Insights on the Future of Work with Dan Bladen

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

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

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…

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”

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

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

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

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

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