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Utah's top entrepreneurs have been honored in an exclusive event put on by Wasatch Innovation Network.

Wasatch Innovation Network honors Utah’s top entrepreneurs

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.