Start School Sessions

Silicon Slopes
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Start School Sessions is the podcast from Start School, the free entrepreneurship program Silicon Slopes runs with Mountain America Credit Union. Each episode is one from a live session.

  1. 17h ago

    Start School Session: Stance Socks Chief Growth Officer Clarke Miyasaki

    Clarke Miyasaki has built a career around turning ordinary products into extraordinary brands. In this Start School session, Silicon Slopes CEO Clint Betts sits down with Clarke, Chief Growth Officer at Stance, to talk about his journey from venture capital to Skullcandy, Stance, and beyond. Clarke shares the lessons he learned building some of the biggest partnerships in consumer marketing, including deals with the NBA, Rihanna, Snoop Dogg, Jay-Z, Metallica, and more. He also tells the story of how Stance went from selling socks to becoming the first brand ever to have its logo visible on an NBA uniform. They also dive into some of Clarke's biggest lessons from decades in business, including why you should look forward instead of behind, how to build relationships that can change your career, why quickly building trust is a superpower, and what it really takes to build an aspirational brand. 00:00:00 - Introduction and Guest Welcome00:00:37 - Clarke Miyasaki's Start at vSpring00:01:07 - Learning Experiences at vSpring00:01:31 - Transition from vSpring to LogoWorks00:02:10 - Building LogoWorks and Partnership with HP00:03:34 - Joining Skullcandy00:03:57 - Early Days at Skullcandy00:04:44 - Major Partnerships at Skullcandy00:05:54 - Influencer Marketing and NBA Crew00:07:09 - Missed Opportunity with Beats by Dre00:08:56 - Skullcandy's IPO and Marketing Campaigns00:10:14 - Transition to Kickstart Seed Fund00:11:08 - Founding Kickstart and Early Challenges00:12:00 - Joining Stance and Initial Partnerships00:13:19 - Building Stance's Brand and Partnerships00:14:55 - Securing NBA Partnership for Stance00:16:58 - Becoming the Official NBA Sock00:20:01 - Impact of NBA Partnership00:22:00 - Stance's MLB Partnership00:23:02 - Leaving Stance and Joining Vivint00:24:19 - Vivint's Success Post-Acquisition00:25:32 - Q&A: VC Backing for Consumer Products00:26:32 - Q&A: Transitioning to Consumer Products00:28:44 - Q&A: Creating Aspirational Brands00:31:39 - Q&A: Self-Leadership and Overcoming Struggles00:35:20 - Q&A: Engaging with the Spanish-Speaking Community00:38:17 - Q&A: AI Search and Apparel Companies00:40:29 - Q&A: Starting Over in Brand Partnerships00:41:50 - Q&A: Evaluating Potential Partners Whether you're building a consumer brand, looking for partnerships, or simply trying to become a better entrepreneur, this conversation is packed with lessons you can put into practice.

    Start School Session: Stance Socks Chief Growth Officer Clarke Miyasaki

  2. 6d ago

    Start School Session: Chatbooks Co-Founder & CEO Nate Quigley

    In this Start School Session, Clint Betts sits down with Nate Quigley, co-founder and CEO of Chatbooks, to talk about entrepreneurship, product-market fit, leadership, family, and what it really takes to build a company that lasts. Nate shares the story behind Chatbooks, from spending years in the wilderness trying to build a family memory system to the moment his wife Vanessa told him to “just print my Instagram.” He explains how that simple insight helped Chatbooks find product-market fit and grow into a company that now prints millions of photo books every year. The conversation also explores why simplicity matters, how Chatbooks has stayed focused on its core mission, why being a physical product company has become an advantage in the age of AI, and how Nate thinks about fundraising, profitability, marketing, company culture, and sustainable growth. Nate also shares lessons on self-leadership, working with your spouse, building a family business, and why entrepreneurship is more like a mountain climb than a sprint. 00:00:00 - Nate Quigley's Entrepreneurial Journey00:00:16 - Moving from Connecticut to Florida00:00:27 - Opportunity with JetBlue Subsidiary00:01:09 - Founding Chatbooks00:01:20 - The Birth of Folk Story00:01:50 - Early Struggles and Failures00:02:54 - Vanessa's Critical Intervention00:04:07 - Moving to Utah for Better Opportunities00:05:14 - Finding Community in Utah00:06:11 - Technical Challenges with Instagram API00:08:51 - Transition from Instagram to Photo Albums00:10:54 - Simplifying the Product00:12:34 - Staying Focused on Core Products00:15:20 - Fundraising and Profitability00:16:14 - Building a Moat with Physical Products00:17:37 - Market Expansion and TAM00:18:47 - Working with Your Spouse00:20:22 - Work-Life Integration00:22:30 - Consumer Education vs. Product Ease00:24:52 - Marketing Strategies and Growth00:27:58 - Self-Leadership and Wellness00:30:36 - Data-Driven Decision Making00:33:11 - Future of Chatbooks and Potential Exit00:34:47 - Rule of 40 Explained00:36:59 - Handling Non-Digitized Photos00:38:41 - Managing Family Business Dynamics00:39:51 - Typical Day and Company Culture00:42:07 - Evolution of Silicon Slopes Community00:44:06 - Leadership Style and Lessons Whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur, startup founder, or established business leader, this conversation is packed with practical lessons on building a company, finding product-market fit, and staying in the game for the long haul. Subscribe to Silicon Slopes for more Start School Sessions and conversations with Utah’s top entrepreneurs and business leaders.

    Start School Session: Chatbooks Co-Founder & CEO Nate Quigley

  3. Aug 4

    Start School Session: First Colony Mortgage CEO Carine Clark

    Carine Clark never planned to follow a conventional career.She started as a librarian, joined Novell during the early days of Utah's tech industry, helped build iconic technology companies, served on the boards of some of Utah's most influential organizations, and eventually became CEO of First Colony Mortgage, where she helped grow the company from roughly $1 billion to more than $7 billion in annual loan volume in just two years. But the defining moment of her life had nothing to do with business.A rare cancer diagnosis forced her to rethink everything about leadership, purpose, resilience, and how she wanted to spend the time she had left. In this Start School conversation, First Colony Mortgage CEO Carine Clark joins Silicon Slopes CEO Clint Betts to share the leadership lessons she's learned from decades in Utah tech, overcoming cancer, leading through change, and building organizations that outlast the people who create them. They discuss:• How Carine helped shape Utah's technology ecosystem from the Novell era to today• The leadership lessons she learned from Ray Noorda, Eric Schmidt, and other legendary executives• Why operating is about finding straight lines and removing friction• The rare cancer diagnosis that permanently changed her perspective on life and leadership• How First Colony Mortgage grew from roughly $1 billion to more than $7 billion in annual production• Why great leaders choose courage over comfort• The importance of letting employees solve hard problems instead of solving everything for them• Building resilient teams that adapt, improvise, and overcome• How Utah can improve housing affordability and expand homeownership• Why your time is your most valuable asset and how to spend it wisely 00:00 Introduction01:10 From librarian to Utah tech pioneer08:20 Lessons from Ray Noorda, Steve Jobs, and Eric Schmidt18:00 Why Carine became CEO of First Colony Mortgage23:20 The cancer diagnosis that changed everything35:30 Building a life around purpose instead of fear40:00 Helping Ryan Caldwell's family and the power of the Silicon Slopes community44:15 Choosing courage over comfort and solving impossible problems49:00 Operating a $7 billion company by removing friction52:00 Housing affordability, leadership, and serving others54:21 Closing remarks and outro Whether you're leading a company, building your career, or facing challenges that seem impossible to overcome, Carine shares timeless lessons on leadership, resilience, service, and living with purpose.

    Start School Session: First Colony Mortgage CEO Carine Clark

  4. Jul 29

    Start School Session: Neighbor Founder & CEO Joseph Woodbury

    Joseph Woodbury didn't set out to build another software company. He set out to solve a problem his co-founder experienced firsthand after struggling to find affordable storage. That simple idea grew into Neighbor, the largest self storage marketplace in the United States, connecting people with unused space in their homes, businesses, and storage facilities. In this Start School conversation, Neighbor Founder and CEO Joseph Woodbury joins Silicon Slopes CEO Clint Betts to share what it really takes to build a marketplace business, raise venture capital, navigate changing markets, and create a company with lasting network effects in the age of AI. They discuss:• How the idea for Neighbor came from a personal frustration• Why marketplaces only succeed in massive industries• Lessons from raising capital through different market cycles• Building network effects that AI cannot easily replace• Why distribution has become the new competitive moat• How Neighbor uses AI to move faster without forcing it into every product• Creating trust between strangers in a peer to peer marketplace• The fundraising story that led to Andreessen Horowitz leading Neighbor's Series A• Why founders should build technology only after validating customer demand• The importance of solving problems that genuinely change people's lives 00:00 Introduction01:10 The story behind Neighbor and the marketplace opportunity05:20 Going all in after college and raising the seed round10:15 Why every fundraising round is different15:05 AI, network effects, and why distribution is the new moat22:00 Using AI to build more with a smaller team26:00 Building trust in a peer to peer marketplace33:45 Scaling from homeowners to enterprise real estate partners39:20 The Andreessen Horowitz fundraising story and lessons on perseverance45:00 Speed of execution, founder mode, and leading in the AI era48:10 Regulatory challenges and validating marketplace ideas50:05 Final advice for founders: Build something that changes people's lives50:43 End  Whether you're building a marketplace, launching your first startup, or trying to understand how AI is changing software businesses, Joseph shares practical lessons on product market fit, fundraising, execution, and building a durable company. Subscribe for more conversations with the founders, CEOs, and innovators shaping the future of business.

    Start School Session: Neighbor Founder & CEO Joseph Woodbury

  5. Jul 28

    Start School Session: MX Founder & CEO Ryan Caldwell

    Ryan Caldwell knows what it's like to build a company through uncertainty. As the Founder and CEO of MX, Ryan set out to solve a deeply personal problem after watching his single mother struggle financially while he received financial advice he didn't actually need. That experience inspired him to build a platform that helps financial institutions empower consumers to become financially stronger. Today, MX powers many of the world's leading financial institutions, helping millions of people better understand, manage, and improve their financial lives. In this Start School conversation, MX Founder and CEO Ryan Caldwell joins Silicon Slopes CEO Clint Betts to discuss entrepreneurship, AI, leadership, resilience, and why the companies that survive the next decade will be the ones that embrace change instead of fearing it. They discuss:• The personal experience that inspired Ryan to start MX• Why every founder needs a mission worth enduring pain for• How AI is transforming financial services and software companies• Why solving meaningful problems matters more than chasing technology• The future of banking and helping consumers become financially stronger• Building products that protect privacy while leveraging AI• How founders should think about fundraising and gaining experience• Why great companies evolve instead of being replaced• Lessons on leadership, resilience, and finding purpose through adversity• The life-changing experience that reshaped Ryan's perspective on business and life 00:00 Introduction02:10 Why Ryan started MX and the mission to strengthen consumers financially09:30 Finding a purpose worth enduring pain for15:40 Building a company without losing your family, health, or relationships21:15 How AI is transforming banking and financial services28:40 Protecting consumer privacy in the age of AI35:00 Why great SaaS companies will survive the AI revolution41:45 Raising capital, gaining experience, and knowing when to start a company48:20 Broken by default or built by design50:15 Ryan's daughter's story and finding purpose through hardship53:20 Closing remarks  Whether you're building your first startup, leading a growing company, or trying to understand how AI is changing entrepreneurship, Ryan shares practical lessons on purpose, execution, resilience, and building something that truly matters. Subscribe for more conversations with the founders, CEOs, and innovators shaping the future of business.

    Start School Session: MX Founder & CEO Ryan Caldwell

  6. Jul 28

    Start School Session: Nursa Founder & CEO Curtis Anderson

    Curtis Anderson never planned to build a healthcare marketplace. He started by buying a traditional nurse staffing agency and quickly realized the business itself was the problem. Too many middlemen. Too much friction. Too many shifts going unfilled. Instead of optimizing the old system, Curtis decided to replace it. That decision became Nursa, a technology platform that directly connects healthcare facilities with qualified nurses and caregivers.  Today, Nursa serves more than 5,500 healthcare facilities nationwide through a network of more than 400,000 clinicians, helping solve one of healthcare's biggest workforce challenges. In this Start School conversation, Nursa Founder and CEO Curtis Anderson joins Silicon Slopes CEO Clint Betts to discuss building marketplace businesses, leading through uncertainty, and why AI is creating one of the biggest entrepreneurial opportunities in history. They discuss:• Why Curtis bought a staffing agency before building Nursa• How marketplace businesses solve problems traditional software cannot• What founders can learn from Airbnb's early strategy• How Nursa scaled during the COVID-19 pandemic• The three competitive advantages every AI company needs• Why product always beats marketing• How founders should think about regulation in highly regulated industries• The challenges of building and scaling two-sided marketplaces• Why execution has never mattered more in the age of AI• Leadership lessons from George Washington and Jesus Christ 00:00 Introduction02:05 Why Curtis Anderson bought a nurse staffing agency06:40 Building a marketplace instead of an agency11:15 Launching Nursa during COVID-1916:45 How AI is transforming marketplace businesses22:00 Navigating regulation as a startup27:10 Solving cash flow and scaling a healthcare marketplace32:20 Using AI to expand into nursing education36:30 The cold start problem and building network effects39:20 Expanding beyond nurses and the future of Nursa40:45 Leadership, execution, and serving your team42:10 Closing remarks Whether you're building a marketplace, launching your first startup, or trying to understand how AI is reshaping entrepreneurship, Curtis shares practical lessons on execution, leadership, product design, and building companies that solve meaningful problems. Subscribe for more conversations with the founders, CEOs, and innovators shaping the future of business.

    Start School Session: Nursa Founder & CEO Curtis Anderson

  7. Jul 7

    Start School Session: Bucked Up Founder Ryan Gardner

    Ryan Gardner never planned to build one of the fastest-growing supplement brands in America. He and his twin brother started by helping other companies generate online traffic. Then they decided to stop building everyone else's business and build one of their own. What began with selling L-Arginine online eventually evolved into Bucked Up, a brand that transformed the supplement industry through transparent formulas, disruptive marketing, and relentless execution. Today, Bucked Up products are sold in more than 150,000 retail locations across multiple countries, and the company continues expanding into new categories while reaching millions of customers worldwide. In this Start School conversation, Bucked Up Founder Ryan Gardner joins Silicon Slopes CEO Clint Betts to share the lessons behind building a household brand, scaling a consumer products company, and leading through rapid growth. They discuss:• How Bucked Up grew from a small online business into a global brand• Why transparent products became Bucked Up's biggest competitive advantage• The branding decisions that helped the company stand out• How ambassador marketing fueled explosive growth• The role influencers play in building modern consumer brands• Why hiring experienced leaders accelerated the business• How Bucked Up is using AI to become dramatically more efficient• The biggest mistakes founders make when trying to scale• Why optimism became one of the company's greatest strengths• What Ryan would tell every entrepreneur just getting started Whether you're building an ecommerce brand, launching a consumer product, or growing your first company, Ryan shares practical lessons on marketing, leadership, innovation, and creating a brand that customers genuinely love. 00:00 Introduction02:10 From farm boys to entrepreneurs06:30 Building the first online supplement business11:15 How Bucked Up was born16:20 Branding, marketing, and why transparency won21:10 Scaling manufacturing and bringing on strategic partners26:30 Influencer marketing and building a powerful ambassador program31:00 AI, hiring great people, and scaling the organization35:30 Product innovation and staying ahead of competitors38:30 Advice for founders and leading through optimism41:15 Closing remarks Subscribe for more conversations with the founders, CEOs, and innovators shaping the future of business.

    Start School Session: Bucked Up Founder Ryan Gardner

  8. Jul 6

    Start School Session: Kiln Co-Founder & CEO Arian Lewis

    Arian Lewis was told in ninth grade that he probably shouldn't plan on going to college. He had ADHD, dyslexia, and struggled academically. Instead of letting that define him, he learned something that would shape the rest of his career. If he couldn't outsmart everyone, he could outwork them.That mindset took him from a scholarship at BYU to an MBA at Oxford, building one of the world's largest fintech accelerators for Barclays, and eventually co-founding Kiln, one of the fastest-growing premium flex office brands in the country. In this Start School conversation, Kiln Co-founder Arian Lewis joins Silicon Slopes CEO Clint Betts to discuss entrepreneurship, scaling a hospitality business, building community, and why AI is reshaping the future of work. They discuss:• Why Utah has become one of the best places in America to build a startup• The lessons Arian learned building global fintech accelerators at Barclays• How Kiln differentiated itself from WeWork• Why unit economics matter more than company valuation• What companies are really looking for in the post-COVID workplace• How AI will change hiring, careers, and entrepreneurship• Why adaptability and resilience are becoming the most valuable workplace skills• The biggest challenges of scaling a company across multiple cities• How founders can build cultures that encourage ownership and feedback• What Utah needs to become a world-class technology ecosystem Whether you're building your first startup, scaling an existing business, or trying to understand where work is headed in the AI era, Arian shares practical insights on leadership, community, and building companies that last. 00:00 Introduction02:00 Arian's journey from struggling student to entrepreneur06:00 Building a global fintech accelerator at Barclays11:15 Why Utah is built for entrepreneurship15:00 Leaving Barclays to start Kiln20:00 How Kiln differentiated itself from WeWork25:00 The future of office space after COVID30:00 AI, resilience, and the future of work34:15 Scaling company culture and leading teams37:00 What Utah needs to become a world-class tech ecosystem39:00 Closing remarks Subscribe for more conversations with the founders, CEOs, and innovators shaping the future of business.

    Start School Session: Kiln Co-Founder & CEO Arian Lewis
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About

Start School Sessions is the podcast from Start School, the free entrepreneurship program Silicon Slopes runs with Mountain America Credit Union. Each episode is one from a live session.

Information

  • Creator
    Silicon Slopes
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Silicon Slopes
  • Show Website
    Start School Sessions