The Kickstart Podcast

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