VIRTUAL MONTHLY CHANCE MEETINGS
February 7, 2022, 5 - 6 pm via Zoom
Please register below for Zoom link
Sometimes all you need is the right connection and a little inspiration. Well, what are you waiting for? Find both at our free monthly virtual networking event. You never know...
Theme: Wyoming Economic Transition— Strategy or
Whack-a-Mole with Dave Dodson
At this juncture, most everyone—from citizens to policymakers— knows that Wyoming can’t survive off coal and natural gas royalties. The stakes are high for the state and our county. Wyoming in particular has an aging population, an underfunded pension plan, and weakening infrastructure.
We need creative ideas and forward-thinking solutions. Join us for Virtual Chance Meetings on Monday, February 7th from 5-6 pm for an in-depth discussion on Wyoming's Economic Transition with David Dodson. Dave will discuss the state’s current situation and a blueprint for how to rebuild the state’s economic base.
David Dodson has been active for thirty-five years in the formation of new businesses. Prior to entering the Stanford GSB, Dodson worked at McKinsey & Company, where he worked for clients in oil field services, gas pipelines, liquefied natural gas, and offshore drilling. Between 1990 and 2004, Dodson operated as CEO or Executive Chairman of five companies, including co-founding Wind River Environmental, the largest specialty trucking company of its kind; ADAP, Inc., an auto parts retailer that was eventually sold to Auto Zone; Smith Alarm Systems, Inc.; Paragon Systems, Inc.; and Worldbridge Broadband Services Inc, which was eventually sold to C-Corp. Dodson has been an active mentor and investor in over seventy-five early stage companies, and has been on the board of directors of over a dozen companies, including Asurion, LLC, an insurance company with over 20,000 employees operating in 14 countries.
In 2018, out of concern for the state of our country, Dodson ran for the U.S. Senate in his home state of Wyoming. He is a frequent columnist for The Boston Globe and Casper Star-Tribune, and a regular guest commentator with CNBC and Fox Business News.
David Dodson is a faculty member at Stanford Graduate School of Business), and teaches strategic management within the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies. Mr. Dodson is a graduate of Stanford University (Economics ’83, MBA ’87).
NEWS AND NOTES
SILICON COULOIR IS HIRING!
Position Title: Director of Entrepreneurship
Join the Teton region’s new economy & help support our thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The Director of Entrepreneurship will manage and support Silicon Couloir programs and participants in our ecosystem.
Qualifications: This FT position requires a bachelor’s degree & a min of 3-5 yrs. relevant experience in non-profits, business &/or w/ growth companies. Must be a team player, tech-savvy, & possess excellent oral & written communication skills. Silicon Couloir provides competitive pay, benefits & dynamic work environment.
To Apply: Submit resume & cover letter to hello@siliconcouloir.com by 2/7.
JANUARY VISIONARY VENTURES: ALL FOR ONE AND ONE FOR ALL
Why should you support Silicon Couloir and our mission to empower entrepreneurship in the Teton region? Our January Visionary Ventures column published in The Jackson Hole News & Guide makes the case.
"A successful private sector that provides meaningful, well-paying jobs with benefits can lift community members and alleviate, to some extent, the public sector’s social program burden. A vibrant and successful private sector can similarly reduce the demand for certain nonprofit services, allowing charitable organizations to do more and have a greater impact with their resources."
START-UP SUCCESS TO BE OFFERED THIS SPRING
Develop Your Frameworks for a Thriving Venture
Learn, Connect, Collaborate, Succeed.
We're proud to announce that our world-class 5-week intensive business educational program Start-Up Success will be offered again this spring, and will be taught by highly experienced instructors Sandy Hessler and Liza Millet.
Dates:
Weekend of 4/15 - 4/17
Wednesdays: 4/20, 4/27, 5/4, 5/11, 5/18
Weekend of 5/20 - 5-22
Hours:
Weekends Fri: 5 pm - 8pm, Sat: 9 am - 4 pm, Sun: 9 am-12:30 pm
Wednesdays: 5:30 pm-8 pm
The application period will open on February 14th. More details to follow. Please email rebecca@siliconcouloir.com if you are interested in creating a thriving venture.
SC PARTNERS WITH THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION TO OFFER OFFICE HOURS
If you're a nonprofit leader seeking objective and confidential, guidance on finance, creating sustainable revenue streams, organizational structure and management, board/staff relations, or fundraising, we can help. Silicon Couloir and the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole are teaming up to offer office hours with Gary Trauner, Silicon Couloir ED, on Feb. 16th and 17th for nonprofit leaders.
WELCOME TO NEW TRUSTEES
We're thrilled to announce that long-time Trustee Dave Brown has stepped up to become a Super Trustee. And we're honored to welcome three new Trustees to our ecosystem: Chuck Davis, Leslie Schrock, and Evan Skorpen.
Trustees provide a runway for Silicon Couloir programs with a generous multi-year commitment and are the foundation of funding for our important work. We could not be more grateful.
Dave Brown is a private equity and venture investor with twenty years of experience in range of sectors including software, business services, financial services, clean tech, social media, mobile software services, storage, wireless towers and cable. Generalist business background with strengths in strategy, finance, operations, marketing and governance.
Dave is focused on working with founders and management teams to turn great ideas into successful growing businesses.
After working in advertising with clients like (RED), Leslie Schrock joined the founding team of Rock Health, a globally-known startup accelerator that became a venture fund with over 100 portfolio companies and partners like the Mayo Clinic. Leslie also co-founded Bitty Foods, a food startup introducing sustainable protein sources, and is on the Advisory Council at the University of Texas College of Communication. When not writing, Leslie spends time with startups improving the way we live.
Chuck Davis has served in his position as CEO & Chairman of Prodege since May 2014, after initially joining as Chairman in 2013. Chuck brings more than 20 years of leadership and strategic experience to his position managing a cutting-edge marketing and consumer insights platform that leverages its global audience of reward program members to power its business solutions. These innovative offerings enable leading brands and agencies to gather insights and market to their target audiences. As prior CEO & Chairman of Fandango and CEO of Shopzilla.com, Chuck successfully guided both brands to major market sales to Comcast Corporation and E.W. Scripps Co., respectively. He’s further held positions at Walt Disney, TV Guide, and Sports Illustrated.
Evan is a Principal at Lead Edge Capital and heads our public market activities. Prior to joining Evan worked as an Associate at ValueAct Capital, a long-only hedge fund in San Francisco. Before that he worked at Hellman & Friedman and Bain & Company. Evan graduated from Williams College with a double major in Math and Economics.
JULIET AQUIRED BY THE BODY AGENCY
Juliet, Pitch Day 2020 Community Caretaker award winner and TEAMS member, was recently acquired by The Body Agency. Congratulations to Founder and CEO Heather Smith. Heather will join the board of The Body Agency.
MIA SHARE REPORTS CONTINUED GROWTH
Mia Share, Pitch Day 2021 Panelist Choice award winner, recently published exciting company growth and development with new positions and plans to open an office in downtown Jackson on April 1st.
Hiring: We currently have six openings: Software Engineer, Data Scientist, Partnership Manager, Partnership Associate (Sales), Customer Service Representative, and Executive Assistant. Email info@miashare.com to apply.
Recent metrics:
59x growth 2021 vs. 2020 in payments processed.
$12.5mm total notional on the platform.
2021 6x notional originated vs 2020 notional originated.
2021 5x applications vs. 2020 applications.
BE DELIBERATE WITH YOUR FINANCES
Need help with financial planning and budgeting for your business? Deliberate Dollars is offering a NEW, 3-week course in February—Small Business Cashflow. Offered virtually on 2/8, 2/15, & 2/22 5-7:30pm MT.
Many people have a small business, passion project, side hustle or are an independent contractor but don’t know how much money they are personally making. Deliberate Dollars’ Small Business Cashflow course will teach you financial systems to ensure that your business is serving you, paying you, paying your taxes and your cashflow can be easily summarized! Let’s make sure your business is working for you while you do what you love!
HAVE NEWS
TO SHARE?
As always, please feel free to send news of your company's press, events, successes, and milestones to Gary@siliconcouloir.com and we'll do our best to feature them in our newsletters!
ARE YOU A COMMUNITY CARETAKER?
Silicon Couloir strengthens our Teton regional community by empowering the entrepreneurial ecosystem. More than just business development, we believe in enriching our community character and enhancing our mountain town culture. Help us support business pioneers in the Tetons by becoming a community caretaker!
To offer your time or talent, please email us at Gary@siliconcouloir.com.