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Founder journeys are never the same. Today we’re talking with someone who started their career as a musician, had a layover as a financial advisor, and is now a founder of a startup that is currently raising in one of the toughest fundraising environments we’ve seen. Join us in today’s conversation with Reese Harper, CEO of Elements, and investor Gavin Christensen of Kickstart (a VC firm for startups in Utah, Colorado, and the Mountain West) as we bring you both sides of a Perfect Pitch. In this episode, we’ll talk about: How Reese’s content creation helps him understand his customer’s better Gavin’s investor perspective on whether an entrepreneur should invest in thought leadership Reese’s tactical approach to attracting top-of-the-line talent to his exec team Advice for fundraising entrepreneurs when an investor says “no”

Advice for creative talent practices on the internet abounds. How can you know if these practices are a fad or if they'll generate success? To answer that, we're talking with someone who has adopted several unique initiatives for his team, including the famous four-day workweek. Join us in today’s conversation with Jamie Baxter, Founder and CEO of Qwick, and investor Curt Roberts of Kickstart (a VC firm for startups in Utah, Colorado, and the Mountain West) as we bring you both sides of a Perfect Pitch. In this episode, we’ll talk about: Why Jamie believes his company culture shouldn’t be right for everyone What happened when Qwick implemented a four-day workweek Curt’s advice for founders considering a shortened workweek Jamie’s hack for difficult conversations in his work and personal life

Confused about the future of work? So are we. Until we talked with a founder who has advice on how entrepreneurs can bring their startups up to speed. Join us in today’s conversation with Dan Bladen, Co-Founder & CEO of Kadence, and investor Kat Kennedy of Kickstart (a VC firm for startups in Utah, Colorado, and the Mountain West) as we bring you both sides of a Perfect Pitch. In this episode, we’ll talk about: Dan’s pandemic pivot from Chargifi to Kadence Kat’s advice on how a founder can know whether they should “hang the towel” or pivot Details on Kadence’s fundraising announcement What Kat and Dan anticipate for the future of work

One of our favorite parts of this podcast is learning more about our guest's founder origin stories and how that inspires their business. Today we're talking with an entrepreneur who's building a solution inspired by a problem he faced as a student. Join us in today’s conversation with Wil Eyi, Founder & CEO of Toolbox, and investor Curt Roberts of Kickstart (a VC firm for startups in Utah, Colorado, and the Mountain West) as we bring you both sides of a Perfect Pitch. In this episode, we’ll talk about: How Wil’s immigration and college story impacted his startup The importance of spending time in the problem your company is solving An investor’s perspective on a startup’s pivot Why an obsession with your customer is a necessary component for a successful startup

Traditional offices are facing a renaissance of new technologies and co-working spaces. With the future of work changing so rapidly, we sat down with an industry expert. Someone who broke through a crowded market and found success by tweaking the recipe to an otherwise stale solution. Join us in today’s conversation with Arian Lewis, Founder and CEO of Kiln, and investor Curt Roberts of Kickstart (a VC firm for startups in Utah, Colorado, and the Mountain West) as we bring you both sides of a Perfect Pitch. In this episode, we’ll talk about: How remote work impacted Kiln’s beginnings, and why Kickstart invested Why Arian felt confident Kiln would break through the crowded industry Curt’s advice to young entrepreneurs and how age can impact their success What Arian anticipates for the future of work and shared office space

When a venture capitalist invests in a startup, they’re investing in more than just the company. A strong founder-market fit is vital. And few understand that better than today’s guest. As a serial entrepreneur, he’s focused his attention on leadership and has broken the mold for what makes a successful CEO. Join us in today’s conversation with Jeron Paul, Founder and CEO of Spiff, and investor Gavin Christensen of Kickstart (a VC firm for startups in Utah, Colorado, and the Mountain West) as we bring you both sides of a Perfect Pitch. In this episode, we’ll talk about: What founder-market-fit is and why entrepreneurs and investors should care Pitfalls and benefits of a repeat founder Why a founder’s success hinges on self-awareness Jeron’s belief that you shouldn’t hire “culture fits”

We have exciting news! Kickstart is welcoming a new general partner. Someone who grew a small and scrappy startup to a successful company valued at over $1.4B. And now, she’s taking the plunge into VC to magnify her impact from one amazing company to hundreds of amazing companies. You’ll hear a lot from her as the show’s newest investor expert. But today, it’s all about her! Join us in our conversation with investor Kat Kennedy of Kickstart (a VC firm for startups in Utah, Colorado, and the Mountain West) for a special episode of Perfect Pitch. In this episode, we’ll talk about: Becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable How asking questions makes you appear more confident and competent Kat’s conversations with Mark Cuban & how he drove her excitement for venture capital Why Kat decided to shift to venture capital, and why she chose Kickstart

As a founder, you're facing constant pressure to perform. Whether it's to your employees or your investors, you have a lot to prove. Now, imagine you're hired as a CEO for a startup that's had not one, not two, but five separate CEOs. This week, we're talking with someone who has filled those very shoes and has taken a struggling startup to one that's been acquired by a major enterprise. Join us in today’s conversation with John Munro, CEO of Chargeback, and investor Gavin Christensen of Kickstart (a VC firm for startups in Utah, Colorado, and the Mountain West) as we bring you both sides of a Perfect Pitch. In this episode, we’ll talk about: John’s transition from COO to CEO at Chargeback The mental impacts of a high pressure role An investors’ perspective of a startup that went from low-performance to acquisition Identifying whether your board is one you want to accept or change

Being a founder is synonymous with facing rejection. What separates successful startups from the rest are founders who know how to work through that rejection. But how do you keep saying yes when the world is telling you to stop? Join us in today’s conversation with Ryan Smith, Founder and CEO of Recylops, and investor Curt Roberts of Kickstart (a VC firm for startups in Utah, Colorado, and the Mountain West) as we bring you both sides of a Perfect Pitch. In this episode, we’ll talk about: How Ryan managed being a college student, working his day job, and being a founder all at once Curt’s thoughts on student entrepreneurship and how “side hustles” can be problematic An investor’s perspective on the benefits and challenges of social entrepreneurship How a founder can know whether their startup is worth pursuing or if it’s time to throw in the towel

Entrepreneurs are expected to do it all. Run a company, develop great relationships with their investors, keep up with their personal life… all while needing to keep yourself together. But—like everyone else—founders struggle with their own personal battles. Today we’re talking with someone familiar. Someone who has overcome major challenges and reached success. Join us in today’s conversation with investor Gavin Christensen of Kickstart (a VC firm for startups in Utah, Colorado, and the Mountain West) for a special episode of Perfect Pitch. In this episode, we’ll talk about: Gavin’s diagnosis of Addison’s Disease & how he moved forward How entrepreneurs can learn to balance their personal trials with their startups Why you should use regret to fuel better decision-making Why Gavin believes we should be less impressed by working “overtime”

Entrepreneurship can be a lonely road. And while you may feel you’re making decisions alone as a founder, it doesn’t have to be that way. This week, we’re talking with someone whose early and current mentors have guided him through his entrepreneurial journey. Join us in today’s conversation with Curtis Anderson, Co-Founder and CEO of Nursa, and investor Curt Roberts of Kickstart (a VC firm for startups in Utah, Colorado, and the Mountain West) as we bring you both sides of a Perfect Pitch. In this episode, we’ll talk about: How Curtis’ early mentors set him on a tech-focused path Why entrepreneurs should have a mentor (or a bench of mentors!) Advice for entrepreneurs trying to find a mentor and on being a good mentee The responsibility that entrepreneurs have to be a mentor

Trying to manage your personal and professional life is a delicate balancing act. And part of being an entrepreneur means sacrificing your personal time for success. Is there a way to achieve that ideal balance? We’re talking with someone who strives for intentional living and believes that the perfect balance is found by embracing imbalance. Join us in today’s conversation with investor Curt Roberts of Kickstart (a VC firm for startups in Utah, Colorado, and the Mountain West) for a special episode of Perfect Pitch. In this episode, we’ll talk about: Why Curt believes balance is never achievable, and how you can choose your imbalance to discover a “healthy tension” between priorities The art of saying “no” and Curt’s experience with his depression diagnosis How to determine a hierarchy of priorities The practice of compartmentalizing our time, rather than striving for balance

So often leaders worry about eliminating weakness. But is that practice outdated? There might be research to suggest otherwise. Join us in today’s conversation with Liz Ellis, COO and Chief Heart Officer of Angel Studios, and investor Dalton Wright of Kickstart (a VC firm for startups in Utah, Colorado, and the Mountain West) as we bring you both sides of a Perfect Pitch. In this episode, we’ll talk about: Startups can’t compete with “Google-level” salaries. So, how can you attract great talent? The importance of separating management and individual contributor career growth tracks Living by default, instead of by design: the key to avoiding burnout How to play to your employee’s strengths by delivering feedback in ways that work for them

Unicorn. If you’re an entrepreneur you’ve probably heard that term before. It’s a coveted title for companies valued at over $1B and it’s safe to say every founder dreams of hitting that status. But can that level of success actually work against you? Join us in today’s conversation with Dave Hersh, CEO of Mobilize and investor Gavin Christensen of Kickstart (a VC firm for startups in Utah, Colorado, and the Mountain West) to bring you both sides of a Perfect Pitch. In this episode, we’ll talk about: Why it’s dangerous for startups to get stuck in the “wannabe-unicorn” mindset Why founders should focus on being the “best” within their small-scale growth, rather than attempting to tackle an entire market What it means when Gavin claims that “dragons eat unicorns” Early warning signs that a company is beginning to lose focus

We’re digging into the value and potential pitfalls of strategic partnerships...and we’re not talking about choosing your pickleball partner carefully. In the scrappy, DIY world of startups, sometimes the need for leveraged power from an already established brand might seem like a cop-out, but sometimes it's exactly what the doctor ordered and brings things to the next level. To show us what it looks like when a startup lands a strategic partnership with one of the most well-known brand leaders in the market, we’re bringing back Jeremy Hanks of Dsco and investor Dalton Wright of Kickstart (a VC firm for startups in Utah, Colorado, and the Mountain West) to bring you both sides of a Perfect Pitch. In this episode, we’ll talk about: Jeremy’s experience of Nordstrom approaching Dsco for a strategic partnership What leverage do founders have when negotiating favorable strategic deals? Details on Jeremy’s experience with Dsco’s sale & what’s next on the horizon Why Jeremy claims entrepreneurship’s “finish line” isn’t actually an exited company

So many founders sacrifice to be able to get their startups off the ground, but not many of them move to Thailand to be able to make it happen. Today we’re talking with Josh Nielsen, Founder & CEO of Zencastr, a successful podcasting platform, and investor Gavin Christensen of Kickstart (a VC firm for startups in Utah, Colorado, and the Mountain West) to bring you both sides of a Perfect Pitch. In this episode, we talk about: Josh’s scrappy journey of bootstrapping his startup in Thailand How to know if you’re ready for fundraising Finding product-market fit under intense time pressure Why investors value founders that are innovating in a space in which they are experts

You did it. You got your first round of funding and you’re on your way...and then the landscape changes. Now, the outcome you promised to investors might not be possible. So what do you do to maintain their confidence in you? Join us in today’s conversation with Grant Gordon, Co-Founder and CEO of Artemis Health, and investor Dalton Wright of Kickstart (a VC firm for startups in Utah, Colorado, and the Mountain West) as we bring you both sides of a Perfect Pitch. In this episode, we’ll talk about: Intellectual integrity; finding and testing product-market fit; how to adjust your strategy when the market changes; and why you should schedule “meeting-free” zones.

The first year of a startup’s life is crucial–and life or death decisions seem to be made on a daily basis. Whether it be fundraising, hiring, or simply getting people to care, you have a lot to juggle and today, we’re talking with a founder who can speak to it all. Join us in today’s conversation with Chris Hicken, founder and CEO of ‘nuffsaid and investor Gavin Christensen of Kickstart (a VC firm for startups in Utah, Colorado, and the Mountain West) as we bring you both sides of a Perfect Pitch. In this episode, we’ll talk about: Why Chris moved his startup from Silicon Valley to Silicon Slopes A startup’s biggest risk in “year one” How to get people to care about your startup and the biggest mistake founders make when fundraising How artistic skills can benefit your abilities as an entrepreneur

To be a successful entrepreneur, you have to be adaptable. Sometimes so adaptable, that you’re completely rewriting the story of your company. To give insight on how you can remain motivated through it all, we’re talking with Rachel Hofstetter, CMO at Chatbooks, and investor Gavin Christensen of Kickstart (a VC firm for startups in Utah, Colorado, and the Mountain West) as we bring you both sides of a Perfect Pitch. In this episode, we’ll talk about: Adapting to new opportunities during career transitions Why quality over quantity is more important in a professional network The importance of storytelling in a startup How Rachel’s challenge of “The Year of Hustle” boosted her career

While all startups hope to be unique enough to stand out from the crowd, there are often multiple startups within the same category. What if your company doesn’t fit into a standard category? What if your mission is so unique you have to trailblaze your own path in the startup world? To get a better idea of how one niche company successfully did this and grew from seed money into a Series A–all within 20 months–join us in our conversation with Claravine’s CEO and founder, Verl Allen, and investor Gavin Christensen of Kickstart (a VC firm for startups in Utah, Colorado, and the Mountain West) as we bring you both sides of a Perfect Pitch. In this episode, we’ll talk about: An investor’s perspective on companies with a unique category fit Verl’s advice to founders whose startup is trailblazing a new niche in the market Why self-awareness is critical to being a founder How leaning into and growing with pain helped Verl grow as a leader