Founder Series

How Jess Reese, founder and CEO of James Street Co started making knitwear for every season.
Amanda Stewart’s Mochi Kids evolved from a personal hobby to an Etsy shop and is now a successful brick-and-mortar store, offering curated children’s clothing and community.
Caleb Chapman teaches students not just how to play music but how to perform as an ensemble.
How Chris and Jen Hudak elevated teardrop campers and got folks outdoors.
How CEO Chris Baird’s 96-hour marathon problem-solving session transformed the company and revolutionized remote connectivity.
How two friends turned military surplus sunglasses into the irreverent, humor-driven Pit Viper empire.
How Jake Wolf, a 29-year-old car enthusiast, transformed his Miami dream into Utah’s premier destination for luxury lifestyle seekers.
And helped software engineers become “heroes” within their organizations by solving otherwise insurmountable security challenges.
Evolving from its origin as a modest hot dog stand, J. Dawgs has expanded to 10 locations across Utah. Founder Jayson Edwards reveals the ingredients for his entrepreneurial success.
After accumulating $1 million in medical bills, Nathan Udy founded Planstin Administration to help make healthcare more affordable.
How Peter Murray, founder of Stardust Sustainables, used his landscaping career to take on plastic bag consumption.
And simplified the previously cumbersome location scouting process between media teams and homeowners.
And rapidly sold more than 450 franchise locations across North America due to a community-driven model that allows pickleball fans to play year-round without weather constraints or wait times.
And provided coverage for underserved, high-risk markets like startups and small businesses, empowering over 1 million small business owners by integrating innovative online distribution models and advancing tech solutions to simplify tax compliance.
And addressed the lack of customizable planners in the market while balancing work-life priorities as a company primarily run by moms.
And established a scalable waste-to-energy model that not only aids in addressing the environmental challenge of asphalt shingle waste but also sets a blueprint for the oil industry to adopt greener practices.
And created an on-demand moving app that secured partnerships with major retailers like Costco, making same-day delivery accessible and affordable across the United States.
And transformed a small flower shop into a Salt Lake City institution, establishing Orchid Dynasty as a pioneer in Utah’s floral industry.
And successfully transitioned from an 18-year career gap as a stay-at-home mom to helping mothers re-enter the workforce through practical skills, mentorship and confidence-building resources.
And established one of Utah’s first bean-to-bar chocolate companies, securing partnerships with major retailers like Whole Foods and Harmons while maintaining a commitment to quality.