Perfect Pitch by Kickstart

Every entrepreneur is trying to solve a problem with their startup. To prove you’re the person for the job, how do you become an expert yourself? We’re talking with an entrepreneur who has accomplished just that. Join us in today’s conversation with Alex Shamir, Co-Founder at Yofi, and investor Tanner Potter of Kickstart  (a VC firm for startups in Utah, Colorado, and the Mountain West) as we bring you both sides of a Perfect Pitch. In this episode, we’ll talk about: How Alex’s experience at Nike and Apple drove her interest in tackling data integrity and policy abuse in e-commerce The difference between understanding the problem your startup is solving and being obsessed with it Why entrepreneurs should trust their gut, iterate quickly, and make hard decisions, like firing when necessary, to drive success If investors consider the age of an entrepreneur when investing  

Running a startup is like building a car while you’re driving. We’re talking with an entrepreneur who does it all while staying buckled in. Join us in today’s conversation with Wade Anderson, President and COO of Elements, and investor Tanner Potter of Kickstart (a VC firm for startups in Utah, Colorado, and the Mountain West) as we bring you both sides of a Perfect Pitch. In this episode, we’ll talk about: Starters and joiners: why you don’t need to be a founder to be an entrepreneur The steps Wade took to determine whether Elements had product-market fit How investors look at product retention and usage data when evaluating a company Details on Wade’s feedback strategy and how it helps him remain self-aware  

Startup sales—the phrase alone is enough to stress a founder out. We're bringing in two experts who will help unlock the secret to sales success. Join us in today's conversation with Aaron McReynolds and Ryan Harris, co-founders of Alysio, and investor Kat Kennedy of Kickstart (a VC firm for startups in Utah, Colorado, and the Mountain West) as we bring you both sides of a perfect pitch. In this episode, we’ll talk about: How Alysio nailed down big customers early on in their startup journey and their advice to founders struggling with customer acquisition The components that make a good sales organization Common blind spots that trip up sales teams Why Kat is so excited about Alysio’s financial model and how entrepreneurs can improve their company’s model  

Can VCs be founders too? We’re talking with Kickstart’s founding partners to understand how Kickstart…was kickstarted. Join us in today’s conversation with investors Gavin Christensen, Alex Soffe, and Dalton Wright of Kickstart (a VC firm for startups in Utah, Colorado, and the Mountain West), as we bring you both sides of a Perfect Pitch. In this episode, we’ll talk about:  The slow grind of Kickstart's everyday life in the early days Why no one took Utah VCs seriously and why that has changed Low points in Kickstart’s history and how the team survived What is next in Kickstart’s story…  

Join Taylor Margot, Founder and CEO of Keys, and Tanner Potter, VC investor at Kickstart, as they dive into thought-provoking insights for entrepreneurs. They argue that founders should ignore conventional investor advice, questioning the relevance of VC guidance. Taylor emphasizes the need for founders to list potential business risks in their pitches. Tanner reveals the importance of researching VCs, highlighting the preference for entrepreneurs deeply rooted in their industries over trend-chasers. It's a lively discussion that challenges classic fundraising wisdom!

Tanner Potter, Kickstart investor with a background in Vivint and Nike, discusses how product has impacted his career and investing habits. He also gives advice to founders on creating pitch decks and emphasizes the importance of storytelling. The podcast also explores the similarities between product management and venture capital, the evolution of the VC ecosystem, and the power of reading for professional success.

We talk a lot about how to grow your startup on this show. But once you’ve mastered the startup part, how do you ensure you don’t get left behind as a leader? Join us in today’s conversation with Dave Grow, CEO of Lucid Software, and investor Gavin Christensen of Kickstart (a VC firm for startups in Utah, Colorado, and the Mountain West) as we bring you both sides of a Perfect Pitch. In this episode, we’ll talk about: Why Dave was compelled to apologize to the first person he managed at Lucid Software How Dave developed the habit to “give away his legos” When it’s valuable to hire specialists versus generalists What mistakes Gavin has seen founders make that prohibit them from growing with their company  

It’s easy to get caught up in defining your startup with industry buzz words. We’re speaking with a founder who is fighting against being placed in a box. Join us in today’s conversation with Riley Hughes, Founder & CEO of Trinsic, and investor Dalton Wright of Kickstart (a VC firm for startups in Utah, Colorado, and the Mountain West) as we bring you both sides of a Perfect Pitch. In this episode, we’ll talk about: Kickstart’s announcement on opening an office in Denver this summer What digital identity means and how it impacts you and your privacy How Riley transitioned from a scooter handlebar startup to sovereign identity Why entrepreneurs shouldn’t worry about being the “pioneer problem-solver” in a market Why many founders shy away from being labeled as a Web3 company

Among the difficult things founders have to face, layoffs may be the worst. We sat down with a CEO who draws back the curtain on a difficult but often necessary part of startup life. Join us in today's conversation with PJ O'Neil, Co-Founder and CEO of Elements, and investor Gavin Christensen of Kickstart (a VC firm for startups in Utah, Colorado, and the Mountain West) as we bring you both sides of a Perfect Pitch. In this episode, we'll talk about: What makes Denver and the Mountain West ripe ground for founders Why PJ's cold email pitch stood out to Gavin PJ's experience in making difficult layoffs at Nomad Layoffs: what you should and shouldn't do

Founder journeys are never the same. Today we’re talking with someone who started their career as a musician, had a layover as a financial advisor, and is now a founder of a startup that is currently raising in one of the toughest fundraising environments we’ve seen. Join us in today’s conversation with Reese Harper, CEO of Elements, and investor Gavin Christensen of Kickstart (a VC firm for startups in Utah, Colorado, and the Mountain West) as we bring you both sides of a Perfect Pitch. In this episode, we’ll talk about: How Reese’s content creation helps him understand his customer’s better Gavin’s investor perspective on whether an entrepreneur should invest in thought leadership Reese’s tactical approach to attracting top-of-the-line talent to his exec team Advice for fundraising entrepreneurs when an investor says “no”