Historically, success in the tech industry has been defined by one thing: money, and lots of it. For the last ten years, Silicon Slopes, the voice of Utah's tech community, has been working to change that definition.
Silicon Slopes "exists to ensure Utah remains the best place in the world to start, grow, and scale a company." This mission isn't confined to a small group of tech gurus, but instead strives to include all Utahns that have a vision for their own future companies.
Silicon Slopes' CEO, Clint Betts, is leading the company on a mission to help Utahns define success in tech circles differently. He says that, "Success for us is being able to support your family and build local communities." He would know, as he's done this very thing for himself by building Silicon Slopes for the past decade.
One way Clint and Silicon Slopes are helping Utahns flourish is through their Start School program. Unveiled in their February 2026 Summit, Start School is “a free entrepreneurship program from Silicon Slopes, built in partnership with Mountain America Credit Union." The program is free, because Silicon Slopes advocates for free resources because "opportunity that costs something is not really opportunity."
Clint shared that Start School is one of the most unique things about Silicon Slopes. “It’s a way to support entrepreneurs in Utah using the culmination of ten years of knowledge and resources." Start School receives around 25 daily applications from Utahns all over the state wanting to utilize this impactful community course. Start School takes students through an online core curriculum that covers "the fundamentals of starting and running a business, from idea validation to revenue to hiring."
Entrepreneurship is often a lonely endeavor, and with so many voices vying for one's attention and offering contradicting information, it can be difficult to know where to turn for sound advice. Start School aims to ward off this concern with their mentorship model. Many of their mentors are members of Silicon Slopes' Founders Circle, and have "built real things, made real mistakes, and figured out what actually works."
Starters, or those looking to start and expand their own businesses, are matched with one of Silicon Slopes’ 150 seasoned mentors, based on the type of company the starters are building and the mentor's own experience and expertise. Start Squads, groups of four to six starters paired with a mentor, are where the real work begins. Clint explained that these weekly meetings between starters and mentors are designed to "celebrate wins and work through real challenges." Small groups like this allow better communication and understanding, and a give-and-take atmosphere that isn't as easy to replicate in larger groups.
Silicon Slopes has been serving Utah by empowering "Utah founders and companies through community, advocacy, and experiences" since 2015, and continues to adapt to the changing tech landscape to better serve the community.
"Success for us is being able to support your family and build local communities."