's helping Latino people find opportunities in the tech sector. They discuss navigating social integration and how cultural differences can be an advantage to teams, rather than divisiveness. "After I started interacting with the business community among the Latino people in Utah, I felt a sort of commitment because I saw talent and I saw brilliant people and people with good moral values that just wanted to fulfill the American dream, to be honest. Just like I had that commitment to pay it forward, I wanted to do that with my own people."

On this episode of the Silicon Slopes Podcast, Clint has the opportunity to meet with Brandon Craig, the founder of Ontocore and the author of the Create Powerful Course. He's on a mission to help people understand exactly what makes them human and how they can become the most effective, empathetic, powerful leaders possible using their unique traits. The best leaders are authentic people; they're authentic to themselves, their employees, and authentic to their purpose. Brandon dives into the nature of integrity and how understanding the true meaning of this word can help a leader become remarkable, enforcing a positive culture of accountability and higher performance. A major part of a leader's job is to be forward-focused, always looking to create and build toward the future they want. "Being a powerful leader changes the way those you're leading get out of bed every morning."

On this episode of the Silicon Slopes Podcast, Clint meets with Jay Davis who is the Founder of Cold Case Ice Cream and Creatably, and is an investor in Utah business. He walks Clint through his entrepreneurial journey, starting with ice cream and uniquely-shaped pillows. They discuss Jay's approach to growing companies, especially in raising money, and how this approach has helped him to follow his passion. Jay mentions the infamous "pillow politics" and how companies would be wise to stay out of politics, especially when you are trying to sell a product and keep the masses in love with your company. The best business happens when leaders prioritize their employees and stay looking toward the future with a growth mindset. "Here in Utah, I think we should leverage and lean on what we're the best at, rather than trying to become Silicon Valley."

Sara Jones joins Clint on this episode of the Silicon Slopes Podcast for an eye-opening conversation about diversity in the workplace and how her company, InclusionPro, is working to change the stigma surrounding these ideas. She speaks on approaching this subject with a learning mindset and she challenges leaders to look at the company culture they've created, and discover how they can further integrate diverse ideas into their routines, creating opportunities for creativity and inclusion. DEI has recently become a hot topic in politics and Sara shares that DEI was never meant to be a political talking point because it was initially created to help companies discover new pathways to success. Sara teaches leaders that equity isn't about giving good opportunities to employees who don't deserve them, but it's really about giving employees the opportunities to advance and succeed in the job they were hired to do, like training for a promotion or role. DEI is deeply personal and it affects everyone differently and Sara is on a mission to help leaders understand the value in diverse thinking and creative learning. "It's complex, it's nuanced, and I think it's really testing us as a society on whether or not we can really work towards the interest of everyone."