Silicon Slopes unveils novel program for Utah entrepreneurs

On the first day of his organization’s annual summit, Silicon Slopes co-founder and CEO Clint Betts said it’s time for a new paradigm when it comes to supporting up-and-coming Utah entrepreneurs.

And it’s one, he noted, that dispenses with the idea of traditional venture-backed accelerators that promote a race to outside funding as the primary pathway to building a new business.

“We’re taking on this idea that you have to raise venture capital to be successful,” Betts told the Deseret News in an interview ahead of the summit. “Only about 1% of startups are actually suited for that kind of approach. We’re building something for the other 99%.”

On Wednesday morning, Betts unveiled Start School, a new initiative that is free to participants and structured to avoid many common startup program features, including equity stakes, demo days, pitch competitions and investor-driven benchmarks. According to the organization, Start School’s sole purpose is to help Utah entrepreneurs build sustainable, profitable businesses — without pressure to raise capital or scale faster than makes sense.

“We exist to serve Utah’s entrepreneurial community, all of them,” Betts told the summit audience. “Not just the founders who fit the venture backed mold. For the past year, we’ve been asking ourselves what would it look like to build something different? Not an accelerator. Not a program designed to funnel founders toward investors.”

Betts said the program is built around open access and rejects what he described as the startup world’s reliance on “gatekeeping and warm introductions.”

Start School, he said, accepts entrepreneurs based on commitment rather than credentials, connections or perceived “investability” and does not charge tuition or fees. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Silicon Slopes emphasizes that it does not profit from participant success, invest in companies or broker investor introductions for compensation.

What is Start School?

Start School’s curriculum, per the program description, focuses on practical business-building skills and personal leadership rather than investor-oriented frameworks. Betts said the program is especially intended for founders who may never seek venture capital, reflecting a belief that most businesses are better served by steady growth than by “grow at all costs” models.

Silicon Slopes also points to fast-emerging artificial intelligence-driven tools as a key reason for the program’s launch. The organization says AI advances have lowered barriers to entry and made it possible for small teams — or even solo founders — to build viable companies. Start School, according to Betts, aims to teach entrepreneurs how to use those tools effectively and update startup playbooks for what the organization calls a newly leveled playing field.

“This means the calculus has shifted,” reads the Start School website. “You don’t need to raise millions to compete. You don’t need to hire fast and hope the revenue catches up. You can build something real, profitable and sustainable from the start.”

During Wednesday’s announcement, Betts said mentoring opportunities through Start School will include access to a group of veteran Utah founders, all of whom have built businesses driving $100 million or more in annual revenues.

“They’ve navigated the challenges you’re facing,” he said. “They’ve made the mistakes you’re trying to avoid and they’ve agreed to give back by mentoring the next generation. In any other context, any other ecosystem, access to founders at this level would require connections, introductions, and luck. At Start School, it requires a willingness to learn.”

The Silicon Slopes summit continues through Saturday at the Salt Palace Convention Center in downtown Salt Lake City.

Contributing: Minty Buckwalter