MONTHLY VIRTUAL CHANCE MEETINGS
April 4, 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: Authentic & low-cost approaches to user acquisition with social media & community
If you're looking for practical and affordable ways to grow your business with both social media and in-person community tactics, you won't want to miss this Chance Meetings. Our power-house participants will share strategies and ideas that have proven to be successful. Panelists include Nikki Bogopolskaya, Gesche Haas, Caitlin Iseler, and Kelli Jones. Our moderator will be Annie Morita. This remarkable group will bring clarity and purpose to what can be an overwhelming aspect of marketing and branding for new and emerging entrepreneurs.
Nikki Bogopolskaya is a brand partnerships lead at TikTok, she previously led creator and brand partnerships at influencer marketing agency Social Studies and worked with brands at global tech companies such as Foursquare and Match. She is also an angel investor and advisor to companies in the health, wealth and community space. When not on the internet, she teaches yoga and megaformer, and enjoys cooking, reading, hiking, traveling and live performance. She lives in East Jackson with her husband and two crazy Mini Australian Shepherds.
Gesche Haas is an entrepreneur, investor, mentor, and advisor who is the CEO and Founder of Dreamers & Doers, a high-impact community and agile PR team amplifying extraordinary entrepreneurial women. Dreamers & Doers has built a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem of over 34,000 women globally. Gesche has won several awards including 'Forbes Next 1000', 'VOTY 100 Community Builder' by BlogHer, 'Empowered Woman of the Year', 'The Buildies Profitability Award' by Calm Company Fund, 'Best Remote CEO' by RemoteRated, and others. Gesche is currently also a Venture Partner at Republic supporting diverse founders seeking funding. Prior to founding Dreamers & Doers, Gesche held senior positions at several venture-backed startups in roles covering growth, strategy, finance, operations and business development. She also spent five years as an investor at a healthcare-focused hedge fund (~$3bn AUM, SAC spin-off). Gesche is half German, half Chinese-Malaysian, and was born in Africa.
Kelli Jones founded Noso Patches in 2015 after she hopped a barbed wire fence hiking in Wyoming and snagged her brand-new $400 Patagonia Fitz Roy down parka. The only thing she could find to repair it was a piece of duct tape but didn’t like the way it looked. Gear made with synthetic fabric rips all the time, and she – had a lot of tears in her clothes so she sourced materials online to cut into hearts and star patches. In the tram line at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, people kept asking about them. In August 2016, Noso Patches successfully launched on Indiegogo. Featured in Outside Magazine, Wired and Forbes, Noso Patches are now carried in over 600 specialty stores in over 10 countries and they offer a robust custom program.
Caitlin Iseler is the Founder and CEO of happyly, a wellness company partnering with corporations to provide an employee benefit supporting the work from anywhere employee experience. Prior to starting happyly, Caitlin spent 15 years in executive search in the software space, most recently with Korn Ferry. Caitlin is a graduate of the University of Virginia with a Master's in Information Technology Management and was a member of the 2004 Women's Lacrosse National Championship team. She and her husband, Thomas, and their daughter, Hanah, moved to Jackson 5 years ago and love the outdoors.
Annie Morita is currently consulting for Anousheh Ansari, CEO of XPRIZE. Most recently, Annie was the Chief Operating Officer at Koji. Before COVID-19, Annie was an executive with Apple, Inc. She was the business lead for the Internet Software & Services Division in Greater China. Prior to Apple, Annie served as the head of global interactive for DreamWorks Animation. Prior to this role, Annie served as the lead business executive for Oriental DreamWorks, DreamWorks Animation's first-ever joint venture in China with the goal of creating the leading family entertainment company in China. A marketing and new media veteran, Annie has held top leadership positions at Warner Bros. Studios, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Electronic Arts where she was a founding member of EA Mobile and supported efforts for the company’s acquisition of Jamdat Entertainment. Annie began her career with Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., as an assignment editor with CNN International before moving to Hong Kong as the head of marketing for Turner International Far East Ltd., launching both CNN International and TNT & Cartoon Network to 32 countries in the region.
Note: We're currently working to secure a venue for in-person Chance Meetings and hope this will be the last virtual meeting.
NEWS AND NOTES
THERE'S STILL TIME TO APPLY FOR START-UP SUCCESS
What are you doing this off-season? Take the opportunity to build or grow a thriving company. Silicon Couloir is offering Start-Up Success: Fundamentals, our 5-week business intensive program again this spring with world-class instructors Sandy Hessler and Liza Millet. Don't miss this opportunity to gain business skills, strategies, and tools with a community of your peers. Our 2022 cohort is a wonderful and talented group that will bring fresh ideas and perspectives to the course. We want YOU to be a part of it!
MARCH VISIONARY VENTURES: FINANCING OPTIONS OFFER DIFFERENT RISKS AND REWARDS
Deciding how to finance your business is a big decision. Read about the various options and pros and cons of each in our March Visionary Ventures column published monthly in the Jackson Hole News & Guide.
THE COWORK SPACE GROWS TO MEET DEMAND
Silicon Couloir is pleased to announce that The Cowork Space has expanded to meet growing demand. The Cowork Space (CWS), located in downtown Jackson at 140 East Broadway, serves as a central hub for entrepreneurs. By providing affordable workspace in a clean, bright environment, with reliable internet, conference space, and networking opportunities, The CWS is an inspiring space that encourages inspiring work. In an environment of rising rents, The CWS plays an essential role in our ecosystem.
Silicon Couloir acquired The CSW in 2018. Membership has grown consistently every year since. Over 2021, 329 users benefited from The CWS, a 30% increase from 2020. 60% of these were either monthly members or dedicated desk members. The expansion is in the same building and consists of two private offices, as well as a large designated desk area for 10 members. Improvements in the original space include two phone booths/ focus rooms and one micro office. If you are interested in becoming a Cowork Space member please email michael@siliconcouloir.com.
WELCOME TO NEW TRUSTEE
We are pleased to announce that Salim Mitha is our newest Silicon Couloir Trustee. Welcome, Salim, and thank you for your generous commitment to support entrepreneurship in the Teton region.
Salim Mitha enjoys helping startups grow, and now gets to do this every day as a media, entertainment, gaming & sports investor at Powerhouse Capital, a sector-focused Los Angeles based venture capital firm.
Most recently Salim was a Partner at Evolution Media, the growth venture capital firm that invested in partnership TPG Growth and Creative Artists Agency (CAA). Prior to being an investor, he spent a few cycles as an entrepreneur where he launched three startups, helped them grow, and guided them all to successful exits (and all three continue to thrive to this day).
Salim's past tech experience derives from running Yahoo! Search & Social Search across Europe, and from startup e-commerce marketplace company Wahanda (Treatwell) which was acquired by Recruit of Japan, owners of indeed.com and Glassdoor.
WOMEN IN WYOMING FEATURES MARNIE PETERSON
The most recent chapter of Lindsay Linton's Women in Wyoming: Portraits and Interviews of Women Who Shape the West features Marnie Peterson, Chief Scientific Officer of Perfectus Biomend Group. The mission of Women in Wyoming is to tell the inspiring stories of contemporary Wyoming women through art and media, celebrating their achievements, power, and learned wisdom.
Marnie is a participant in our TEAMS mentoring program. "Silicon Couloir has been such a huge part of my business and overall success," says Marnie. "I think Lindsay's project is amazing and I'm honored to be a part of it." Portrait by Lindsay Linton.
HONORING SILICON COULOIR'S
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
Silicon Couloir is pleased to announce Ginny Hutchinson as our 2021 Volunteer of the Year. Ginny served as a board member from 2016 to 2021 and spent countless hours advising on marketing efforts and bolstering our Trustee Circle. Ginny was instrumental in guiding the organization through the pandemic turbulence of 2019 and 2020, helping to find new ways to assist our entrepreneurial community. Ginny and her husband John Kanengieter continue to support Silicon Couloir as Trustees.
NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR WOMAN ENTREPRENEUR
OF THE YEAR
The Wyoming Council for Women is thrilled to announce the opening of nominations for 2022 Wyoming Woman Entrepreneur of the Year. If you or someone you know is a woman entrepreneur, please consider filling out the nomination by clicking the button below.
“The impact of female entrepreneurs across the state of Wyoming is tremendous,” said Jennifer Wilmetti, Chair of the Wyoming Council for Women. “Starting and maintaining a small business requires tremendous courage and a belief in self that the Wyoming Council for Women celebrates. We encourage women entrepreneurs, as well as their families, friends, and colleagues, to submit a nomination so we can recognize and celebrate the amazing Wyoming women helping to drive our local economies. ”
LEARN MORE ABOUT SILICON COULOIR
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.