Episodes
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Every entrepreneur is trying to solve a problem with their startup. To prove you’re the person for the job, how do you become an expert yourself? We’re talking with an entrepreneur who has accomplished just that. Join us in today’s conversation with Alex Shamir, Co-Founder at Yofi, and investor Tanner Potter 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 Alex’s experience at Nike and Apple drove her interest in tackling data integrity and policy abuse in e-commerce
The difference between understanding the problem your startup is solving and being obsessed with it
Why entrepreneurs should trust their gut, iterate quickly, and make hard decisions, like firing when necessary, to drive success
If investors consider the age of an entrepreneur when investing
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Running a startup is like building a car while you’re driving. We’re talking with an entrepreneur who does it all while staying buckled in. Join us in today’s conversation with Wade Anderson, President and COO of Elements, and investor Tanner Potter 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:
Starters and joiners: why you don’t need to be a founder to be an entrepreneur
The steps Wade took to determine whether Elements had product-market fit
How investors look at product retention and usage data when evaluating a company
Details on Wade’s feedback strategy and how it helps him remain self-aware
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Episodes manquant?
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Startup sales—the phrase alone is enough to stress a founder out. We're bringing in two experts who will help unlock the secret to sales success. Join us in today's conversation with Aaron McReynolds and Ryan Harris, co-founders of Alysio, 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:
How Alysio nailed down big customers early on in their startup journey and their advice to founders struggling with customer acquisition
The components that make a good sales organization
Common blind spots that trip up sales teams
Why Kat is so excited about Alysio’s financial model and how entrepreneurs can improve their company’s model
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Can VCs be founders too? We’re talking with Kickstart’s founding partners to understand how Kickstart…was kickstarted. Join us in today’s conversation with investors Gavin Christensen, Alex Soffe, and 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:
The slow grind of Kickstart's everyday life in the early days
Why no one took Utah VCs seriously and why that has changed
Low points in Kickstart’s history and how the team survived
What is next in Kickstart’s story…
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We’re breaking our regular format with a new kind of episode, with a founder who is serving some spicy opinions on how an entrepreneur can succeed. Join us in today’s conversation with Taylor Margot, Founder and CEO of Keys, and investor Tanner Potter 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 the following “hot takes”:
Why Taylor believes founders should stop listening to advice from investors (yes, this is on a podcast from investors to entrepreneurs!)
Tanner’s suggestion for founders to list the top three reasons why their businesses will die on their pitch decks
Whether or not founders actually research the VCs they’re talking to (and if it matters!)
Why VCs want to invest in entrepreneurs deeply embedded in a space rather than “trend-preneurs”
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We’re welcoming a new voice to the show! This Kickstart investor started his career at powerhouses like Vivint and Nike. Today, he’s a product-market fit expert investing in tech-obsessed founders across the Mountain West. Join us in our conversation with investors Tanner Potter and 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:
How product has impacted Tanner and Kat’s careers—and how that experience manifests in their investing habits
Advice to founders on creating their pitch decks and the importance of storytelling
Why Kickstart didn’t hire Tanner the first time he applied (awkward)
How product and sales have shaped the Mountain West ecosystem
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We talk a lot about how to grow your startup on this show. But once you’ve mastered the startup part, how do you ensure you don’t get left behind as a leader? Join us in today’s conversation with Dave Grow, CEO of Lucid Software, 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 Dave was compelled to apologize to the first person he managed at Lucid Software
How Dave developed the habit to “give away his legos”
When it’s valuable to hire specialists versus generalists
What mistakes Gavin has seen founders make that prohibit them from growing with their company
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It’s easy to get caught up in defining your startup with industry buzz words. We’re speaking with a founder who is fighting against being placed in a box. Join us in today’s conversation with Riley Hughes, Founder & CEO of Trinsic, 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:
Kickstart’s announcement on opening an office in Denver this summer
What digital identity means and how it impacts you and your privacy
How Riley transitioned from a scooter handlebar startup to sovereign identity
Why entrepreneurs shouldn’t worry about being the “pioneer problem-solver” in a market
Why many founders shy away from being labeled as a Web3 company
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Among the difficult things founders have to face, layoffs may be the worst. We sat down with a CEO who draws back the curtain on a difficult but often necessary part of startup life. Join us in today's conversation with PJ O'Neil, Co-Founder and 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:
What makes Denver and the Mountain West ripe ground for founders
Why PJ's cold email pitch stood out to Gavin
PJ's experience in making difficult layoffs at Nomad
Layoffs: what you should and shouldn't do
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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”
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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
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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
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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”
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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
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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
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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
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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”
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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
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