MONTHLY CHANCE MEETINGS
AUGUST 5TH, 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...
August Theme: "Business: Good for the Community Beyond Economic Impact" with Fred Keller
From Fred:
“I believe that the opportunity exists for business to be so much more than just an economic player in the community. Often the business model is to make money and then fulfill what many consider to be an opportunity or an obligation: do something nice for the community. But business leaders have some amazing skills honed through their daily work to make their businesses successful. They are pretty savvy problem solvers, are energetic when it comes to getting things done, and are good at seeing the big picture."
"So the big question: what would it take for Jackson to have an even more positive change?”
Fred Keller is the Founder and Chair of Cascade Engineering, which he started in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1973. He believes that business has the unique opportunity to complement its efforts on financial performance with important work in the social and environmental arenas. He has emphasized the key role business can play in building financial, social and ecological capital, often through partnerships with government and community agencies. His innovative management approach and work in advancing sustainability are featured regularly in business and industry publications.
Fred has been a visiting lecturer at the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University since 2002 and is an Executive-in-Residence at the Center for Positive Organizations at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. He was formerly the board chair of the U.S. Department of Commerce Manufacturing Council and is a past chair and current member of the Board of Trustees for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Fred is also a trustee for the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation.
NEWS AND NOTES
Pitch Day Finalists Selected
Silicon Couloir’s 8th Annual Pitch Day will be held on Thursday, September 5th from 4-7 PM at the Center for the Arts in Jackson, WY. Pitch Day is a chance to learn about the latest up-and-coming companies in the Teton region.
The applicant pool this year was the strongest in the event’s history, with 13 passionate entrepreneurs vying for six spaces. After much thought and deliberation from the Selection Committee, Silicon Couloir is proud to announce a diverse and compelling group of finalists.
This year our presenters are:
Authentag: A blockchain technology company working with the pharmaceutical industry to track drugs from production to sales, thus reducing the risk of counterfeit products and potentially reducing costs through disruption of the supply chain.
Buddy Pegs Media: A diverse media company that celebrates bicycling and its social impact through books, podcasts, local classes, regional events, and an online community.
Franco Snowshapes: A hardgoods company building the finest custom snowboards through a unique, personal and tailored experience.
Mountainist: An online company that rents curated outdoor action sports apparel and protective gear to women.
Powwater: A social impact company that sells high-end water bottles and mugs with all profits after business costs directed to clean water projects around the globe.
Visably: A technology company created to improve brand performance and marketing by measuring and tracking brand visibility on the critical first page of online search results.
Meet the People Who Make Silicon Couloir a Success
Greta Eagan, Founder and CEO of Beauty Scripts and 2018 Pitch Day Winner:
"Pitch Day was an incredible experience for me personally, and a wonderful way to put my company, Beauty Scripts, in the limelight. The feedback and mentorship leading up to Pitch Day was invaluable and helped guide me to confidently pitch--any time, anywhere. I'm grateful for the Silicon Couloir community. I truly feel that building a company in Wyoming with these resources and individuals is the secret sauce to entrepreneurial success."
Matt Wan, Founder and CEO of Momentous and 2017 Pitch Day Winner
“Pitch Day was an awesome experience for me as a first-time founder. The coaching sessions provided a great mix of feedback from Silicon Couloir staff and local entrepreneurs, and most importantly, they forced you to prepare and improve week over week. They held us accountable and by the time Pitch Day came around, I felt super confident in our story. That confidence and practice has proved invaluable for fundraising in the years since"
DMOS Collective Releases the Delta Shovel
and Launches Kickstarter Campaign
While the first DMOS shovels were conceived to tame snow and ice, the Delta shovel is the first to make the earth shudder, designed specifically for dirt. Engineered with off-road, camping and survival needs in mind, the Delta is an elevated take on the classic military entrenching tool (e-tool), with greater versatility, strength, and utility. The Delta is the reinvention of that tool, but for the modern need of adventurers.
The Delta is chiefly a dirt shovel but offers a year-round, multi-application solution for any situation. With its three-part aluminum, telescoping indexed locking shaft, the Delta Shovel can extend to a full-sized length or collapse down to a more portable size. With the foldable 3-position head, the Delta can be used as a shovel, a hoe, and e-tool and folds up for compact stowing.
KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN DETAILS:
Launching on July 30th, the Delta Shovel will be available to a limited number of Early Bird backers at $149 via Kickstarter starting July 30th. The anticipated retail price for the Delta shovel is $199. This campaign will be running for 21 days, after which the Delta will be available directly through the DMOS’s website and will be available at select retail partners by Christmas. The Delta Shovel + Mount - $379, will be available to Early Bird backers at $279 The Delta Shovel + Bag - $319, will be available to Early Bird backers at $219 Through their domestic production and supply chain, DMOS anticipates delivery of the Delta Shovel to all backers this Fall.
SBDC Announces Wyoming Blockchain Stampede
The stampede includes a three-day hackathon (www.wyohackathon.io) and a one-day business and developer conference all centered around blockchain in Wyoming and will be held September 21, 2019 from 8 am - 3 pm at the University of Wyoming.
Industry visionaries, business leaders and tactical workshops help you navigate the compliance challenges, regulatory uncertainty and market opportunities of this emerging industry. Learn directly from those who continue to shape Wyoming’s suite of innovative blockchain laws providing legal certainty, protecting consumers and promoting innovation.
Sessions will include:
Why Wyoming? – panels and sessions on Wyoming’s legal framework for digital assets and how blockchain/crypto businesses can leverage it
Legal Compliance – panels and sessions from crypto law experts and lawyers
Mining – panels and sessions on crypto mining here in Wyoming
Agriculture – panels and sessions on how blockchain is innovating agriculture here in Wyoming and around the country
Tourism – panels and sessions on how blockchain is innovating tourism here in Wyoming and around the country
If you wish to speak on any of those topics or want to be a part of this conference please email Nick Giraldo at NGiraldo@uwyo.edu.
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.