Peri Kinder
In the eight years since the first Silicon Slopes Summit, the event has grown, adapted, upgraded and evolved into a big celebration of business in Utah. Bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, professionals and thought leaders from around the globe, the 2023 Silicon Slopes is scheduled for Sept. 27-28 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.
Collin Francom, Silicon Slopes business development manager said the summit is an opportunity to showcase the state’s strong economy and called the event “a family reunion of Utah business.” He said the organization is trying to shift the event from a traditional business conference to a cultural event.
“Companies all over the state get together to shake hands, brush shoulders with each other and basically help facilitate more networking and growth for the state of Utah,” Francom said. “It’s the best networking opportunity in the state and drives a lot of traffic from outside of the state. People are recognizing Utah’s doing something special. The economy here is the best in the country and we want that networking to happen here in our backyard.”
The event kicks off on Wednesday morning with Jim Kwik, the founder of Kwik Brain and New York Times bestselling author of “Celebrity Brain Coach.” What follows is a line-up of leaders across industries including business strategist Tony Robbins, Yahoo CEO Jim Lanzone, Vaynermedia CEO Gary Vaynerchuk, ESPN chairman
Jimmy Pitaro and serial entrepreneur Jesse Itzler.
As Utah gains notoriety as a hotspot for entrepreneurial ventures, thought leaders from Apple to Meta are paying attention, Silicon Slopes said. While it’s definitely an attraction to get big names and popular speakers to attend the event, the purpose is to highlight the state.
“We want the whole world to recognize that Utah is doing incredible things, that if you are eager to build a company, to network with other companies, grow your company or find a position that’s life changing, Utah is the place to do it,” Francom said. “Having the speakers there is just added motivation, excitement and energy that makes the event that much better.”
While the state has enjoyed spectacular success and growth in the tech industry over the years, the Silicon Slopes Summit is open to anyone from any business. Francom estimated that more than 40 percent of attendees are not from tech companies but represent industries such as healthcare, ecommerce, travel or finance.
He also wants to bust the myth that attendees must be CEOs, CMOs or entrepreneurs who have built billion-dollar companies. Everyone is invited to the summit, regardless of position, title, industry or company size.
“You’ll find a lot of a lot of job seekers, you’ll find a lot of students that are early in their careers and motivated to network and shake hands with other people. And that right there is the spirit of the event,” Francom said. “Come to network and be inspired and learn and really celebrate Utah for being what it is, which according to U.S. News, is the best state in the country.”
Information about the event is available at summit.siliconslopes.com.