Salt Lake City — The Wasatch Innovation Network (WIN), a partnership between the Salt Lake Chamber and TechBuzz News, recognized today the inaugural cohort of the WIN100, a community-nominated and peer-selected process of the top 100 venture entrepreneurs in Utah, at a luncheon held in their honor at Utah Valley University. Sponsored by the top venture firms in the region, WIN100 is designed to help identify and cultivate relationships among emerging and top founders, CEOs, CTOs, and ventures with ties to the state.
“These entrepreneurs represent the best of the best in terms of innovation and capacity to lead our growing ecosystem,” says Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber and Downtown Alliance. “While the Wasatch Innovation Network launched less than a year ago, it is already having an impact within our innovation ecosystem. We could not be more excited about supporting and learning from these emerging leaders as they bring ideas to life and solutions to market. The WIN100 is poised to become the premier place for capital flow and innovation development as entrepreneurs and mentors connect.
The WIN100 was created to give entrepreneurs the ability to share, collaborate, and partner to maximize the chance of success. The WIN100 aims to:
- Increase visibility and collaboration amongst Utah’s top venture entrepreneurs;
- Increase networking and dialogue with peers and partner organizations;
- Raise the profile of talented individuals across the broader business ecosystem and particularly among investors;
- Create a unique, self-directed community; and,
- Elevate the community-minded culture of Utah’s startup ecosystem.
“Creating new ventures that can take our economy to the next level is no easy task and deserves our collective support,” says Paul Ahlstrom, Co-founder of TechBuzz News and Board Chair of the Wasatch Innovation Network. “We believe this new group of business leaders will make an impact in terms of innovation, products, and business creation in the near future. The success of our entrepreneurial community in Utah is not a given, but one we have long worked to build and sustain with capital and services. The WIN100 will be bolstered by our growing ecosystem and receive the necessary support to make sure they succeed in growing the next generation of impactful Utah companies.”
The idea of the WIN100 is based on the premise that the crowd would successfully identify the innovators and entrepreneurs that were “most likely to create a high growth company” in Utah. The first round included nominations from the community and was accepted from March 21, 2022, to April 4, 2022. Responses were used to assemble a list of candidate nominees. During the second round, nominated candidates voted for their peers based on who they believe is “most likely to launch or lead a successful high-growth startup in the next 2–3 years as Founder/CEO/CTO.” This round of peer voting determined the WIN100 Top Entrepreneurs for 2022. Because of a tie, ultimately, 107 candidates were selected as the core group.
The 2022 Wasatch Innovation Network WIN100 Recipients include:
Diane Acevedo, Utah’s 40 Women Over 40
Melanie Alder, Pattern
Amy Anderson, Rees Capital
Brenda Anderson, Jipe
Emily Applegarth, Gamify
Steve Arntz, Campfire
Daniel Ash, Journey Front
Spencer Barclay, Savology
Billy Bateman, Chat Funnels
Colby Bauer, Thread Wallets
McKenzie Bauer, Thread Wallets
Casey Baugh, Sandlot
Joon Beh, Hallo
Brock Blake, Lendio
Dave Blake, ClientSuccess
Mikel Blake, Tech-Moms
Jon Bradshaw, Codebase
Angela Brau, Wander
Mark Brown, &Collar
Matt Bryson, Mezy
Rilee Buttars, Donde
Greg Butterfield, Lumio
Ryan Caldwell, MX
Edgar Carreon, Dree
Jonathan Cheney, Seek
Dave Christison, Hivewire
James Clarke, Clarke Capital, Clearlink
Benton Crane, Harmon Brothers
Damian Dayton, Pillow Cube & Creatably
Wesley Eames, After.com
Jaron Erickson, Sales Dojo
Birch Eve, Pickle
Eric Farr, Brainstorm
Earl Foote, Nexus IT
Parker Gentry, SkillStruck
Chris Gibson, Recursion
Kamel Greene, Poly Platform
Madeline Hamilton, Ivy City Co.
Jeff Handy, Seva Development
Dallin Harmon, VidAngel
Jeff Harmon, Angel Studios
Jordan Harmon, Angel Studios
Neal Harmon, Angel Studios
Theron Harmon, Harmon Brothers Consulting
Dan Hemmert, Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity
Tyler Hogge, Divvy
Reuben Holdaway, Convoi Ventures
Kristi Holt, Vibeonix
Allyson Irwin, Code Adventure
Jonathan Johnson, Overstock
Scott Johnson, Motivosity
Bronson Kaufusi, Connect NIL
Grant Kenning, Keap
Tejas Konduru, Via
Robb Lifferth, IsoTalent
Bruno Lima, Pura
Greg Lloyd, Stagebase
Eric Lo, Krado Inc
Hunter Maxfield, Nomi Health
Shea McGee, Studio McGee
Syd McGee, Studio McGee
Robert McMillen, Ad Ventures
Glen Mella, Axcend LLC
Luke Mocke, Fairstream
Tony Mucci, dree
Taylor Murphy, Campfire
Blake Murray, Divvy
Robert W. Nelson, Grow
Rachel Nilsson, Rags
Zack Oates, Ovation
Chari Pack, Persnickety Prints
Eric Parker, Giddy
Ethan Parker, Giddy
Jeron Paul, Spiff
Natalie Paul, dree
Ben Perkins, &Collar
Tristen Persons, Tristen Ikaika
Gladymir Phillippe, Kado Inc.
David Politis, Silicon Slopes
Aleksa Porter, Wander
Nathan Porter, Wander
Tanner Potter, Kickstart
Nate Randle, Gabb Wireless
Clint Reid, Zonos
Brad Rencher, BambooHR
John Richards, StartUp Ignition
Kaumana Rindlisbacher, Pickle
Daniel Roberts, Savvi Legal
Matthew Roberts, Savvi Legal
Indy Blue Severe, Lonely Ghost
Davis Smith, Cotopaxi
Ryan Paul Smith, Recyclops
Marty Smuin, Weave
Sterling Snow, Divvy
Nick Sorenson, Whistic
Ritchie Stapler, Pura
Evan Teshima, foreUP
Cydni Tetro, Brandless
Brigham Tomco, Emmersion Learning
Jess Toolson, Mixhers
Abby Warner, The Girls Company
Lacy West, Laced Hair Extensions
Tessa White, The Job Doctor
Amelia Wilcox, Nivati
Kurt Workman, Owlet Baby Care
David Wright, Pattern
Jordan Wright, Atomic Financial
A key element of the WIN100 is building relationships with key stakeholders and established leaders in our innovation ecosystem. The mentors will share their real life experiences and best practices with the incoming cohort.
The Wasatch Innovation Network WIN100 Mentors include:
- Paul Ahlstrom, Isotalent, TechBuzz News
- Phil Anderson, ParentPlaybook
- Davis Bell, Canopy
- Brian Beutler, Alianza
- Issac Jacobson, Gabb Wireless
- Scott Johnson, Motivosity
- Darren Lee, ProofPoint
- Robb Lifferth, IsoTalent, TechBuzz News
- Drew Major, SlingTV, formerly Novell
- Glen Mella, Axcend
- Derek Miller, Salt Lake Chamber
- Jeron Paul, Spiff
- Tyler Ploeger, Everee
- Kevin Santiago, Greenlight Hospitality
- Joe Staples, Go-to-Market Advisor
- Brigham Tomco, Immersion
- Tessa White, The Job Doctor
- Kurt Workman, Owlet Baby Care
- Jordan White, Atomic Financial
Attendees also had the opportunity to hear from keynote speaker Divvy Chief Revenue Officer Sterling Snow on building businesses, building people and building a community.
“Our innovation ecosystem has the opportunity to foster a passion for giving back and creating a culture that reflects Utah values,” said Elisabeth Nebeker, program director of the Wasatch Innovation Network. “The WIN100 cohort will continue to emulate this mindset. We are excited to support this next wave of up-and-coming leaders.”
The WIN100 Founding Sponsors include the Salt Lake Chamber, IsoTalent and TechBuzz News. Presenting Sponsors are Kickstart Fund and Frazier Group. The Venture Sponsors are Atomic, Pando Ventures and Sorenson Ventures. Startup Sponsors are Diversified Insurance Group, Epic Ventures, EY, Hillcrest Bank, Mayer Brown and Peterson Ventures. The Entrepreneur Sponsors are Album VC, Assure, Spacestation Investments, SpringTide and Sweater. WIN100 Partners include Axcend, BioUtah, Boardlevel.io, Boom Startup, Gamify, Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute, Savvi, Startup Ignition, Utah Advanced Materials & Manufacturing Initiative, Utah Valley University, and Women Tech Council.