Jess Toolson, CEO and founder of Mixhers, joins us tomorrow for this week’s Silicon Slopes Friday Conversations (Dec. 12). And she’s bringing the kind of candor and energy that has made her one of Utah’s most inspiring consumer-product leaders. 

Jess built Mixhers from a kitchen-table idea into a fast-growing wellness brand trusted by women nationwide, and her story is equal parts grit, intuition, and unapologetic passion for women’s health.

States aren’t waiting for Washington.

California, Colorado, and others have already passed or proposed AI legislation. More are moving fast. And that creates a real problem for every company building with AI right now.

Do you design for the most restrictive state? Do you wait and see what happens at the federal level? Do you build different versions for different markets?

A patchwork approach means massive compliance burdens and constant uncertainty. A federal approach might take years and still miss what matters at the local level.

Either way, Utah’s tech community needs to understand what’s coming and how to prepare for it.

Utah is quickly emerging as one of the most influential voices in America’s AI conversation. And this Silicon Slopes discussion with Gavin Christensen, Kickstart Fund founder and VC, and Margarent Busse, Executive Director, Utah Department of Commerce, shows why:

Ten years. 

Thousands of attendees. 

Hundreds of global leaders. 

Four days. 

Two partners. 

One unforgettable experience.

The countdown to the 10th Annual Silicon Slopes Summit is officially on.

For four days, Salt Lake City becomes the home base for visionaries, builders, creators, athletes, and leaders—everyone shaping what’s next for our communities, industries, and world.

This year marks a powerful collaboration between Silicon Slopes and Visit Salt Lake—a partnership rooted in the belief that when tech, tourism, culture, and community unite, Utah becomes unstoppable. SUMMIT is the best of both organizations working together to create something extraordinary.

At SUMMIT 2026, you’ll experience:

• Keynotes from the leading minds in innovation, AI, frontier tech, funding, and human performance
  

• Cross-industry conversations that bring tech, sport, film, and creativity to the same stage
  

• Hands-on labs where ideas collide and builders roll up their sleeves
  

• VIP Deep-Dive Salons at Edison House
  

• Day 4: WINTER ROUNDUP — a Salt Lake celebration blending urban energy with western ski culture, music, food, and experiences you can only get in Utah
  

We’re keeping SUMMIT intentionally limited to fuel meaningful conversations and real connection. Because of that, tickets will sell out. Especially VIP.

If SUMMIT is on your 2026 goals list, this is your moment.

Early-Bird tickets are available now. Reserve yours today. 

https://summit.ing/

We are delighted to partner with Utah Tech Week to support our local community with a public platform for startups, VC firms, community organizations—anyone who champions Utah’s startup ecosystem.

Utah Tech Week has shared that there are no official UTW events scheduled during SUMMIT.

Their activities will take place earlier in the week—Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday—so the community can fully lean into SUMMIT on Feb. 4 - 7.

It’s the kind of alignment and generosity that reminds us why Utah works the way it does. When we move with intention and make room for one another, the whole community rises.

There’s no cost to host or attend Utah TECH WEEK—just a shared passion for building Utah’s tech scene. Utah Tech Week is offered by the people, for the people, and happening wherever people want. 

Want to host an event, or just be part of the conversation? Click here:

In this Mental Health Momentum episode, Dr. David Morgan sits down with marketer-turned-health-advocate James Keddington for a candid conversation about the realities of mental health, especially inside the workplace. 

After working over 20 years in marketing, James found himself facing a perfect storm of physical decline, trauma, and spiraling mental health. What began as exhaustion and stress evolved into two years of nightmares, deteriorating health, and hidden suicidal ideation.

What pulled him back was a single, startling moment.

Today, James is committed to speaking openly about the mental health struggles so many employees keep hidden by engaging in conversation that shines a light on the messy middle of personal change, the weight of workplace trauma, and the urgent need for healthier, more human-centered work environments.

During this Friday Conversation, Rob Morris opens up about the highs and lows of his professional NFL career, including a devastating knee injury his rookie season and the unimaginable loss of triplets during the 2006 NFL season. Those experiences — paired with the constant grind of recovering, reinventing, and showing up under pressure — became the foundation for his Building Blocks of Resilience framework: exposure to challenge, intentional response, diversity, guiding principles with flexible execution, adaptive reserves, feedback loops and learning, optimal connectivity, and shared purpose.

Rob’s story is rare: It’s one of a top-tier athlete who experienced the glamour of the NFL and the deepest pain of personal loss. More importantly, he didn’t stop at surviving. Instead, he transformed, rebuilt, and now helps others do the same.

Celebrate The Season: Holiday Lights At The BallPark At America First Square

From November 14th thru January 3, 2026, step into South Jordan’s newest holiday tradition — a walk-through light show that transforms the ballpark into a dazzling wonderland of lights, music, and interactive fun. 

Walk the base paths, stand on the field, and marvel at the 60-foot Christmas tree synchronized to holiday music. The entire outfield comes alive with choreographed light shows every 20 minutes. 

Explore glowing tunnels, larger-than-life displays, and themed zones like Candy Cane Lane or a festive 9-hole mini golf course. Kids will love the interactive stomp pads, playful “yeti snowball toss,” and more. 

Whether it’s your first visit or a returning tradition, the Ballpark at America First Square brings holiday spirit to life in a magical, unforgettable way. 

Celebrate the season with the tech and entrepreneurial community! Join Mayer Brown LLP and Silicon Slopes Davis County for our Holiday Social at Builder Studios in Bountiful. Enjoy festive food, great company, and fun activities including a golf simulator, climbing wall, ping pong, and plenty of opportunities to connect. The event is free, but spots are limited to 120 attendees, so be sure to register today.

Upskill Your Engineering Team for AI in 5 Months

Most companies are racing to scale AI, but internal upskilling often moves too slowly or isn’t technical enough. The MasterAIDev program from Saras AI Institute transforms your existing developers into AI-capable engineers without slowing down current delivery.

Why Saras Instead of Internal Training?

• Faster ROI: Companies see 3–4× returns on AI training. Even one AI-driven improvement can repay the entire pilot.

• Zero Internal Overhead: No need to build or maintain training internally, and your team still keeps shipping.

• Expert-Led: Curriculum built with AI leaders from Microsoft & Google.

• Cost-Effective: $2,495 total per learner for the full 5-month program.

Develop Employees while building operational growth

By the end of the program, your developers will have built four business-aligned AI prototypes, gained the ability to independently design and deploy real AI solutions, and created immediate value tied to your priorities. The program strengthens retention, reduces reliance on consultants, and leaves you with a sustainable in-house AI capability that continues to compound in value long after the pilot ends.

Saras AI Institute is the world’s first AI-exclusive, fully online, degree-granting higher education institution proudly based in Salt Lake City, Utah.

On January 21, 2026, we are separating the dreamers from the doers.

Come experience a TV pilot filming right in front of you—the audience! 

This is an investor-focused room. Attendees include investors, operators, founders, and those who understand the stakes of a pitch.

What to Expect:

Eight CEOs. One stage. Two pitches each.

The first look at THE CUT, the upcoming TV show that reveals the person behind the pitch. Watch as CEOs from the 15-city national tour face real investors, pressure, and pure chaos to prove what it takes to build and sell a company.

Each CEO delivers their seed+ raise after presenting a horribly mysterious bad business idea.

This is not the full show. It’s the live gauntlet that feeds into it.

We're going beyond the WHAT to find the WHO behind the next big bet.

We've already helped founders raise more than $8 million in funding, and counting!

January 21, 2026 (10 AM to 11 PM)

Event Schedule:

10:00-10:30am Welcome Notes - A message from Kent Richeson

10:30-11:00am Reverse Pitch - Our six investors will present on who they invest in.

11:00-11:30am Why This Works - A message from the Co-Founders of THE CUT

12:00-1:00pm Lunch

1:00-1:30pm Powered By - Panelist and special guests

1:30-2:30pm Prep & Find Your Seat

**3:00-6:00pm TV Pilot Filming: The CUT - 8 CEOs present to renowned investors

**7:30-10:00pm Investor Only Dinner

$500 OFF Investor code: VIPINVEST

70% OFF Non-Investor code: SLOPENON

Click here for more info:

https://luma.com/bl50qj8j

Shape the Future of Silicon Slopes!