Values Guide Iksplor

Values Guide Ikplor

By Rebecca Reimers

Sisters Karissa Akin and Kailey Gieck grew up exploring the wilds of Colorado with their brother and parents. The adventures they had hiking, biking, camping, and sailing not only brought the family closer, it ignited in the sisters a passion for the outdoors and a desire to protect the planet. Years later, as adults with children of their own in tow (three girls with another on the way), Kailey and Karissa have translated their values into a company that reflects this love of nature and spirit of adventure. 

“In a fast paced, digitally-connected world, a deep bond with nature is as fundamental to our own physical and emotional health as it is to our children’s,” reflects Karissa. “Outdoor adventure sparks confidence, independence, a sense of awareness, stewardship for our environment and so much more.”

As their families grew, Karissa and Kailey noticed a lack of base layers that kids could wear all day long no matter the circumstances. They wanted a product that was soft, durable, easy to care for, and sustainable. In 2018, they set out to fill the market niche with base layer and mid layers made from 100% merino wool with sizing that extends from newborns to adults.

“Iksplor was launched on what would have been our brother’s 33rd birthday. Tragically, he had passed some years before. “We wanted to do something that honored him. Helping other families get outside like we always did, felt like the perfect way to do that,” explains Kailey. 

Later that same year, the two shared their idea with the world at Silicon Couloir Pitch Day. They were rewarded with the Bob Arndt Community Caretaker award. “Pitch Day helped provide the accountability and structure needed to bring our idea to life...and garner local support,” says Kailey. 

In addition to a cash prize, they were awarded a place in TEAMS for Iksplor. TEAMS provides a group of expert volunteer mentors who meet on a regular basis with companies accepted into the program. Kailey and Karissa took full advantage of the opportunity, “TEAMS  has provided coaching and accountability through every growth stage,” assets Kailey. “Our mentors have truly become a part of our iksplor family.” 

From an idea in 2018 and a successful Kickstarter for “adventure essentials” in 2020, Iksplor is on track for 1 million dollars in revenue this year. The sisters credit their mentors for helping them achieve such remarkable growth. “They have seen us from our infancy to our current state and have helped us identify future roadblocks to our growth,” says Karissa. 

Prior to Iksplor, both women had established successful businesses as creatives in videography and design. Careers, up until recently, they maintained in addition to running the company. The logistics of shifting to an e-commerce direct-to-consumer product company presented new hurdles that the mentors helped them navigate. “We struggled to get a handle on our financials and growth strategy,” admits Karissa, “Our mentors helped us transition our accounting system so we could better understand our margins.”

TEAMS mentors have also provided the emotional support the sisters needed over the past few years to keep growing the business. “Being an entrepreneur involves taking on big risks. It can be a very lonely and scary place,” Kailey conveys.  “When we launched with product in January 2020, our father helped us unpack and inventory our first run. We lost him 3 weeks later. A month after that, pandemic lock downs went into effect. Having a team of unbiased mentors, willing to continue meeting with us virtually throughout an incredibly isolating period was critical to us continuing to put one foot in front of the other.”   

Both Karissa and Kailey are now full-time with the company. They employ two additional women (and moms) to assist with content development, PR, and fulfillment. The live/work office houses both the company and one of their employees and her family. They take great pride in being an all-woman company.

Karissa and Kailey are deeply rooted in the Tetons and can’t imagine being anywhere else. “This is the place where we have chosen to raise our families, and we are very passionate about protecting its natural beauty,” responds Kailey when asked about the importance of the region. They will continue to grow a company and community that reflects the values of adventure, family, sustainability, and quality. “Our vision is to inspire the next generation of nature fanatics to become nature advocates.” 

Entrepreneurs tackling big problems win Pitch Day

Entrepreneurs tackling big problems win Pitch Day

By Mark Wilcox

Wyoming Business Report, Nov 27, 2022

Winners of a Jackson Hole competition where startups pitch their business to a live audience showed that small businesses can tackle big challenges.

Pitch Day is an annual competition put on by Silicon Couloir, an entrepreneurship development nonprofit. Winners receive about $20,000 in cash and other beneficial business rewards, like access to a co-work space run by the nonprofit and mentoring.

“We are biased,” said Executive Director Gary Trauner, “but I do believe we run a world-class event that will stack up against anyone anywhere.”

The program coaches and coaxes entrepreneurs through activities that help them clarify messaging and focus. Then it puts them on the stage in front of a live audience to practice pitching their business and compete for the aforementioned prizes.

Specifically, grand prize is a $10,000 cash award, chosen by a group of successful businesspeople who act as panelists. Think of it as the “Shark Tank” award, if the sharks gave a prize instead of offering deals for a cut of the companies. It goes to the most compelling business idea with the best chance for success, highest likelihood of getting funded, the strongest presentation and values aligned with Silicon Couloir.

Second place is the Audience Choice Award winner, which goes to the company that resonates most with the audience. Attendees vote live on their favorite pitch of the five presented via text. The winner gets $5,000 cash and a year of free use of Silicon Couloir’s co-work space in downtown Jackson.

The final prize is the Bob Arndt Community Caretaker Award. It gives $2,500 cash and six months of free use of the co-work space, and comes with an invitation to join a mentoring program offered by Silicon Couloir. It’s given typically to the most community- and environmentally conscious businesses.

Read on to catch up with the three award winners from this year’s Pitch Day.

“It was our strongest group of presenters yet, and the passion and purpose was palpable,” Trauner said in an email to the Wyoming Business Report.

Grand Prize Panelist Award: Remo Health

The grand prize award went to Remo Health, a company founder Matt LeKrey is building after finding dementia care for his father lacking in almost every respect.

He said during the last “lucid conversation” he had with his father that he would do everything he could to help other families struggling with the harsh realities of dementia, and the huge economic and social problems it creates.

“We found the current standard of care to be completely unacceptable,” LeKrey said.

Specifically, he said care providers all seem to say that nothing can be done for dementia victims.

“While there’s no cure, that’s categorically untrue,” he said. Without the proper guidance and support, patients end up neglected by uninformed caregivers, since their families simply don’t have an appropriate plan or even know how to make real decisions, like estate planning.

Beyond those issues, it’s also a multi-month or multi-year journey to even get diagnosed.

“Once you have the diagnosis, you have to pull all the pieces of the jigsaw together yourself, then magically figure out how to pay for it,” LeKrey said. This pattern ends up creating poor outcomes, like unnecessary ER visits or repeat trips to the hospital, because of adverse effects of medication.

“That is completely unreasonable and has to change,” he said. And change is on the horizon.

After a scant two years in business, the seed-stage Remo Health, based in Jackson, has developed a patient base of several hundred people being served by full-time doctors on the team. Additionally, LeKrey said there are about 5,000 more people in the pipeline to become customers.

He said, given the growth, it has required hard work to scale up and provide as much high-quality care as possible without compromises. Currently, Remo Health employs 11 people, including developers, doctors and business developers, and has taken in funding from venture capital and private investors.

Though based in Wyoming, the team is piloting the program in California and actively pursuing licensing in other states. They’ve built a system that uses telemedicine and community knowledge by foremost experts to provide a comprehensive care package that goes far beyond simple health care.

“Remo offers the ability to connect with a community of other caregivers, to learn from content created by foremost experts, and then to act to get the best care for your loved one where and when they need it,” LeKrey said.

That includes giving people the option to get care at home. That’s especially important for a state like Wyoming, where specialty doctors are often located hours from where patients live.

“We feel strongly that people shouldn’t have to miss a week of work and drive six hours to meet with someone for 15 minutes,” LeKrey said, adding that technology like video calls have helped enable better remote care.

But despite not being able to do everything, LeKrey said he recognizes they can do a lot for people dealing with subpar dementia care.

“There are millions struggling, and we’re at the beginning of a long road,” he said.

Audience Choice Award: Naughty Fruit

Naughty Fruit combines natural sugars and a little spice to create healthy snacks for outdoor-oriented people. The company has been in business for five years after coming through Silicon Couloir’s Start-Up Intensive, an immersive program helping people put flesh on their business ideas. Founder Juan Morales got his start by selling traditional Mexican tamales and tacos at places like local farmers’ markets.

But he noticed a lack of healthy snack options that don’t have preservatives, aren’t natural or are just tasteless. So he took a traditional Mexican flavor blend of salt, lemon and chili pepper to spice up healthy snacking.

“We like to add a little spice to our food,” Morales said.

While most Mexican palates are used to the blend and instantly know what to expect, American palates don’t always get it. He said his No. 1 question is if it’s spicy. “No, it’s spiced,” he said. “It’s a subtle flavor … but makes the fruit flavors jump out.”

And the majority of people who try it like it, though some request additional kick. Morales is now working to expand from a local footprint in the Jackson Hole market to a national market by expanding his team beyond himself and pushing into online marketing.

“Because of Pitch Day, we’ve let the community know where we’re at and where we want to be,” Morales said.

Community Caretaker Award: Avant Delivery

Recycling is a broken system, according to Sam Schwartz, founder of Avant Delivery.

“Recycling is a system we pay for, but that doesn’t really work, which is kind of maddening,” Schwartz said. “We’re replacing it with something that works.”

Avant is currently pivoting its business model after being in business two years to be the Uber of reusable coffee containers. That takes a little explanation. Essentially, Schwartz is working toward a volume play that will allow Avant to sell back reusable containers after collecting and washing them for less than it would cost a coffee shop to buy its own disposable containers.

“At the end of the day, you have to offer real fiscal incentives, and that’s what we’re going after,” he said.

At the point of sale, customers will pay a $1 pre-cycling fee for their cups that gets returned to them in full once they return it to a collection kiosk. Alternately, they’ll be able to use an app to call in an Uber-style driver to collect their cups. If they do this, the driver keeps the fees. A third option involves a split with a collection partner and the consumer.

But the cups will cost Avant about $2 apiece, and it’s difficult to squeeze a lot of profit out of that after washing it and returning it to the business for 15 cents apiece. As is, he said it will take about 36 returns per cup to come out ahead, but each cup has a lifespan of about 1,000 uses, and Schwartz said he’s going after a volume play that scales quickly.

“As much as I love Wyoming business, we’re not going to make a big difference eliminating single-use coffee cups in Wyoming,” Schwartz said.

Specifically, he wants to land large chains like Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts and others like them. Starbucks has already announced its intention to eliminate single-use cups by 2030, meaning someone has to pave an inroad anyway.

He said because of how he’s constructed the business model, it makes it simple and cost-effective for consumers and businesses to recycle while also adding some pocket change to drivers willing to pick up the cups. That means it should hold appeal across the political spectrum – an important goal for a recycling company in Wyoming.

“This is not this eco-warrior granola solution,” he said, adding that many such programs are heavy on costs and light on benefits.

Through a Local’s Lens: Tech startup improves dementia care

Through a Local’s Lens: Tech startup improves dementia care

By Julie Ellison

Buckrail, November 29, 2022

Dementia is the seventh-leading cause of death worldwide. Photo: Nick Sulzer // Buckrail

JACKSON, Wyo. — When Remo Health went live three months ago, it fulfilled a promise that Jackson resident Matt LeKrey made to his father four years ago.

After years of navigating the complex world of being a caregiver to his father, who suffered from a rare form of dementia, LeKrey made a commitment to his dad to make the experience better for anyone else who had to go through it. Along with co-founders Will Poe and Jason DeCastro, LeKrey created Remo Health, a comprehensive digital platform that supports and engages caregivers of dementia patients.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 55 million people suffer from dementia worldwide, and 10 million new cases are diagnosed every year.

Dementia is currently the seventh leading cause of death among all diseases and one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people worldwide. Dementia has physical, psychological, social and economic impacts, not only for people living with dementia, but also for their carers, families and society at large. There is often a lack of awareness and understanding of dementia, resulting in stigmatization and barriers to diagnosis and care.

—World Health Organization; who.int

Despite those high numbers, Poe, who is an internist in San Francisco with a masters in public health, has treated dementia patients on the clinical side and says many cases go undiagnosed because primary care providers (PCPs) shy away from an actual diagnosis.

“Only 1 in 4 cases gets diagnosed…often the PCP doesn’t know what to do after the diagnosis,” Poe said. Having had a grandparent with dementia, Poe describes the disease as a one-way train ride. “With Remo, we figure out which train you’re on and how long the track is. We talk with patients about their kids and family and what’s important to them. We want to save people emotional pain, stress and money.”

Since dementia doesn’t have standard treatments and medicines like other diseases, it can be a particularly challenging experience for the patient and their loved ones, who are often saddled with questions of what the diagnosis means, getting to and from medical appointments, dealing with confusing cognitive symptoms and figuring out how to pay for everything.

Prior to creating Remo, LeKrey had spent the previous decade building apps for families struggling with chronic illness, so he had the technical background to supplement his personal experience as a dementia caregiver. Through these past projects, LeKrey met Poe, whose grandmother had dementia. The two connected over the “problem hiding in plain sight,” which is how Poe described the lack of centralized care and support for dementia patients and their families.

They brought on DeCastro as co-founder and chief technical officer. A devoted coder since the age of 13, DeCastro had been building digital products for the previous decade but felt the work he was doing didn’t have much meaning.

“I’ve been a caregiver for family members with illnesses, so I understand the issues,” DeCastro said. He wanted his work to make the world a better place, and Remo was a good fit.

Poe describes Remo as a “virtual geriatric center of excellence,” where a group of brain health doctors help clarify a diagnosis and then stay with the person every step of the way, including prescribing and deprescribing medications, preventing slips, trips and falls, handling memory, movement and mood and evaluating home safety.

Building the business

In October 2022, Remo Health won the Panelist Choice Award, the top prize at Silicon Couloir’s Pitch Day, where entrepreneurs present their businesses to a panel of judges. It’s the culmination of a three-month process where startups develop their business plan, pitch and marketing through coaching and practice from top business leaders in the region.

Matt LeKrey is working to provide comprehensive, accessible dementia care. Photo: Silicon Couloir

Silicon Couloir is a Jackson nonprofit that aims to “align entrepreneurship with community vision to promote a diverse economy and a healthy environment for current and future generations.” Their annual Pitch Day awards money and resources to the winners so they can continue to expand their business.

“Silicon Couloir was a wonderful community for us to be able to find a way not just to meet individuals who had built companies, but also who helped us address the Intermountain West and helped us shape our story,” LeKrey said. Previously, LeKrey had taken Remo through gBeta Wyoming, an accelerator program that brings together entrepreneurs, investors, job seekers and other individuals to create advancement opportunities in business.

LeKrey says Jackson is a special and supportive place for entrepreneurs, where large names in business who have access to money and resources live down the street. LeKrey also points out that many of the moguls who live in the Tetons have a more friendly, helpful attitude.

“Everyone comes from a ‘How can we help?’ mentality, providing access to money, customers, talent and mentorship,” LeKrey said. “People have come out of the woodwork trying to help provide opportunities…in a way that’s without pretension or arrogance or extreme bias that might come from bigger cities.”

How Remo works

Using telemedicine, Remo hopes to bring world-class healthcare to every part of the country, from rural areas to densely populated cities. Remo also hopes to support caregivers, who are often overlooked in the current healthcare landscape. Online forums, mental health professionals and treatment guidance are integral to Remo’s framework of care.

Seeing doctors virtually removes the obstacle of getting patients to the doctor for in-person visits, which is difficult when caregivers must rearrange their own schedules and take time off work. Supporting and engaging caregivers—who experience burnout at a high rate with dementia—is a key to making the last years of a patient’s life more healthy and balanced overall.

“It takes a village to take care of a dementia patient,” Poe said. “We bring that interdisciplinary village to patients and families virtually so the ethos of Remo—it’s an empathy service.”

Dementia is a tough diagnosis because unlike cancer or heart failure, there are no medicines to treat the disease. The reality is that all patients will die from the disease or associated complications, so priorities shift from treating the illness itself to constructing what the patient and their family want those last years to look like.

“There’s only one real medicine at Remo: truth with compassion. We’re in a world mostly beyond medicines. This is not diabetes. This is not heart failure. We do not have effective medicines or cures for dementia,” Poe said. “What we do have is the courage to step up to the plate and give clarity on the diagnosis and give agency and empowerment back to families. They get to decide how the last chapter of life wants to be lived.”

By bringing timely, specialized care into a patient’s home, Remo also helps to another problem among patients with dementia: reducing needless trips to the emergency room. Often patients come in with cognitive impairment and no true medical reason for the visit, and a burned-out caregiver doesn’t know what else to do.

While Remo Health is fully operational in California with 11 full-time employees, the company has expansion plans for Nevada, Arizona and beyond, with the goal of closing gaps in healthcare for rural populations, including Wyoming.

“I would love people to know that if you or someone you love is struggling with dementia, you are not alone. You don’t have to do everything alone,” LeKrey said. “We’re here to help. This is a promise we made to our loved ones and one we intend to keep.”

December News

Select regional companies will participate with interactive displays for attendees to enjoy.
Free and open to all.
We hope to see you there! 

NEWS AND NOTES

NOVEMBER VISIONARY VENTURES: MAKING THE TRANSITION FROM ATHLETE TO EXECUTIVE

The Teton region is home to many who consider themselves both retired athletes and entrepreneurs. "Yet transitioning to the corporate world can be as daunting as starting a new sport without any coaches or a playbook to fall back on," states Brittney Ziebell in this month's Visionary Ventures column. What lessons and disciplines from sports can be applied to starting a venture? Read this month's interview with Silicon Couloir Trustee Vijay Karia, retired professional tennis player and the Chief Digital Officer at Connect America, to explore this question.

READ THE COLUMN HERE

THANK YOU TO OUR VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

This year we honor Liza Millet for her many and significant contributions to Silicon Couloir. Liza is a founding member of the organization, and has tirelessly served as a Board Member, teacher, coach, advocate, and mentor. Liza has volunteered countless hours to empowering entrepreneurship in the Teton region, and Silicon Couloir would not be nearly as successful with out her devotion, passion, and support.
Thank you, Liza!

Photo: Liza enjoying all the Teton region has to offer.

CONNECT WITH ILLA

Tana Hoffman, a former TEAMS mentee, mentor, and 2019 Pitch Day Audience Choice Award winner has been quietly working on a new venture over the past year, thanks to an opportunity that she attributes to continued support from Silicon Couloir. Her new venture, ILLA, is a member-driven collective for active women powered by AI. It is currently in beta in Denver and Jackson Hole. Tana is supported by her investment partner, VF Corporation (VANS, The Northface, Smartwool), and is always looking to connect (or ski!) with other founders, potential partners, and individuals with whom her vision resonates. Reach her at tana@illa.co.

ANNOUNCING UNINFLAMED BY CATE STILLMAN

From the best-selling author of Body Thrive and Master of You comes Uninflamed, a big book that inspires biohackers, microbiome scientists, organic farmers, intermittent fasters, holistic healers, doctors and witches, the psychedelic community, urine therapists and modern people, who like most of us, suffer from chronic symptoms. Inspiring you to stretch and commit to making your daily habits into PRIMAL HABITS... Uninflamed documents the best anti-inflammatory habits in the history of humans. Uninflamed is an easy-to-read, easy-to-share book that makes you think different about how nature works, including you.

A pioneer in ancient-meets-modern health,Cate Stillman is the leader at CLUB THRIVE and WELLNESS PRO ACADEMY. She grew her first company, Yogahealer, by passing forward the timeless wisdom of Ayurveda and Yoga. Cate recently joined our TEAMS program. 
 

SILICON COULOIR IS POWERED BY DONATIONS

Silicon Couloir is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We strive to be the hub connecting local entrepreneurs to all the resources needed to succeed: an expanded personal network, education, access to capital, connection to mentors, and leadership training. We accomplish our mission through private donations.

Our Trustee Circle provides a reliable runway for operations and programs. A heartfelt thank you to all of our wonderful Trustees. We truly couldn't do it with out you!

As we close the year, we'd also like to recognize our generous non-Trustee donors who have provided significant gifts in 2022:
Nathan & Claire Adams | Cynthia Blankenship & Dan Creighton | Tony & Linda Brooks | Cagann MacIntyre Family Fund | Cycle Haven / Fitzgerald's Bicycles Brad Farkas | Tammy Kiely via Goldman Sachs | James & Darlene O'Brien | The O'Neil Foundation | Marnie Peterson | Nancy Vic | Chris Woolley

If Silicon Couloir has made a difference in your community or venture, please remember us in your year end giving.

DONATE NOW

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.

Making the transition from athlete to executive

Making the transition from athlete to executive

By Brittney Ziebell

Jackson Hole is home to many who refer to themselves as “retired athletes.” Whether your path included junior high gymnastics, high school football, college soccer or skiing for the U.S. Ski Team, we can assume you’ve learned a lesson or two from sports along the way. And we can assume you’ve brought life lessons from your time as an athlete with you, such as self-discipline, focus, teamwork, time management and commitment.

Living in this playground of retired athletes means many of us tend to be a bit more tolerant of risk. That’s why Jackson is such a strong place for startups.

Entrepreneurs with budding ideas aren’t scared to take the leap into something new and unknown. Yet transitioning to the corporate world can be as daunting as starting a new sport without any coaches or a playbook to fall back on. So why don’t we talk more about the transition from sport to business more in a community like ours?

Vijay Karia is a retired professional tennis player and the chief digital officer at Connect America, a leading provider of personal emergency response systems with more than 900,000 active subscribers and operations throughout the U.S. and Canada. His business career path has taken him from the New York Stock Exchange to building mobile applications used by the NFL thanks to his expertise in technology, artificial intelligence, voice recognition and app development. But sports has also played a significant role in his success. I had the honor of sitting down with Karia to talk about his advice to athletes and budding entrepreneurs transitioning into the business world. He shares five lessons that have helped him along his journey in the technology industry.

1. Get to know yourself.

As athletes, one of the gifts we have is we get to know ourselves well. During countless hours of training and practicing, we get familiar with our strengths and weaknesses. So when we transition away from sport to business the same insights can be applied.

“You have to critically evaluate your strengths, your weaknesses and your wants for the future,” Karia said. Where do your interests lie? How do you want to spend your time? Karia was always a fast learner on the tennis court. His coach would show him a new technique and he’d apply it quickly, embracing the efficiency and insight.

Like a new serve style, he loved technology and discovered it could be the perfect fit for him as he retired from sport. “Technology changes so rapidly. Every month, new tech is coming out and old software is obsolete. New styles of programming are always emerging. It’s an industry that plays towards the strength of people who love to learn.”

The lesson here is to recognize your weaknesses, identify your strengths, and apply your learnings to your next steps in life.

2. Find your team.

Just like whatever sport you play, in business you need coaches, people willing to take you under their wing or who’ve blazed the path before you. “You’re in new territory,” Karia said. “If you try to do it yourself, you’re doing yourself a disservice.” Finding a mentor who you can align yourself with is important, and surrounding yourself with friends and family who support you and believe in you is integral.

Silicon Couloir’s Teton Entrepreneurs And Mentor Services program is a local option for budding entrepreneurs. The program currently includes 52 mentors who support 20 ventures with monthly meetings, free of cost. Meetings provide an opportunity for entrepreneurs to ask questions and receive objective advice. The main requirement? Entrepreneurs must be coachable, an attribute most retired athletes are well versed at.

3. Be patient with yourself, you’re starting a new sport.

Recognize that you’re starting a new sport. You’re on the junior varsity team surrounded by varsity — if not professional — players. When you start out it’s important to remember you simply may not be as good as your coworkers or others in your industry. Use your discipline from sports training and apply those skills to your new “sport.” With your self-awareness, and your mentors in place, you have the foundations to make yourself successful at your new discipline.

Karia recounts starting to work at the New York Stock Exchange and learning what at first felt like a foreign language: “I walked off the tennis court and into the board room. Everyone was speaking a different language of acronyms I did not know.”

4. There’s always more to learn.

Outside of the workspace, keep learning about your new endeavor. Karia spent the first three years of his job settling into the industry, reading books in his spare time and asking his mentors and coworkers questions. He would read books every evening and search the internet for the most up-to-date reports on emerging subjects in his field.

“Before long, I actually ended up knowing more about certain subjects than some senior professionals in the industry because I was learning the most current knowledge within the field,” he said. “There are new ways of doing things that come out every single day. All the knowledge is accessible at your fingertips and available to anyone who wants to read and learn about a subject.”

5. Remember your foundations.

Today Karia is 15 years into his career in the technology industry. He has never stopped learning and applying these core principles, all the while enjoying the sport he loves in his free time. “Don’t forget your foundations,” he urged, explaining that he returns to tennis often.

While progress isn’t always linear, you have fans supporting you from the sidelines. “People from your sport will always be there to cheer you on in another path in life. Once I realized that my sports background is not something to withhold or suppress [in the technology industry], and it was actually a strength, I realized that people were resonating and interested in being a part of my athletic life while helping me along my current path.”

So perhaps on the next Glory bootpack or hike up the Middle Teton, you can pat yourself on the back and thank yourself for all the years of hard work and commitment to sport. Then, ask yourself, what are you waiting for? It’s time to lean into that budding idea confidently, knowing that your familiarity with yourself and your background in sport has already set you up for success in whatever the future holds.

November News

MONTHLY CHANCE MEETINGS 

November 7th, 2022  5 - 7 pm @ Snake River Roasting Co. Cafe 

Please register below 

Sometimes all you need is the right connection and a little inspiration. Well, what are you waiting for? Find both at our free monthly networking event. You never know...

Theme~The Elevator Pitch: Summarizing your pitch in 2 minutes or less

An Elevator Pitch is "a description of an idea, product or company that explains the concept in a way such that any listener can understand it in a short period of time. This description typically explains who the thing is for, what it does, why it is needed, and how it will get done."

Join us on Monday, November 7th from 5-7 pm to hear succinct pitches from thee of the local companies that recently joined out TEAMS program. Remède, Vista 360, and Yoga Healer will present the "what, why and how" to the audience, followed by audience Q&A.

Remède is a wellness company that began in Jackson Hole in December 2016. We specialize in IV nutrient therapy, nutrigenomics, and aesthetics.

Vista 360° is an international artisan support business that brings luxury handmade accessories to the global market and in this way helps build sustainable artisan enterprises led by women.

At Yogahealer our mission is to expand our global community of people who want to thrive in their bodies and achieve their life goals.

REGISTER FOR CHANCE MEETINGS

NEWS AND NOTES

CONGRATULATIONS TO PITCH DAY FINALISTS

Silicon Couloir’s 11th Annual Pitch Day featured five local entrepreneurs pitching their businesses to a panel of experienced judges and an audience of hundreds. Following months of coaching, refinement and practice the finalists nailed their presentations and provided succinct answers to tough questions from the panelists. It was our strongest and most well attended Pitch Day yet, with the reception back in full swing. All finalists made huge strides in their business models and presentations that will help guide their success.  We are proud to announce the award winners of Pitch Day 2022.

• Panelist Choice Award: Remo Health

• Audience Choice Award: Naughty Fruit

• Bob Arndt Community Caretaker Award: Avant Delivery

"One of the most difficult things to find throughout the process of building your company is people that will tell you the truth about your business —what you need to hear, “ states Matt LeKrey Co-Founder of Remo Health. "Remo would not have been fortunate to win the Panelist Choice Grand Prize without the Pitch Day process or feedback from the coaches along the way. We're incredibly grateful for the Silicon Couloir community and how programs like Pitch Day enable us to live out our entrepreneurial dreams in the beautiful place we get to call home." 

If you missed the live event, we have you covered. The Pitch Day recording can be viewed HERE.

AWARD WINNER DETAILS

Nick Prevot visits with potential customers. Juan Morales shows off the goods.

Panelist Wayne Teetsel asking tough questions. Katy Hollbacher grateful for the time to shine.

Matt LeKrey shares ideas with an audience member. Sam Schwatrz gains insight from panelist Andrew Chung.

SC HOLIDAY GIFT LIST: SUPPORT LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS

As you plan your holiday shopping, please consider buying local from one of our hard working local TEAMS companies. Product information and a few choice discount codes can be found below.

OCTOBER VISIONARY VENTURES: DEFINING A HEALTHY COMMUNITY

In the Teton region, we strive for a healthy community, economy, & environment, but what biases and dynamics do we need to understand to truly achieve these aspirations? Our October Jackson Hole News & Guide column written by Gary Trauner seeks to uncover biases that could impede our progress.

READ THE COLUMN HERE

PERFECTUS BIOMED AQUIRED BY NAMSA

Congratulations to Marnie Peterson and the Perfectus Biomed Team for their recent acquisition by NAMSA, a world-leading MedTech Contract Research Organization (CRO) offering global end-to-end development services.

"From a tiny Jackson startup 2016 to a UK merger 2020 to acquisition 2022! Couldn’t have done it without the support of Silicon Couloir and TEAMS," Marnie shared.

Marnie joined TEAMS in 2018 with her venture, which was called Extherid Biosciences at the time. Marnie has been developing a non-live animal approach to drug development and discovery for over 20 years and is a leader in this niche style of research. In June 2020, Marnie took an entrepreneurial leap and merged her company with Dr. Samantha Westgate, a UK-based scientist. Together, they are Perfectus Biomed Group, a global biosciences company based in Jackson, Wyoming and Daresbury, England. Marnie feels proud to reach people all around the globe thanks to the work their team is conducting in Wyoming while also creating more opportunities for science to stay in the Cowboy state.

ANEX POWER FEATURED IN PIPELINERS PODCAST

In this week's episode of the Pipeliners Podcast, host Russel Treat is joined by Mike Longo of Anax Power to discuss using turbo expanders to generate carbon-free power from natural gas. Mike Longo is a Cowork Space member and enjoys being part of the SC ecosystem.

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.

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Announcing Pitch Day 2022 Award Winners

Last Wednesday night at Silicon Couloir’s Pitch Day, five local entrepreneurs pitched their businesses to a panel of experienced judges as well as an in-person and virtual audience, following months of coaching, refinement and practice. It was our strongest group of presenters yet, and the passion and purpose was palpable.  All finalists made huge strides in their business models and presentations that will help guide their success.  We are proud to announce the award winners of Pitch Day 2022.

Panelist Choice Award
Matt LeKrey, Co-Founder of Remo Health

$10,000 cash award

The panelist choice award is given to the company that our experienced entrepreneur judges determine has (1) the most compelling business idea, (2) the best chance for business success, (3) the highest likelihood of getting funded, (4) the strongest presentation, and (5) values alignment with Silicon Couloir. 

"One of the most difficult things to find throughout the process of building your company is people that will tell you the truth about your business —what you need to hear, “ states LeKrey. Remo would not have been fortunate to win the Panelist Choice Grand Prize without the Pitch Day process or feedback from the coaches along the way. We're incredibly grateful for the Silicon Couloir community and how programs like Pitch Day enable us to live out our entrepreneurial dreams in the beautiful place we get to call home." 

Photo: Matt LeKrey is working to provide comprehensive, accessible dementia care.

Audience Choice Award Winner

Juan Morales, Founder of Naughty Fruit

$5,000 cash award and one-year free use of The Cowork Space in Jackson, WY 

The audience choice award is voted on by the audience and is given to the company who “wows” the audience with their presentation and company.

Photo: Bill Haaland , Silicon Couloir mentor, announces Naughty Fruit as the audience favorite.

“Naughty Fruit has gone through a transformation since we became involved with Silicon Couloir, from its inception of the Start-Up Institute to our participation in TEAMS.” stated Morales. We have received so much invaluable business knowledge along the way. We were honored to win the Audience Choice Award and couldn’t have done it without the wonderful coaching.” 

Bob Arndt Community Caretaker Award

Sam Schwartz, Founder of Avant Delivery
$2,500 cash award + 6 months free use at The Cowork Space in Jackson, WY + invitation to join Silicon Couloir’s TEAMS Mentoring Program 

The Bob Arndt Community Caretaker Award is presented to that entrepreneur or venture whose person/team and company best embodies the core values and mission of Silicon Couloir, which is to align entrepreneurship with community vision to promote a diverse economy and healthy environment for current and future generations. Just as Bob lived his life guided by the value of community caretaking, this company will exemplify growing a culture of stewardship, leadership, participation, collaboration, and citizenship that inspires and enriches our tight-knit, welcoming mountain town.  The winner will have the opportunity to participate in TEAMS, our highly successful mentoring program. 

“Pitch Day was a 3 month process that encouraged my company to highlight our most unique position…me, the founder!” explains Schwartz. “How does my personal story drive a relentless pursuit to solve the single use plastic crisis? Silicon Couloir empowered me to highlight my commitment to protecting my community's greatest asset (the natural environment). Due to the multiple coaching sessions that enriched my presentation I was fortunate enough to walk away with the Bob Arndt Community Caretaker Award.”

 Photo: Sandy Hessler, who watched Sam Schwartz grow up next door, proudly announces the Bob Arndt Community Caretaker award for Sam.

Pitch Day would not be possible without the enormous volunteer efforts of our selection committee, coaches, and panelists.  We are extremely grateful for your participation. 

Pitch Day was generously sponsored by Pirate Ship and First Republic Bank. Photo by Lisa King. 

Defining a ‘healthy’ community

Defining a ‘healthy’ community

By Gary Trauner

The Jackson/Teton County Comprehensive Plan Vision Statement begins, “Preserve and protect the area’s ecosystem in order to ensure a healthy environment, community and economy for current and future generations.”

The mission statement for Silicon Couloir is “We align entrepreneurship with community vision to promote a diverse economy and a healthy environment for current and future generations.”

Both of these aspirational statements use the word “healthy” in reference to our community, but what does “healthy” actually mean? Well, a large group of engaged community members got together last week at the annual 22-in-21 conference put on by the Charture Institute to begin working toward defining just that.

As the leader of Silicon Couloir (and, full disclosure, a board member of Charture), I spoke about what I call the Elephants in the Room (“EITR”). That is, dynamics I believe we need to understand before we can determine what steps we need to take to achieve a truly “healthy” community. This column lays out those dynamics for all to explore.

EITR No. 1: Macro vs. Micro. This is the biggie. We have two overarching systems in this country: governance — participatory representative democracy, and economic — “free market” capitalism. One is inherently macro (governance), focusing on society’s priorities, and the other is inherently micro (economic), focusing on individual business profit and success.

The result is inherent tension between these two systems and misplaced priorities. Two examples:

• Jobs. At the macro level, competition and financial incentive means job creation. At the micro level, for individual businesses, jobs are actually a bug in the system, not a feature. The last thing a business generally wants to do is hire more people, the first thing it’ll do when it gets in trouble is lay people off, and if it can do things more efficiently with technology instead of people, it will.

• Drug deals and inside information. The free market is about efficiency and determining value. At the micro level, if someone wants to sell me hard drugs, and we agree on the cost, that is a free market transaction. Likewise, paying someone for inside information is simply the free market at work. Yet, at the macro level, we outlaw both of these transactions because we as a society believe they are bad (for various reasons).

EITR No. 2: Regulation Matters. Many proponents of our free market economic system desire minimal regulation. They view it as burdensome and bureaucratic. Yet those who study systems — biological, natural or human-devised — know that every system must be regulated, either internally or externally. Unregulated systems eventually become toxic (think cancer in biology and gross inequality in economics) and left unregulated, will collapse. Also, self-regulation is an oxymoron — think sports without referees or, well, anyone ever hear of Enron?

EITR No. 3: How/What We Measure Matters. It’s much easier to measure quantitative metrics than qualitative ones, so we tend to ignore the qualitative and place undue emphasis on the quantitative. I would argue that a healthy economy is one that improves the lives of all of its citizens. But when we measure our economy, we use metrics such as GDP, unemployment, wage growth, per capita income. But if 98% of GDP growth goes to the top 1% of the population, is that healthy? Shouldn’t we also measure the quality of our environment, the health of our population, work/life balance, reduced inequality?

EITR No. 4: Decision/Action Mismatch. Governance — reflecting the will of the people and our priorities — is bottom up and messy. It requires input from different community sectors, compromise, and, ultimately, consensus. The consequence? It’s time consuming and subject to manipulation (politics, special interests, money). Conversely, market action is generally topdown and nimble. Business owners/ managers can make decisions quickly and implement them without external input. This timing mismatch results in the “micro” changing reality on the ground while the “macro” is still working things out.

EITR No. 5: It’s the Private Sector Stupid. As I’ve written about previously, there are three sectors in every community: public (government), nonprofit and private. They are all important. However, in the immortal words of Reggie Jackson (Yankee fan here), the private sector is “the straw that stirs the drink.” Any attempt to achieve a healthy economy/environment will require buy-in from the private sector, which means individual businesses. This will require, in my estimation, both carrots and sticks.

Jonathan Schechter, the founder and brains behind the Charture Institute, has coined our conundrum the “250-Year Precedent.” To paraphrase, since the industrial revolution in England, no industrialized community has been able to balance a growing free market economy with preservation of its special natural attributes. Save one: Jackson Hole and Greater Yellowstone. Fortunately, we still have the chance to break the 250-Year Precedent.

To put it another way, when it comes to the macro (community desires and priorities) vs. the micro (free market business activity), the micro wins every time; and the hard truth is that if we continue on our current path, the micro will win here as well. The private sector is here to stay, and has many positive attributes. Yet it is simply a tool, one of many in our toolbox, to help us achieve our community priorities and goals.

In order to overcome the 250-Year Precedent, we must recognize the dynamics of the Elephants in the Room and formulate plans as a community to ensure we take them into account as we discuss and debate a “healthy” future for our economy, environment and community.

October News

MONTHLY CHANCE MEETINGS 

October 3, 5 - 7 pm @ Snake River Roasting Co. Cafe (50 West Broadway)

Please register below 

Sometimes all you need is the right connection and a little inspiration. Well, what are you waiting for? Find both at our free monthly networking event. You never know...

REGISTER FOR CHANCE MEETINGS

Theme: Pitch Day Sneak Preview

Our signature event of the year, Pitch Day features local entrepreneurs showcasing their innovative and creative businesses to a panel of esteemed judges and a live audience. Cash prizes will be awarded in three categories. This year's entrepreneurs are disrupting traditional business models in the areas of single use plastics, sustainable housing, snack foods, health care, and outdoor apparel.

Join us for a Pitch Day sneak preview on Monday, October 3rd from 5 - 7 pm at Snake River Roasting Co. Cafe to hear about the coaching process and progress made leading up to the big event.

Pitch Day is free to attend and open to the public. "Shark Tank, Teton Style" will be held on Wednesday, October 19th from 5:00 - 8:00 pm at Center for the Arts. Please register for Pitch Day below.

REGISTER FOR PITCH DAY

NEWS AND NOTES

SEPTEMBER VISIONARY VENTURES: MANY GIFTS CAN BE REALIZED FROM MENTORING

Our most recent Visionary Ventures column features dedicated and passionate TEAMS mentor, Bill Haaland. 

"There’s nothing more thrilling than a new business and a new business person grabbing onto their idea and trying to do something with it,” asserts Haaland. “I get goosebumps just talking about it.”

While Haaland gives generously of his time and expertise to young entrepreneurs, he feels he’s also a beneficiary in the process. Click on the button below to read more about the gifts of mentoring. 

READ THE FULL COLUMN

WELCOME NEW TRUSTEES

A warm welcome to new Silicon Couloir Super Trustees Jeff and Caren Hendren. Many thanks for your generous commitment to supporting entrepreneurship in the Teton region.

Jeff Hendren is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Siris Capital, which was launched in 2011. Jeff helped establish the Firm’s investment strategy, which focuses on driving value creation in mature technology companies with mission-critical products and services, facing industry changes or other significant transitions. Prior to founding Siris, Jeff served as a Managing Director at Ripplewood Holdings LLC, a global private equity firm. He started his career at Georgia Pacific and was a member of the mergers and acquisitions group of Goldman Sachs. Jeff earned an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a B.Sc. from Indiana University.

ANNOUNCING NEW BOARD MEMBERS

Silicon Couloir welcomes two new board members. Thank you to Rishi Kumar, SC Trustee, and Kelli Jones, TEAMS participant, for volunteering your time, talent, and leadership to the organization.

Kelli Jones is an entrepreneur, inventor, industry leader, community builder, and Founder/CEO
of Noso Patches, a sustainable company that creates solutions to keep your gear in use. To
date, Noso Patches has diverted over 25 million pounds of textiles from the landfill through
easy-to-use repair patches.

Prior to starting Noso, in 2016, Kelli’s background ranges from leading therapy programs to
crunching numbers as an accountant. From skiing the backcountry in Jackson Hole, Wyoming to
competing in triathlons in the Rocky Mountains, she determined to live a life full of adventure
and purpose.

Rishi Kumar is one part engineer and one part financier. He is an MIT trained computer scientist who spent many years as a bond derivatives trader on Wall Street before founding two financial technology companies. As Founder and Co-CEO of Kashable, an employee financial wellness platform, he is now looking to use the same talents to drive social and financial impact in the lives of Working Americans. Rishi’s companies have provided $2 billion in financing to underserved small businesses and consumers.

REGISTER NOW FOR 22 IN 21: HOW HEALTHY ARE WE

22 in 21: Jackson Hole in the 21st Century, is our region’s premier forum for considering where we are, where we are going, and how we might create the future we want. This year’s theme is “22 in 21: How Healthy Are We?”

“22 in 21: How Healthy Are We?” draws from the Vision Statement of the Jackson/Teton County Comp Plan: “Preserve and protect the area’s ecosystem in order to ensure a healthy environment, community and economy for current and future generations.”

But what is a healthy environment? A healthy community? A healthy economy? How healthy are ours? How do we know? Without clear answers to these questions, it will be difficult for us to achieve the future we want.

Given how the COVID pandemic has accelerated the pace of growth and change in the Tetons region, answering these questions is critical. This year’s 22 in 21 will begin that process.

What: 22 in 21: How Healthy Are We?
When: Wednesday, October 5; 10:00am - 5:00 pm, with a social hour to follow
Where: Snow King Resort
Cost: $100 (includes lunch and the social hour)

REGISTER FOR 22 IN 21

SUPPORT HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE TETON REGION

Please help Central Wyoming College, a valued partner of Silicon Couloir, find a permanent home for higher education opportunities in Teton County. CWC will be on the ballot this fall with a proposed SPET funded project to build a new Jackson campus. CWC's new home will bolster science and STEM programming, diversity health and wellness offerings, increase entrepreneurship and business programs, increase outdoor certifications, and enable the college to respond to student and community needs.

READ MORE

FIRSTS, EXPLORATION & CHOOSING YOUR JOURNEY: A CONVERSATION WITH TORI MURDEN McCLURE

Annie Morita, SC Board Member and Trustee will be in conversation with Tori Murden McClure on October 4th at 7 pm at Center for the Arts. Don't miss this opportunity to be inspired by a remarkable leader, athlete, and author. 

Tori Murden McClure is no stranger to trail blazing. With exceptional courage, vision, and determination she has many notable "firsts." She was the first woman and first American to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She was the first woman and first American to ski the geographic South Pole, and the first woman to climb the Lewis Nunatak in the Antarctic. And as President of Spalding University, a position she has held since 2010, she led the Kentucky-based Catholic university to certification as the world’s first compassionate university. 

Womentum is offering a special discount to the Silicon Couloir community. Use promo code "NOLS" for 30% off. 

BUY TICKETS

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.

Share

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Many gifts can be realized from business mentoring

Many gifts can be realized from business mentoring

By Rebecca Reimers

There’s nothing more thrilling than a new business and a new business person grabbing onto their idea and trying to do something with it,” asserts Bill Haaland, Silicon Couloir TEAMS mentor. “I get goosebumps just talking about it.”

A serial entrepreneur, Bill doesn’t take the opportunity to pursue dreams for granted.

Haaland’s LinkedIn profile is telling: Business builder and leader / founder / consultant / contributor / changer / outdoor enthusiast. This is a person who is clearly looking to make a difference and who isn’t afraid of taking risks.

Following a long and successful career as a CEO in the financial insurance sector then as a founder of a business process outsourcing company, Haaland and wife Nancy relocated to the valley from Oklahoma City in August of 2018. Following a visit that same June they were certain they had found their new home. Two years ago he became an entrepreneur yet again with the establishment of Valley Rock Capital, a real estate finance brokerage founded in partnership with his son, George.

Haaland quickly found his tribe in Silicon Couloir, where he has been a dedicated and valued member in our mentoring program: Teton Entrepreneurs and Mentoring Services — TEAMS. Haaland previously served as a coach and judge for an innovation organization pitch event in the Midwest. Now he volunteers on three mentoring teams, two of which he leads.

Strong mentors have played a significant role in Haaland’s own life. His father passed away when he was only 22, at “about the time when a mentor would be useful.” He found role models in both his father-in-law and grandfather. He recalls watching his grandfather, who taught by example, patiently prepare to saw plywood by carefully moving the cord into the correct position for a successful outcome. That simple lesson has become a metaphor for the importance of taking the time to lay the foundation with proper preparation for a quality and enjoyable result.

While Haaland gives generously of his time and expertise to young entrepreneurs, he feels that he’s also the beneficiary in the process.

“There’s an element that’s selfish to my involvement with Silicon Couloir,” he said. “It’s exceedingly valuable to be around and immersed in it and to get to rub elbows with this group. It’s entirely motivating.”

His excitement is palpable as he describes the background diversity and depth of his fellow mentors: “I would imagine the intellectual capital at Silicon Couloir would rival anything in the country.”

Beyond Haaland’s substantial professional experience, he brings an infectious and genuine interest in people. He’s a networker by nature. If he meets you at an event, don’t be surprised if he calls you for a coffee get-together.

He often asks new acquaintances to introduce him to friends. He truly wants to learn about others and share ideas — a refreshing take in today’s increasingly divided and screen-dominated society.

“The more we’re connected,” he says, “the better everything works.” Experience has taught him that the payoff is so much greater than the risk of rejection.

Haaland is an advocate for inperson meetings. Zoom is convenient, but that pales in comparison to the in-themoment volley of ideas and strategies that can be realized in the best person-to-person interactions.

Haaland is also a collaborator. When asked what characteristics make for a good mentor, mentioned the willingness and importance of checking the ego.

In TEAMS a group of three to four mentors meets with the venture founder, who creates an agenda based on challenges and needs. The result is robust conversation and problemsolving from a variety of perspectives and approaches. Mentors work as a group to give the best guidance possible to the mentee based on a range of experiences.

“The last thing we want is the entrepreneur to be overwhelmed by a dominant personality,” Haaland said.

In a very real sense this openness to new ideas and perspectives gives mentors like Haaland as much opportunity to learn as the mentees.

“There’s just so much to be gained and shared,” he said. “The issues we face as business people are the same, whether it’s a little business or a huge business ... you’re equally valid.”

“We all learn in different ways,” Haaland said when asked about the value of TEAMS to the entrepreneur. “The opportunity for these entrepreneurs to hear business theories, principles and ideas from different perspectives is so much more valuable than if it were just one of us.” In the midst of the chaos of starting a business, taking the time to lay the foundation is crucial. The mentor group is able to stand back and see the bigger picture, so entrepreneurs can focus and deliver on their promise. Haaland is acutely aware of the challenges facing the Teton region.

“A community with socioeconomic diversity is healthier than one without. Doing whatever we can to generate jobs and help families to stay here is one of the ways we can help,” Haaland said. “That’s why I think Silicon Couloir is so important.”

TEAMS is adding new companies every month.

Those interested in being a part of the program as a mentor or a mentee can visit SiliconCouloir.com/teamsmentoring.

September News

MONTHLY CHANCE MEETINGS 

September 12, 2022,  5 - 7 pm @ Snake River Roasting Co. Cafe (50 West Broadway)

NOTE NEW LOCATION

Please register below 

Sometimes all you need is the right connection and a little inspiration. Well, what are you waiting for? Find both at our free monthly networking event. You never know...

Theme: Tools and Strategies for Effective Management

Effective staff management is more than making schedules and delegating tasks—It takes vision, leadership, and diligence. Join us for Chance Meetings on Monday, September 12th from 5-7 pm for a talk from Silicon Couloir board members and proven business experts Cynthia Blankenship and Tom Quantrille. Cynthia and Tom will impart both practical and actionable management skills necessary for creating an aligned, productive, and efficient team. Topics covered will include:

• Setting clear expectations with staff

• Defining & refining company values

• Living those values and making them the cornerstone of your company

• How and why to give constructive feedback

PLEASE NOTE OUR LOCATION THIS MONTH IS THE SNAKE RIVER ROASTING COMPANY CAFE LOCATED AT 50 WEST BROADWAY JUST DOWNSTAIRS FROM THE ROSE.

NEWS AND NOTES

OLD BILLS  SEASON IS HERE & WE NEED YOUR HELP! 

Silicon Couloir works toward a vibrant and diverse Teton region economy by empowering entrepreneurs and helping them realize their professional dreams. We offer an array of free to low-cost programs designed to assist ventures at every stage of development, from founding to funding. Our ecosystem companies create sustainable, year-round and high paying jobs, enabling ambitious and creative individuals to remain in the area.

Our world-class programs include TEAMS, Pitch Day, Angel Investing Group, Chance Meetings, Start-Up Success, and The Cowork Space, all of which require significant resources to plan, administer, and execute. As a 501c3 nonprofit, we are supported 100% by community donations from people like you who want to see their entrepreneurial neighbors succeed. 

If you appreciate the investment Silicon Couloir makes in our community please support our work through Old Bill’s Fun Run. Your gift will be leveraged with a generous match from the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole CoChallengers. Donate from now until Friday, September 16th at 5pm.

COUNT ME IN!

POLISHING THE PITCH FOR OCTOBER 19TH

Our five fantastic finalists are hard at work prepping for Pitch Day 2022. Don't miss the entrepreneurial event of the year on Wednesday, October 19th from 5-8 pm at Center for the Arts. Reception to follow the main event. The completion will be live streamed for those who can't attend in person. Though Pitch Day is free to attend and open to the public, we ask that you kindly register by clicking the button below.
Overview Coffee, founder by Alex Yoder, goes beyond organic with regenerative agriculture.

REGISTER FOR PITCH DAY

REGISTER NOW FOR 22 IN 21: HOW HEALTHY ARE WE

22 in 21: Jackson Hole in the 21st Century, is our region’s premier forum for considering where we are, where we are going, and how we might create the future we want. This year’s theme is “22 in 21: How Healthy Are We?”

“22 in 21: How Healthy Are We?” draws from the Vision Statement of the Jackson/Teton County Comp Plan: “Preserve and protect the area’s ecosystem in order to ensure a healthy environment, community and economy for current and future generations.”

But what is a healthy environment? A healthy community? A healthy economy? How healthy are ours? How do we know? Without clear answers to these questions, it will be difficult for us to achieve the future we want.

Given how the COVID pandemic has accelerated the pace of growth and change in the Tetons region, answering these questions is critical. This year’s 22 in 21 will begin that process.

What: 22 in 21: How Healthy Are We?
When: Wednesday, October 5; 10:00am - 5:00 pm, with a social hour to follow
Where: Snow King Resort
Cost: $100 (includes lunch and the social hour)

REGISTER FOR 22 IN 21

AUGUST VISIONARY VENTURES: AHH, THE JOY OF HAVING A BUSINESS PLAN

Maligned. Necessary. Reviled. Revealing. Too much work. High priority. Low priority...the much loved and much hated business plan. In our September edition of Visionary Ventures, Gary Trauner brings clarity to the importance of a business plan, the elements it should contain and why a seeming “academic” exercise should be a key part of any entrepreneur’s journey.

READ THE COLUMN HERE

ENTREPRENEUR HAPPENINGS

Big congratulations to Mia Share, 2021 Pitch Day Panelist and Audience Choice award winner, on the opening of their new office in Jackson! Mia Share connects students and schools to the future of fair education payments through income share agreements, payment plans and other custom payment solutions.

Ik'splôr, Co-Founded by Karissa Akin and Kailey Gieck, has been accepted as a finalists into the Title Nine Pitchfest, which will be held in early September. They are busy preparing with the help of two Pitchfest coaches from Good Morning America.

WELCOME TO NEW TRUSTEES

A warm welcome to new Silicon Couloir Trustees. Thank you to LizAnn Eisen, Todd Foley, and Salim Mitha your generous commitment to supporting entrepreneurship in the Teton region.

LizAnn Eisen retired as a corporate partner from Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP at the end of 2018. She spent more than twenty years focusing on public and private corporate finance transactions, mergers & acquisitions, corporate governance and liability management transactions. Since then, LizAnn has been an adjunct faculty member and senior lecturer at Cornell University/Cornell Tech (teaching law and MBA students), University of Oregon Law School and Tel Aviv University Law School. From January 2022 to August 2022, LizAnn served as the Deputy Director, Disclosure Operations, in the Division of Corporation Finance at the SEC. There she led a team of over 350 people responsible for overseeing US public company disclosure.

Todd Foley moved full-time to Alta, WY in 2020. He is a partner in the venture capital firm MPM Capital, which he joined in 1999. His focus is on founding and investing in biotech startups working to develop new drugs to treat unmet medical needs. He serves on a number of MPM portfolio company boards, including Aktis Oncology (Chairman and co-founder), CODA Bio, Crossbow Therapeutics (Chairman and co-founder), Entrada Therapeutics (NASDAQ: TRDA), Repare Therapeutics (NASDAQ: RPTX), and Tetherex Inc. He previously served on the board of Semma Therapeutics, a potentially curative diabetes cell-therapy company founded by Doug Melton at Harvard, which was acquired by Vertex for $950M in 2019 in one of the largest ever preclinical M&A deals. He guided Selexys Pharmaceuticals to an acquisition by Novartis for $665M in 2016. Later, Novartis launched the Selexys drug, Adakveo™ in late 2019 to treat sickle cell disease. Todd earned his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and his B.S. in Chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

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.

2022 PROGRESS REPORT ~ BY THE NUMBERS

✶  8 Chance Meetings
✶  407 attendees
✶  2,927 newsletter subscribers
✶ 16,476 newsletter opens

✶  41 companies mentored 
✶  483 volunteer hours May-Sept
✶  161 mentor meetings
✶ 51 mentors

✶  50 members ea. summer month
✶  500+ additional sq. feet added
 

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!

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.

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Ahh, the joy of having a business plan

Ahh, the joy of having a business plan

By Gary Trauner

When I work with entrepreneurs, I tell them the two traits that are most essential to success are tenacity and focus.

Today’s column will detail the latter — focus — and one of the best tools available to help entrepreneurs find, keep and maintain the requisite focus needed to succeed. That tool? The business plan.

Maligned. Necessary. Reviled. Revealing. Too much work. High priority. Low priority.

For those starting a venture, where does the venerable business plan (“BP”) fit into their plans for a successful undertaking? I’ll attempt to bring some clarity to the importance of a BP, the elements it should contain and why a seeming “academic” exercise should be a key part of any entrepreneur’s journey. Let’s start with the basics. What actually is a BP? In simple terms, it’s a written document that lays out the future of your venture. In essence it is a forward-looking effort to understand, predict and put in place strategies and tactics to help you succeed in your venture. If you and a co-founder scribble notes or a paragraph on a napkin at lunch with your thoughts and ideas, you’ve essentially created a BP. Of course the legendary “back of the napkin” plan is almost universally too rudimentary and insufficient for any serious venture.

While this column doesn’t provide enough space to get into the details, a comprehensive BP should include the following topics (note, this is not an exhaustive list of what should be included): executive summary, business description, problem/solution, revenue model, market definition, market share, marketing/promotion strategy, product distribution (if relevant), quantitative financial projections, analysis of competition, personnel, risk assessment/management, operations, organizational structure.

Yes, the topic list seems daunting, but trust me, it’s worth exploring and analyzing each subject area.

Perhaps the most frequent response I get from entrepreneurs when I mention the importance of putting together a BP, is some version of “Do I really have to do that? I’m super busy and it seems like a waste of time when I’ve got so many other things to do.” I get it. Starting a new venture generally requires more time than hours in a day. But in my experience (and I’ve written too many BPs to count), there are several important and valid reasons to take the time to write a comprehensive BP. Let’s touch on a few: Viability. Every entrepreneur starting a new venture believes they’ve identified a product or service that will provide an acceptable financial return in exchange for their efforts. Working through the aspects of a BP should give the founder and their team a much better feel (based on empirical data) for the true viability and prospects of their endeavor.

Risk assessment. Part of writing a BP is consideration of the problem you want to solve, the solution you are offering, and the viability of that solution in the marketplace (i.e., will consumers pay for your solution to a problem they are dealing with). As you move through this aspect of the process, you should be getting a much more refined idea of the risk level involved in your endeavor.

Core competencies. An integral aspect of “focus” is ensuring that you stick to core competencies as your venture grows. By nature, entrepreneurs are seemingly always looking for that next opportunity, searching for that next problem to solve. Working through a BP should provide the entrepreneur with a better understanding of the core mission, the strengths of the team they’ve assembled, and the main solution to the identified problem. Staying focused on core competency is critical to success — many ventures fail when they spread their attention and efforts too thin in an effort to grab for the latest and shiniest brass ring.

Now that I’ve laid out the reason why a BP makes good sense, I’ll add an unfortunate coda: More often than not, within the first six months or so of operationalizing your venture, you can take a large percentage of that detailed BP and throw it out the window.

Why? Well, maybe the market is sending signals that your product or service needs to be changed. Perhaps potential investors don’t agree with your problem/solution premise. Maybe the competition is different than you expected and you need to pivot to something else. There are a host of reasons.

That said, if you’ve devoted the time, effort and thought in a BP for your venture, you’ll have a better understanding of market dynamics and will be more to adjust to what the market is signaling.

Maintaining focus is essential to the success of any new venture. A well-researched and thought out BP can serve as the roadmap and reference document that allows entrepreneurs to keep their “eyes on the prize” and increase the odds of a successful outcome.

August News

MONTHLY CHANCE MEETINGS 

August 1, 2022,  5 - 7 pm @The Alpine Civic Center
121 US-89, Alpine

Please register below 

Sometimes all you need is the right connection and a little inspiration. Well, what are you waiting for? Find both at our free monthly networking event. You never know...

As a Teton regional nonprofit, Silicon Couloir views Alpine, WY as an essential part of our service area and community. Please join us for our very first Chance Meetings at the Alpine Civic Center on Monday, August 1st from 5-7 pm to celebrate our Alpine entrepreneurs. Hear elevator pitches from the founders of Blaze Controller, DMOS Collective, ILLA, Melvin Brewing, Mountainist, and The Worm Cowboy. Enjoy a complimentary beer from Melvin Brewing, and pursue the goods and services these ventures offer.

REGISTER FOR CHANCE MEETINGS

NEWS AND NOTES

PITCH DAY FINALIST SELECTED

Silicon Couloir’s 11th Annual Pitch Day will be held on Wednesday, October 19th from 5 - 8 PM MDT at the Center for the Arts in Jackson, WY. Pitch Day, which is free and open to the public, is a chance to be inspired by your entrepreneurial neighbors and learn about the latest up-and-coming companies in the Teton region. 

It was another tough year for the selection committee. Following excellent pitches from all of our applicants, the committee winnowed it down to six finalists. Silicon Couloir is proud to announce the following diverse and compelling group of regional ventures.

Avant is a reusable packaging service for corporations and residential consumers. Avant replaces common single use packaging with assets with more durable packaging that can be reused up to 1,000 times and is priced below the cost of single use.

Beyond Efficiency is a team of progressive engineers and architects empowering people to create enduring human-centered buildings. Beyond Efficiency provides building consulting, research, program, and policy development services, which are leverages to create knowledge products to scale solutions and accelerate impact.

Naughty Fruit uses natural dehydration techniques that preserve the nutritional qualities of fresh fruit, we bring convenient, travel-ready snack.

Remo Health is a virtual care provider offering comprehensive, accessible dementia care. All in one place.

Rinord builds an intentionally designed system of high performance outdoor apparel that helps you thrive in dynamic environments all year round.

Sego Ski Co. is a ski manufacturer based in Victor, Idaho. Sego Skis offers the best in hand-made big mountain, twin tip, powder, and all-mountain skis.

JULY VISIONARY VENTURES: CHOSE THE RIGHT BUSINESS STRUCTURE

After months of hard work, you finally have a product or service tested diligently with market research and a launch plan. Now comes the time to officially register your business. State registration requires a designated structure, a decision that should be made based on the goals of the founder. Will you be a solopreneur or are there multiple partners? Are loans needed from financial institutions? Do you plan to go public someday? The answers to these and other questions can help guide you in choosing the appropriate structure. In this column we look at the most common types of for profit companies and how each influences business operations, ability to raise funds, taxation, and personal liability.

READ THE COLUMN HERE

WELCOME TO NEW TRUSTEE VIJAY KARIA

A warm welcome to Vijay Karia, our newest Silicon Couloir Trustee. Thank you Vijay for your generous commitment to supporting entrepreneurship in the Teton region.

Vijay Karia is a seasoned technology executive with 15+ years of experience in data, web, mobile, software, and hardware development.  He currently serves as the Chief Digital Officer for Connect America, North America’s largest provider of digital health and safety for seniors.  He is responsible for leading the product roadmap, new product development and innovation efforts for the company.

Before joining Connect America, Vijay served as the Director of Technology and PMO at KGB, a private equity company that has built some of the most well-known brands in the United Kingdom and France.  During Vijay’s tenure at KGB, he helped develop a growth strategy, launched new consumer products in the United States and Europe as well as constructed and managed teams to implement data infrastructure and platform architecture.  While at KGB, he also managed engineering, project management, data warehousing, and global product management teams in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Switzerland and the Philippines. Prior to KGB, Vijay served as a Product Manager at the New York Stock Exchange, where he was responsible for successfully replacing critical alerting systems on the NYSE trading floor.

Before his career in technology, Vijay was a professional tennis player on the men’s ATP circuit.  Vijay also holds a BSBA degree from Boston University Questrom School of Business, and has studied Computer Science at NYU.

SEGO SKI CO. JOINS TEAMS

We're pleased to welcome Sego Ski Co. into our TEAMS program. TEAMS powered by volunteer mentors, accelerate the development of entrepreneurs. Each selected venture is assigned a team of 3-5 mentors with one lead mentor. This group of mentors meets in person with the company founder for 90-minute sessions. Meetings are on an as-needed basis, are cost-free, and center on an agenda provided by the entrepreneur.

            DMOS NAMED A SEMI-FINALIST IN SEMA                LAUNCH PAD 2022

DMOS has been named one of fifteen semi-finalists in the 10th annual SEMA Launch Pad 2022 competition. The fifteen semifinalists were chosen from a vast array of applicants who presented impressive sales pitches, interactive demonstrations, amazing product innovations, and answered tough questions from four massively successful industry leaders serving as this year’s Launch Pad judging panel.

Each semifinalist will receive a one-year SEMA membership, and a complimentary booth in the SEMA Launch Pad Pavilion at the 2022 SEMA Show in November in Las Vegas.

Five finalists, who will be announced later this year, will advance to pitch their products live to the audience at the 2022 SEMA Show, where they will compete for a grand prize with a total value of up to $92,000.

Susan Pieper, CEO of DMOS Collective, a SEMA semi-finalist, lined up with
the other contestants.

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.

THANK YOU TO OUR SILICON COULOIR SPONSORS

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You need to start with the right business structure

July Visionary Ventures: You need to start with the right business structure

By Rebecca Reimers

After months of hard work, you finally have a product or service tested diligently with market research and a launch plan. Now comes the time to officially register your business. State registration requires a designated structure, a decision that should be made based on the goals of the founder.

Will you be a solopreneur or are there multiple partners? Are loans needed from financial institutions? Do you plan to go public someday? The answers to these and other questions can help guide you in choosing the appropriate structure. In this column we’ll look at the most common types of for-profit companies and how each influences business operations, ability to raise funds, taxation and personal liability.

A sole proprietorship is simple to form for a single owner and allows for complete control of the business with few legal requirements. This structure has the benefit of “pass through” taxation, meaning business revenue is taxed once on the owner’s personal tax return. However, sole proprietorships do not result in a separate legal business entity. Thus there is no asset or liability protection to the owner, exposing the founder to lawsuits or personal bankruptcy. As a result, banks will consider a loan to be higher risk. Professional insurance may provide some level of protection for those providing a service.

Partnerships establish a business enterprise through a legally binding contract between two or more owners and are much like a sole proprietorship. Owners are not separate entities from the business, so do not gain any liability protection, but do benefit from pass-through taxation. Partnerships are common for professional groups like attorneys or doctors.

A limited liability company provides the advantages of both a corporation and a partnership structure. As referenced in the name, LLCs protect the owner(s) from personal liability, meaning personal assets are generally, but not always, shielded in the case of bankruptcy or lawsuits. In addition, LLCs benefit from pass through income, so tax rates may be lower than with a C corporation. One disadvantage of LLCs over corporations is that an LLC can’t raise funds via a sale of company shares. LLCs in Wyoming have both perpetual life and transferability of ownership — not the case in all states.

A corporation is a legal entity that’s separate from its owners and offers unlimited, for-profit growth potential through the issuance and sale of shares. Much like an individual, corporations can make a profit, be taxed, and can be held legally liable. This structure provides the strongest level of protection for owners, but comes with significantly more stringent requirements for company organization, record-keeping and reporting.

There are several types of corporations: “C”, “S” and “B.” The difference between these variations is primarily in taxation, flexibility of ownership and corporate purpose. The most common type is a C corporation. C corps are primarily suited to larger companies and companies that want to raise capital through a variety of means. Unlike the above options, C corps are subject to “double taxation.” That is, the company itself is taxed on profits and shareholders are taxed on dividends, which are distributed to shareholders from company profits. If the ultimate goal is to become a public company, a C corp may make the most sense.

S corporations are another option under the corporate structure umbrella. From a tax perspective, S corps resemble sole proprietorships and partnerships in that profits “flow through” to the individual and are taxed at the individual’s tax rate on their tax return. S corporations are also more limited in flexibility of ownership, including limiting the total number of shareholders and the type of shareholder allowed (for example, individuals are allowed but not LLCs or trusts).

A benefit corporation, or B corp, is a type of for-profit corporation designated by the IRS with the dual goal of making a profit and doing public good. Traditionally, C corporations have had one goal — increasing shareholder value. Conversely, B corps require decision makers to widen their scope and consider impacts on employees, the community, society, and the environment. Directors enjoy an elevated level of legal protection for “triple bottom line” based decisions.

While B corps are different from C corps in mission, accountability and transparency, they are taxed in the same manner. Note that benefit corporations are created from state law and Wyoming does not legally acknowledge B corps. Therefore, companies seeking this designation must incorporate in a different state. Some states require B corps to submit annual benefit reports that demonstrate their contribution to the public good.

While this isn’t an exhaustive list and is not legal advice, we hope it gives you an overview of options for establishing your business. However, you should always consult a lawyer and other experts when making important decisions about your venture.

TEAMS Accepting New Ventures

TEAMS Accepting New Ventures

Entrepreneur support 501(c)(3) nonprofit Silicon Couloir is pairing local startups with accomplished volunteer mentors in a free program called TEAMS (Teton Entrepreneurs and Mentoring Service).

Piloted in early 2018 and launched in late 2019, TEAMS currently has 20 active ventures and more than 50 mentors. Each burgeoning company is paired with two to four mentors for regular 90-minute sessions. Companies are also keyed into the larger network and community of other ventures working through the process.

Director of Entrepreneurship Brittney Ziebell was recently able to see Highpoint Cider's founders show off their brick and mortar, at Silicon Couloir’s June Chance Meetings. “That was a special moment,” she said. “They made it through COVID and they're really blossoming.”

“Because the Silicon Couloir program is free, it's a no-brainer for new companies in their growth stage. Comparative consulting work can cost thousands,, which is out of reach for most early-stage ventures, “ notes Zibell. “Mentoring can have a huge impact on a company’s future, and it’s identified as one of the key factors in company success.”

TEAMS is currently recruiting new companies who are beyond the conceptual stage and ready for objective advice and guidance from expert business people and veteran entrepreneurs.

Experienced entrepreneurs are also encouraged to sign on as new mentors.

Embracing risk is a Jackson mantra, but unlike hucking off a cliff snowboarding, a leap into the world of entrepreneurship benefits greatly from a helpful hand.

TEAMS is based on the proven MIT Venture Mentor Services program.

“Some of the participating companies have been acquired or graduated from the intense growth phase where they need consistent mentor support, but it's never a closed door,” Ziebell said “They can always reach back out if they're at a point where they need more advice.'

Wyoming offers resources to entrepreneurs

June Visionary Ventures: Wyoming offers resources to entrepreneurs

By Rebecca Reimers

Wyoming is rich in minerals, vistas and wildlife, resources that have been the backbone of the state’s economy. We’ve learned the hard way, however, that resource extraction and tourism are not without impacts and boom-bust cycles.

While seasonal pressures in Jackson Hole spurred the formation of Silicon Couloir’s efforts to diversify our economy 11 years ago, the rest of the state has also recognized the need to invest in entrepreneurs and has created a growing infrastructure of resources and support.

I recently advised a friend seeking advisors to help grow her company. In addition to mentoring from Silicon Couloir, I suggested the Wyoming Small Business Development Center. She wasn’t previously aware of the organization but found it to be of great assistance.

The geographical challenges of Wyoming, coupled with the demands of building and running a company, may not allow founders to look beyond the day-to-day and understand the support available to them both within and beyond our community. This column will detail statewide assistance for entrepreneurs, all of which are also noted on the “Resources” page of the Silicon Couloir website, SiliconCouloir.com.

Silicon Couloir’s own mentoring program, TEAMS, has provided invaluable (and cost-free) guidance to dozens of Teton regional ventures. TEAMS is powered by volunteer mentors who are excited by innovation, ideas and problem-solving for ventures.

Mentors are overseen and supported by the Silicon Couloir staff and a few veteran mentors. Based on the proven MIT Venture Mentor Services program, each selected venture is assigned a team of two to four mentors with one lead mentor. This group of mentors meets in person with the company founder for 90-minute sessions. Meetings are on an as-needed basis and center on an agenda provided by the entrepreneur. Silicon Couloir is currently accepting applications for new ventures, which are selected based on growth potential, coachability and other factors.

The Small Business Development Center provides no-cost, confidential advising and technical assistance to help entrepreneurs start, grow, reinvent or exit their business.

The Wyoming Business Council offers infrastructure development grants to accommodate new and expanding businesses; recruits new companies to the state; provides small capital grants to startups; delivers expertise to small businesses; assists in the redevelopment of downtowns; participates with banks to fill the gap in business financing; and partners with nonprofits, local governments and local economic development organizations to assist in community and business projects. The Wyoming Department of Workforce Services Workforce Development Training Fund connects employers with professional development opportunities to increase employee skill attainment. Funding opportunities include business training grants, prehire grants, internship grants and apprenticeship grants. Businesses must have an established payroll to participate.

Not just for women, the Wyoming Women’s Business Center has a mission to enable and empower Wyoming entrepreneurs. It assists entrepreneurs, especially women who are economically or socially disadvantaged, through counseling, training and microfi nance programs to start or expand small businesses in the state of Wyoming. It strives to advance financial self-sufficiency by promoting economic justice and equality throughout the state.

The Silicon Couloir Angel Group hosts selected entrepreneurs who are raising equity financing. The group is composed of local angel investors and meets every two to three months. Interested companies and accredited investors can get involved through our Gust website linked on the Angel Group page of our website.

Breakthrough 307 is a program custom built around its participants, providing a constructive and supportive culture to cultivate dreams into real and profitable companies. Entrepreneurs have access to one another in a format that encourages idea and experience sharing to promote growth.

There’s also gBETA Cheyenne, a free, seven-week accelerator for earlystage companies with local roots. Each program is capped at five teams and requires no fees and no equity.

As you can see, while entrepreneurship often feels lonely, you are not alone. Forward-looking experts and advisors across the state want to help you succeed and grow your business.

June News

MONTHLY CHANCE MEETINGS 

June 6, 2022,  5 - 7 pm @The Victor Maker's Space (7565 Lupine Lane)

Please register below 

Sometimes all you need is the right connection and a little inspiration. Well, what are you waiting for? Find both at our free monthly networking event. You never know...

As a Teton regional nonprofit, Silicon Couloir views Teton Valley, ID, and Alpine, WY as essential parts of our service area and community. Please join us for our very first Chance Meetings in Victor, ID on June 6th from 5-7 pm to celebrate our Teton Valley entrepreneurs. Hear elevator pitches from the founders of Highpoint Cider, Franco Snowshapes, Sego Ski Co, Cultivate, and Naughty Fruit, enjoy a pint of freshly brewed cider, and tour the facilities of the Victor Maker's Space: Highpoint Cider, Franco Snowshapes, and Sego Ski Co. We're also pleased to announce that our August 1st Chance Meetings will be held in Alpine.

REGISTER FOR CHANCE MEETINGS

NEWS AND NOTES

          SILICON COULOIR HELPS         
FRANCO SNOWSHAPES THRIVE

Speaking of our Victor entrepreneurs...in this wonderful video created by Pope Productions, Mikey Franco, Founder and CEO of Franco Snowshapes, reflects on the Silicon Couloir programs—Pitch Day and TEAMS— that have helped him create a successful company. Mikey not only makes the world's best custom snowboards, he also provides jobs that support a thriving middle class. We're proud to assist Franco Snowshapes as they grow and flourish.

ENJOY MORE ENTREPRENEUR VIDEOS

WELCOME TO BRITTNEY ZIEBELL, DIRECTOR OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Silicon Couloir welcomes Brittney Ziebell as Director of Entrepreneurship. Ziebell joins a growing staff and group of volunteers working to support entrepreneurs in the Teton region. Ziebell serves as the primary point of contact for interaction with entrepreneurs, ventures, mentors, and other volunteers in SC programs, and oversees the operations of Teton Entrepreneurs & Mentoring Service (TEAMS) and Silicon Couloir’s Angel Group. 

“We are excited to be bringing someone of Brittney’s caliber on board, along with her experience in nonprofit leadership and organization,” says Gary Trauner, Executive Director. “As a nascent entrepreneur herself, Brittney has experienced firsthand the difference external support can make to those seeking to build something new. We’d also like to thank Will Stabler for his years of service and essential contribution to taking Silicon Couloir from an idea to an integral part of the Teton Region community.”

MORE HERE

ANNOUNCING THE SILICON COULOIR CAREER BOARD

If you are a local venture in the Silicon Couloir ecosystem and you're hiring for year-round, good-paying jobs we'd like to help. We're launching our Career Board webpage with FREE month-long listing for Teton regional job opportunities. To submit a posting, click on the link on the page, or on the image below.

MAY VISIONARY VENTURES: INCREASE YOUR ODDS WITH AN OPEN MIND

"For a budding entrepreneur, diversity of thought and perspective — and an openness to those inputs from others — is critical, if not foundational, to achieving success," explains Gary Trauner in Silicon Couloir's most recent JH News and Guide column on how to increase your odds by seeking a diversity of thought and changing course as needed.

READ THE COLUMN HERE

NEW VENTURES JOIN TEAMS

Three new companies have recently joined TEAMS, our cost-free proven mentorship program powered by 53 expert volunteer mentors. Avant Delivery, Naughty Fruit, and The Worm Cowboy join 19 companies currently being mentored in TEAMS. Congratulations to these companies for stepping up and doing the work to take their venture to the next level.

The local foods marketplace, delivered to your home in 100% reusable containers. A one stop shop for all of your favorite local producers and restaurant take out, without all the waste.

Using natural dehydration techniques that preserve the nutritional qualities of fresh fruit, we bring convenient, travel-ready snack.

Wrangling worms to compost waste into nature’s richest soil. We make composting easy for homes & businesses.

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.

THANK YOU TO OUR SILICON COULOIR SPONSORS

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Increase your odds with an open mind

May Visionary Ventures: Increase your odds with an open mind

By Gary Trauner

Those of you who’ve been reading Visionary Ventures since its inception might recognize that one of the themes that has run through these columns — both explicitly and implicitly — is that entrepreneurship is ... challenging, to say the least.

As an experienced entrepreneur myself, I tell anyone who is interested that my three inviolate rules of thumb for entrepreneurship are as follows:

1. It will take longer than you think.

2. It will cost more than you think.

3. It will require (way) more effort than you think.

For those willing to take on the challenge of starting and growing an organization/ venture, the rewards can be immense, measured internally by the satisfaction of attaining a desired goal, and externally by the likelihood of financial success along with contributing to the vibrancy of one’s community and society.

With that in mind, today’s column will look at one perhaps undervalued and under-noticed aspect of entrepreneurship that increases the chance of success for all entrepreneurs setting out on their journey: diversity of input.

You would have to be living in a cave to not be aware of the discussion happening in our society around “DEI”, otherwise known as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Those conversations are critically important to have because, hopefully, they result in concrete policies that provide every person with appropriate opportunity. That’s a somewhat fraught discussion for another column on another day.

For a budding entrepreneur, diversity of thought and perspective — and an openness to those inputs from others — is critical, if not foundational, to achieving success.

So let’s take a quick look at the general evolution of an entrepreneurial venture.

First, it starts as an idea in the mind of one or more people to solve a problem that, in their view, isn’t being addressed. In many instances the next step is to run the idea by friends, peers and others the founders respect to determine if the idea is valid. Next, if the idea is a “go,” a good entrepreneur will take the time to put together a business plan.

This plan may vary widely in its scope and detail, but can include looking at all or some of the following: the feasibility of the concept, market potential, market size, existing competition, financial viability, ability to put together an expert team, how to market the concept to potential customers, and other aspects of the proposed venture. If there are no insurmountable roadblocks in the above-mentioned steps, the founders will likely move forward into the execution and operational phase of transforming an idea into an operating venture.

Back to my premise. Why the need for openness to diversity of thought and perspective?

Well, most entrepreneurs are extremely passionate about their concept and venture. It is, after all, their “baby” and an initiative that tends to consume their lives while they are engaged in working to make it succeed. However, that passion and all-consuming desire to succeed can lead to stubbornness and blind spots; to a “my way or the highway” mind-set (“after all, it was my idea”); to a tendency to ignore market dynamics, empirical evidence, and data that might suggest a different approach is needed, or a modification in the direction of some aspect of the venture. I would argue this is one of the most common fatal flaws that can doom a new venture. In mentoring entrepreneurs, I always recommend writing a business plan, even though I also tell them that six months or so down the road, in all likelihood, they can take their plan and throw 75% of it out the window (I often get pushback because some believe it’s a waste of time and that they should be moving forward instead). Why do I recommend this? Because taking the time to set down all aspects of a concept, and consulting others with expertise and experience while doing so, is, in my view, one of the best ways to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the proposed venture. Because being open to testing assumptions and projections will always result in a greater chance of success.

At Silicon Couloir one of the key traits we look at in individuals who apply to take part in our programs is coachability. Simply put, this means we look for people who are open and willing to entertain different points of view. While rare, we have turned down applicants who we don’t believe are willing to genuinely accept honest feedback and input. Because we know from experience that mindset is a serious red flag.

So how can entrepreneurs ensure receiving diversity of thought? As previously mentioned, they can, and should, write a business plan while actively soliciting outside input. They can, and should, put together an advisory board or board of directors with specific industry expertise and outside perspectives. They can work with professional coaches with expertise in aspects of their venture or general experience and success in the private sector. They can, and should, hire competent team members who are willing to provide honest and open feedback (no sycophants need apply).

Starting a new venture is challenging in the best of circumstances. Being open to diversity of thought and experience is one of the best ways to increase the odds of rewarding and successful endeavor in the long run.

Silicon Couloir Welcomes Director of Entrepreneurship

Silicon Couloir (SC) is pleased to welcome Brittney Ziebell as Director of Entrepreneurship effective May 18th. Ziebell joins a growing staff and group of volunteers working to support entrepreneurs in the Teton region. Ziebell will serve as the primary point of contact for interaction with entrepreneurs, ventures, mentors, and other volunteers in SC programs, and will oversee the operations of Teton Entrepreneurs & Mentoring Service (TEAMS) and Silicon Couloir’s Angel Group. 

“We are excited to be bringing someone of Brittney’s caliber on board, along with her experience in nonprofit leadership and organization,” says Gary Trauner, Executive Director. “As a nascent entrepreneur herself, Brittney has experienced firsthand the difference external support can make to those seeking to build something new. We’d also like to thank Will Stabler for his years of service and essential contribution to taking Silicon Couloir from an idea to an integral part of the Teton Region community.”

Originally from New Hampshire, Ziebell grew up alpine ski racing in the White Mountains. After graduating from Colby College where she was a NCAA Division 1 ski racer, she moved west, and she's called Jackson her home for over six years. Since 2016, Ziebell worked at the Jackson Hole Ski & Snowboard Club as Marketing & Events Manager and Development Director. She helped the JHSC raise funds through their many community events and through various campaigns in support of their mission of building champions in sport and life through winter sports. An entrepreneur herself, Brittney also runs an art business, and co-produced an award-winning short documentary, Latitude, in 2020. Since dabbling in screenwriting and narration, Brittney has begun assisting businesses with storytelling campaigns that go beyond the product or service. 

"I'm thrilled to join the Silicon Couloir team, and to help bolster entrepreneurship opportunities in our community that serve the middle-class," says Ziebell.

Ziebell follows outgoing staff member Will Stabler who has been instrumental in growing TEAMS. Stabler recently relocated and is pursuing professional opportunities in his new home. “I've truly enjoyed working to develop an entrepreneurial ecosystem in one of the most cherished parts of the world,” states Stabler. “Thank you to the founders, mentors, investors, and community members who contribute such valuable time and energy to our programming. Brittney is a longstanding member of our community and will bring great perspective and nonprofit experience to our team.”

May News

MONTHLY CHANCE MEETINGS 

May 2, 2022,  5 - 7 pm @The Rose

Please register below 

Sometimes all you need is the right connection and a little inspiration. Well, what are you waiting for? Find both at our free monthly networking event. You never know...

We are pleased to welcome you back to in-person Chance Meetings at The Rose (50 W Broadway in Jackson). Join us from 5-7 pm on Monday, May 2nd for Speed Networking. Designed to accelerate business contacts through 3-minute introductions and conversations, speed networking is lively, fun, and will expand your community and connections. So, bring your business cards, a pen, and paper, and be ready to meet new friends in the Silicon Couloir ecosystem. Please register below.
THANK YOU TO THE ROSE FOR HOSTING CHANCE MEETINGS!

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NEWS AND NOTES

ORCHESTRA PROVISIONS GETS A BOOST FROM
SILICON COULOIR

Kate Stoddard, Founder and CEO of Orchestra Provisions, is working to create solutions to global hunger. Silicon Couloir is supporting Kate's work with our Pitch Day and TEAMS programs. In this short video Kate recounts how Pitch Day and TEAMS has accelerated her company's growth. See more entrepreneur stories in our 2021 Annual Report.

APRIL VISIONARY VENTURES: REALIZE YOUR DREAM WITH START-UP SUCCESS

Over the past nine years, Sandy Hessler and Liza Millet have taught and coached more than 300 students. 13 more students joined that fortunate group with our spring offering of Start-Up Success: Fundamentals. In our April edition of Visionary Ventures, Sandy and Liza discuss their motivation to teach and the new heights students achieve with the foundation the course provides.

READ THE COLUMN HERE

MIA SHARE IS HIRING

Mia Share, 2021 Pitch Day Panelist and Audience Choice award winner, is hiring for a range of positions with competitive salaries, benefits & equity! Join a 10-person growing, dynamic and well-funded FinTech startup based right here in the Tetons. Mia Share connects students with trade and technical schools to the future of fair education payments. Products include income share agreements, payment plans, other custom payment solutions & career services. Mia Share is focused on high-value education and improving people's lives. Make sure to text Josh (Founder) when you apply or if you have questions: 307 203 7202.

APPLY HERE

HIGHPOINT CIDER DOUBLES PRODUCTION 

Highpoint Cider recently expanded its storage and production capacity by splitting a unit with Sego skis to store kegs and cans, acquiring another full 1500 square foot unit next to the taproom for final product storage, and adding 2 80 barrel fermentation tanks to double monthly production capacity. Alex & Andrew are also excited to announce that Highpoint Cider has brought on a full-time assistant cider maker, and will be available in Yellowstone National Park and Utah in the coming weeks!

Stop in for a fresh pint of cider at 7565 Lupine Ln in Victor. And mark your calendar for our June Chance Meetings at the same location, which along with Franco Snowshapes and Sego Skis, constitutes the Victor Makers Space.

If you want to learn more about Highpoint Cider's origins and how Silicon Couloir has supported the Perex brothers with our TEAMS program, watch this video.

GIVE'R TO EXPAND TO VICTOR AND CREATE NEW JOBS

After a decade in business in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Give'r will expand its operations to Victor, Idaho. Give’r has purchased a building in Victor that will allow for increased production and fulfillment of online sales. The new building is considered an expansion not a replacement, of Give’r Headquarters in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The expansion is planned to bring up to 50 well-paying jobs to Teton Valley by 2023.

Give’r was launched in 2012 by current CEO Bubba Albrecht and friends Carly Platt and Jed Mickle. Upon Platt’s and Mickle’s departures, Albrecht embraced being in the trenches before launching Give’rs record-breaking Kickstarter campaigns. Since then, Give’r has grown to over 25 employees and continues to release new products.

The expansion to Victor is a significant step towards the ambitious goals set by Albrecht and co-owner Bill Watkins to make Give’r a household name connected with longevity, inspiration, and creativity.

A participant in the inaugural Start-Up Intensive class and one of Silicon Couloir's first TEAMS program companies, we've been proud to support Bubba and his crew along the way.

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.

THANK YOU TO OUR SILICON COULOIR SPONSORS

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