Silicon Couloir accepting Pitch Day 2019 venture applications

Mark your calendar for Silicon Couloir’s 8th Annual Pitch Day, our signature event of the year.  Held at the Center for the Arts in Jackson, Wyoming on September 5th from 4-7 PM, Pitch Day features local entrepreneurs showcasing their businesses to a large and interested audience of over 250 attendees.  Cash prizes will be awarded in a number of categories.

Free to attend and open to the public, Pitch Day stars a select group of innovative and creative companies developing in the Teton region.  This event supports local entrepreneurs to showcase and promote their business or idea.

Selected entrepreneurs will have three coaching sessions with a team of successful and experienced business experts leading up to the main event.  Coaching is a critical feature of the program, as it helps entrepreneurs hone their delivery and synthesize the information that is most likely to interest attendees.  

Pitch Day is a celebration of the highly successful entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Tetons. We hope to inspire audience members and others in our community to dream up or begin their own entrepreneurial journey.

How to Apply:

The Application Period opens Tuesday, May 29, 2019, and all applications are due by June 21, 2019.

To apply, please submit a venture deck of no more than 8 pages (NO EXCEPTIONS) Please email applications to hello@siliconcouloir.com.

A good deck should include the following (not necessarily in this order):

• Cover Page – with the company name and contact info

• The problem your company is solving

• Your solution to this problem

• Market size

• Business model

• Competition to your business

• Company team

• Financial projections or milestones

Due to general solicitation securities rules, we ask that you not end the pitch with an investor ask.

Eligible candidates will be called in to give an 8-minute presentation to the selection committee in late June/early July.  Decisions will be made by no later than July 18.  Between selection and the event, finalists will have three in-person coaching sessions. Entrepreneurs and Ventures from Teton County, Wyoming and Idaho, Sublette County, and Lincoln County are invited to apply.

For questions or more information, please email hello@siliconcouloir.com.

June Newsletter: Chance Meetings-Developing and Retaining Effective Teams

MONTHLY CHANCE MEETINGS 

JUNE 3, 2019 - 5-7 pm @ The Rose (50 West Broadway)

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

There: Developing and Retaining Effective Teams

Teamwork is a vital ingredient of any successful business. How do you get employees, investors, and customers to buy into your vision, product and purpose?  Jake Urban, local entrepreneur and educator will share the techniques and practices that have made his teams so successful.

In Jake’s own words:
“As an undergraduate professor, mountain guide, program director, corporate trainer, Search and Rescue trainer and business owner, I have been teaching, training and leading people in the outdoors for the past 24 years. I founded, own and operate the Jackson Hole Outdoor Leadership Institute, Inc., an educational think tank devoted to developing and delivering curriculum in the areas of avalanche education and prehospital emergency medical training in the urban and wilderness environment.”

“In the 90’s I developed techniques and strategies that increased retention and overall job satisfaction at corporate giants such as Deloitte, Cardinal Health, Nantucket Nectars, and IBM. My current philosophies and practices couldn’t be farther from that foundation. Most recently my techniques have helped me successfully develop effective teams in educational, organized rescue, institutional recreation and the oversight of risk management in high-risk environments.
 

GET INVOLVED

NEWS AND NOTES

Pitch Day 2019 Venture Application Period Now Open

Mark your calendar for Silicon Couloir’s 8th Annual Pitch Day, our signature event of the year. Held at the Center for the Arts in Jackson, Wyoming on Thursday, September 5th from 4-7 PM, Pitch Day showcases local entrepreneurs highlighting their businesses to a large and interested audience of over 200 attendees.  Cash prizes will be awarded in a number of categories.

Free to attend and open to the public, Pitch Day stars a select group of innovative and creative companies developing in the Teton region.  This event supports local entrepreneurs to showcase and promote their business or idea.

Selected entrepreneurs will have three coaching sessions with a team of successful and experienced business experts leading up to the main event.  Coaching is a critical feature of the program, as it helps entrepreneurs hone their delivery and synthesize the information that is most likely to interest attendees.  

Pitch Day is a celebration of the highly successful entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Tetons. We hope to inspire audience members and others in our community to dream up or begin their own entrepreneurial journey.
 

How to Apply:
The Application Period opens Tuesday, May 29, 2019, and all applications are due by June 21, 2019.

To apply, please submit a venture deck of no more than 8 pages (NO EXCEPTIONS) Please email applications to hello@siliconcouloir.com.

A good deck should include the following (not necessarily in this order):

• Cover Page – with the company name and contact info

• The problem your company is solving

• Your solution to this problem

• Market size

• Business model

• Competition to your business

• Company team

• Financial projections or milestones

Due to general solicitation securities rules, we ask that you not end the pitch with an investor ask.

Eligible candidates will be called in to give an 8-minute presentation to the selection committee in late June/early July.  Decisions will be made by no later than July 18.  Between selection and the event, finalists will have three in-person coaching sessions. Entrepreneurs and Ventures from Teton County, Wyoming and Idaho, Sublette County, and Lincoln County are invited to apply.

For questions or more information, please email hello@siliconcouloir.com.

TEAMS Grows with New Ventures and Mentors 
 

We are proud to report that since the end of the 2018 TEAMS pilot, we have had tremendous growth in the program. In the past 5 months, we have added 9 new ventures for a total of 15 ventures. On the mentoring side, we have recruited 14 new mentors for a total of 33 mentors!

TEAMS brings Teton area ventures together with a group of volunteer mentors for regular mentoring sessions to accelerate the development of entrepreneurs in the Teton region, and further the mission of Silicon Couloir. For more information please visit https://www.siliconcouloir.com/teams-mentoring.

JUNE 12TH LUNCH AND LEARN

Entrepreneur Care and Feeding: Get a Good Night's Sleep

To register, please send an email to rebecca@siliconcouloir.com.

Another Win for 22 in 21: The State of Our Community

 

On May 22nd approximately 140 community leaders, stakeholders, and involved citizens gathered for 22 in 21, a deep dive into the future of our community, to learn where we are headed and the challenges we face. By all accounts, it was another successful conference. Gary Trauner, Silicon Couloir ED, lead a panel on Education and Healthcare.

22 in 21 holds a special place in our heart, as it was the event where the concept of Silicon Couloir was conceived eight years ago by a visionary group of people during a breakout session.

Congratulations to Central Wyoming College Graduates!
 

Central Wyoming College recently graduated a class of students ready to apply their knowledge and skills to new ventures and professions that better themselves and the world. Our own Gary Trauner inspired the graduates with his commencement address in May.

CWC is a valued partner for Silicon Couloir and we appreciate all that they do for our community. 

HAVE NEWS TO SHARE?

As always, please feel free to send news of your company's press, events, successes, and milestones to Gary@siliconcouloir.comand 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.

May Newsletter: Wyoming Blockchain Task Force-Progress and Innovations

MONTHLY CHANCE MEETINGS 

MAY 6, 2019 - 5-7 pm @ The Rose (50 West Broadway)

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

Theme: Wyoming Blockchain Taskforce- Progress and Innovations

Silicon Couloir and the Jackson Hole Blockchain Meetup present a special Chance Meeting on Monday, May 6th focused on Wyoming’s innovations in the blockchain and cryptocurrency spaces. We will discuss Wyoming’s recent blockchain legislation and have guests from the Wyoming Blockchain Task Force on hand to describe Wyoming’s strategy and answer any questions. 

Wyoming is leading the nation with innovative blockchain legislation. Thanks to the efforts of the Wyoming Blockchain Task Force and our state government, Wyoming has now enacted a total of 13 blockchain-enabling laws, making it the only US state to provide a comprehensive, welcoming legal framework that enables blockchain technology to flourish, both for individuals and companies. 

The changes that our lawmakers have recently passed or introduced as bills include defining three categories of digital assets and treating them as property; granting assets designated as virtual currencies the same legal status as money; authorizing banks to hold digital assets in custody; allowing corporations to issue certificate tokens that represent shares; and creating a regulatory fintech sandbox aimed at further diminishing any regulatory hurdles to industry startups. 

Check out this article by Caitlin Long describing Wyoming’s 13 new blockchain laws: https://www.forbes.com/sites/caitlinlong/2019/03/04/what-do-wyomings-new-blockchain-laws-mean 
Great pre-reading for the meeting!
 

GET INVOLVED

NEWS AND NOTES

SPARK SOON TO BE THE COWORK SPACE
Celebration Planned for May 9th

Last fall, Silicon Couloir established a physical location with the acquisition of Spark JH, recently namedas one of the top 50 cowork spaces in the country. Silicon Couloir has found ownership of Spark to be a perfect compliment to its programs and services. Since the acquisition, staff and board have been planning the integration of the space under the Silicon Couloir umbrella. In early May, you will notice a change of signage from Spark to The Cowork Space. As part of a larger Silicon Couloir website upgrade, The Spark site will be integrated into the Silicon Couloir site with features such as online signup, membership payment, and conference room reservations.

In an effort to provide a world-class workspace for members, significant upgrades have recently been made to the conference room. The square footage has been increased by 40%, and the room is now soundproof. A 55" flat-screen TV and Polycom SoundStation have been added to improve teleconferencing. More upgrades are in the works to make the space as professional, efficient and welcoming as possible.

Please join us on Thursday, May 9th from 5-7 pm for a community-wide rebranding celebration at The Cowork Space located at 140 East Broadway, Suite 25. If you haven't met our new ED, Gary Trauner, this is a great opportunity to speak with him about his vision for the direction of Silicon Couloir. If you are considering becoming a member, this is a perfect opportunity to tour the space. Submit your name at the event for a drawing of a free monthly membership and 3 free day use passes.

NEW SILICON COULOIR WEBSITE COMING SOON
 

In conjunction with The Cowork Space rebrand, Silicon Couloir is pleased to announce the launch of a brand new organization-wide website, which is more integrated and easier to navigate. Silicon Couloir participants will appreciate the clear delineation of programs for entrepreneurs, volunteers, and supporters.

"As the organization evolves with more programs and services, it's crucial that our website provide clear avenues for the public to engage with Silicon Couloir weather you are an entrepreneur, an investor or volunteer, " says Marketing and Program Coordinator Rebecca Reimers. "Silicon Couloir has grown significantly in the past few years, and our new website reflects the expansion.”
 

JUNE 12TH LUNCH AND LEARN

Entrepreneur Care and Feeding: 
Get a Good Night's Sleep

27% of U.S. adults said they had trouble falling asleep or staying asleep most nights. 68%- or an estimated 164 million Americans- struggled with sleep at least once a week, according to a recent Consumer Reports survey. Americans are expected to spend $52 billion on sleep aids by 2020. (https://www.consumerreports.org/sleep/why-americans-cant-sleep/)

The consequences of not getting enough sleep are numerous; from the short-term effects of irritability and lack of focus to the long-term increased risk of many chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, depression, and Alzheimer's. 

Many people wake up in the middle of the night and have a hard time falling back asleep.  Join Martha Lewis, certified sleep consultant and creator of the Complete Sleep Solution, on June 12th from 12-1 at The Cowork Space (140 East Broadway, Suite 25) to learn the 3 mistakes that many people make in the middle of the night that actually keep them awake. Correct these mistakes and you will be able to fall back asleep quicker at night so you get more sleep and wake up feeling refreshed and full of energy the next day. 

In this Lunch and Learn presentation, you will:

• Identify the 3 things that are sabotaging your sleep

• Learn 1 easy trick to help you fall back asleep quickly (even at 2 am)

• Discover the #1 thing you can do to get a good night’s sleep

To register, please send an email to rebecca@siliconcouloir.com.
 

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: HUB INTERNATIONAL

 

We are pleased to announce that HUB International is a new Silicon Couloir sponsor at the community caretaker level. We are so appreciative of Hub International's support and strong work for our entrepreneurial community. 
 

HUB is a global brokerage that puts you at the center of everything we do. Our reach and resources mean you have the insurance you need when you need it – and before you know you need it. HUB provides complete protection: property, casualty, life and health insurance products; employee benefits and business risk management; and wealth management products and services. When you work with HUB, you’re working with a team of experts dedicated to helping you understand your risks and manage all of your insurance requirements.
 

 Beyond Efficiency Hiring Operations Manager
 

Seeking an exceptionally organized and resourceful administrative professional with 4+ years relevant post-academic experience to join our fast-paced team in the Jackson Hole, Wyoming office. A key goal of this role is to allow the Principal and technical staff to focus primarily on strategic planning, business development, and technical project work.

You’re high-energy, confident and ready to hit the ground running with our entrepreneurially-minded firm that’s gearing up to do great things as we launch into our second decade of business. You are skilled in human resources (HR) and performance management, business compliance, database administration, and events coordination. You thrive on juggling a wide variety of responsibilities and are always two steps ahead—anticipating needs and adjusting priorities when required. While you’re comfortable with the daily requirements of helping a small company run smoothly, you’re also excited to think strategically and help move us forward with new ideas.

To apply for this opportunity, please apply directly through the jobs page on our website at http://beyondefficiency.us/jobs.

HAVE NEWS TO SHARE?

As always, please feel free to send news of your company's press, events, successes, and milestones to Gary@siliconcouloir.comand 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.

 

Spark Rebrands as The Cowork Space with Improved Integrated Silicon Couloir Website

CELEBRATION PLANNED FOR MAY 9TH FROM 5-7 PM

Last fall, Silicon Couloir established a physical location with the acquisition of Spark Jackson Hole, recently named as one of the top 50 cowork spaces in the country.  Ownership of a dynamic, affordable and creative cowork space where entrepreneurs can network is a perfect complement to Silicon Couloir programs and services.

Since the acquisition, Silicon Couloir staff and board of directors have been planning the integration of the business under the organization’s umbrella.  In early May, you will notice a change of signage from Spark Jackson Hole to The Cowork Space. As part of a larger Silicon Couloir website upgrade, the Spark website will be integrated into a new and improved Silicon Couloir website (siliconcouloir.com) with features such as online signup, membership payment, and conference room reservations.

In an effort to continue providing a high-quality workspace for members, significant upgrades have recently been made to the conference room.  The room has been increased by approximately 40% and soundproofed in order to accommodate larger company meetings. A 55" flat-screen TV and Polycom SoundStation have been added to improve teleconferencing.  More improvements are in the works to make the space as professional, efficient and welcoming as possible.

As always, members will enjoy reliable high-speed Internet, 24-7 access, printing capabilities, phone booths for private calls, and a kitchenette.  Day pass users can enjoy the space from 9 to 5 Monday through Friday. The Cowork Space is available for after-hours events to non-members for a fee.

"The Cowork Space is a vital aspect of the entrepreneurial community providing 24-7 affordable workspace for our hard-working members," says Executive Director Gary Trauner.  "Look for continued improvements in the design and function of the space in the near future.  We believe that inspired workspaces help us do our most inspiring work, and we will strive to make The Cowork Space a creative hub for the community "

Please join us on Thursday, May 9th from 5-7 pm for a community-wide rebranding celebration at The Cowork Space located at 140 East Broadway, Suite 25.  If you haven't met our new ED, Gary Trauner, this is a great opportunity to speak with him about his vision for the direction for Silicon Couloir.  If you are considering becoming a member, please stop in to tour the space. Submit your name at the event for a drawing of a free monthly membership and free day use passes.

In conjunction with The Cowork Space rebrand, Silicon Couloir is pleased to launch a brand new organization-wide website, which is more integrated and easier to navigate.  Silicon Couloir participants will appreciate the clear delineation of programs for entrepreneurs, volunteers, and supporters.

"As the organization evolves with more programs and services, it's crucial that our website provide clear avenues for the public to engage with Silicon Couloir whether you are an entrepreneur, an investor, or a volunteer, " says Marketing and Program Coordinator Rebecca Reimers. "Silicon Couloir has grown significantly in the past few years, and our new website reflects the expansion.”