Silicon Slopes

Fall 2020 Whether it’s serendipitous or just bad luck, COVID-19 has presented Utah with a window of opportunity to become the first in the nation to define the future of work. As leaders throughout the state eagerly look for ways to reduce unemployment rates, they should also

Fall 2020 There’s a distinct flavor to Utah tech companies. For over 15 years, Entrata has been building, innovating, and re-inventing property management software in this rarefied atmosphere. And despite our long (relatively speaking) and storied history, each day feels like coming

Fall 2020 When Nick Thomas and I started Finicity in 2000, our vision was to help individuals and families improve their financial health. We launched with Mvelopes, one of the first fintech budget apps. Two decades later–through changing times and pivoting our business into an open

Fall 2020 The rise of the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020 presented several challenges for higher education institutions around the world. Physical campuses faced sustained closures and classes were rapidly transferred online, increasing the importance of equitable access to not only

Fall 2020 Head south- richly colored, rusty red dirt. Dry heat that evokes instant sweat and flush of cheeks. Go north- light, powdery, subzero snow-covered mountains, pine needles and a quiet stillness insulated with ice. Utah has it all and everything in between. Businesses

Fall 2020 Success for venture-backed companies depends on a myriad of factors, large and small. Some are internal, others external. In that context, COVID is one more very macro variable affecting successful investment outcomes over a finite time span. Thus, one common error entrepreneurs might make

Fall 2020 If 2020 has taught us anything it’s this: Utah’s Silicon Slopes is a community that rises to the occasion. I’ve spent more than 30 years in and around Salt Lake City and I’ve seen quite a technology transformation. As my career evolved from serial entrepreneur to helping lead one

Fall 2020 Laws and regulations can completely change the way you do business, and knowing if they pertain to you is the first step. The California Consumer Protection Act (CCPA) which passed in 2018, went into effect on January 1, 2020. The law is one of the latest in a string of new privacy

Fall 2020 "The first is the hardest" has been true for a lot of firsts in my life. Dealing with my first “heartbreak” at 16 and landing my first kiss at 17 (I know I got the order wrong). Initiating my first missionary street contact at 19. Breaking my first horse. Rowing through my first class 4

Fall 2020 You have to prepare for every possibility in business. At Signs.com we worked hard to build a solid business model that could adapt to various situations, but I don’t think any of us had ever considered a worldwide pandemic as a possibility. In March 2020, that became our reality.

Fall 2020 We have all seen the statistics about how Utah is the fastest-growing state in the nation. The huge amount of businesses choosing to establish offices in the state stretches across many different sectors. From technology to healthcare, financial services to manufacturing, Utah has

Fall 2020 Here’s the cold hard truth - your business idea isn’t real until your spouse supports it. The amount of time you invest in your venture is time you could be spending with your family. Spousal support is crucial for the success of your business because your spouse is along for the ride

Fall 2020 It is sobering to consider what the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic would have been if it had taken place 30 years ago, before internet access was ubiquitous and pocket-sized devices could connect us to the world of learning and work, to far flung friends and family, and to entertainment

Fall 2020 The pandemic may have wreaked havoc on businesses, but it’s also created an opportunity for them to capitalize on a resource they didn’t know they were missing: women. Women are the most underutilized resource in Utah. This elusive group has been there all along, but the