SUMMIT 2026 marks ten years of Utah's tech community betting on each other. The relationships that started here have become companies, partnerships, and friendships that shaped careers. Yours might be next.

We’ve saved a seat for you!

https://summit.ing/

📣 CALL FOR Silicon Slopes and Visit Salt Lake SUMMIT VOLUNTEERS!

Join the crew this year and all your wildest dreams will come true....

This year’s event is going to be next level!

We’re planning some unique experiences and activations, and we’d love for you to be a part of the fun!

Also, Jared Hess is actually a speaker… so this was the obvious meme to use.

Let’s party! Link in the comments to volunteer.

In this interview, Dr. Astrid S. Tuminez, President of Utah Valley University; Dr. Seth Jenson, entrepreneurship researcher and policy leader at the UVU Baugh Entrepreneurship Institute; and Hunter Anderton, founder and CEO of Simpll, share insights on leadership, innovation ecosystems, and building opportunity at scale.

Dr. Tuminez reflects on her journey from growing up in the Philippines to becoming a global leader in technology, public policy, and higher education—and the first woman to serve full-time as UVU president. Dr. Jenson brings a global perspective from his work with Oxford, Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Techstars, and national entrepreneurship programs, while Hunter offers a founder’s view from scaling a blockchain startup to over $1M in ARR in its early stages.

Whether you’re a founder, student, or community leader, this conversation delivers real-world insight and inspiration on building the future of innovation.

In this episode of Mental Health Momentum, host Dr. David Morgan, licensed psychologist and Director of Mental Health Awareness at Silicon Slopes, sits down with Julie Janke, Founder & Publisher of Millcreek Lifestyle Magazine, for an honest conversation about identity, purpose, isolation, and the courage it takes to choose alignment over comfort.

With more than two decades of experience in media, partnerships, and community building, Julie shares her personal mental health journey—from navigating motherhood and identity shifts, to the quiet toll of professional isolation, to the leap of faith that led her to entrepreneurship.

On January 20th from 6–8 PM at Silicon Slopes in Lehi, you’re invited to our TalkAI Meet Up. Seats are limited and going fast.

Dinner, refreshments, and some of the sharpest brains in business, sales, marketing, and AI.

Event Takeaways:
• Practical AI insights you can use immediately
• How companies are actually using AI (not the fantasy version)
• Strategize directly with powerhouse operators and industry experts
• Dinner + great conversation

Agenda

6:00 PM- Meet & Greet

Food and fast connections.

6:15 PM- The State Of AI

What's actually happening, what's noise, and what's about to smack every industry in the face.

6:45 PM- Live Audience–Panel Dialogue

An open conversation where panelists and the audience engage directly, share ideas in real time, and shape the discussion together.

7:30 PM- Wrap

We'll shut it down at 7:30 unless the arguments get good.

Seats are extremely limited. Grab yours before they’re gone!

Invite your friends and coworkers. If you want to bring a guest make sure they do their own registration!

https://luma.com/hvnpa89q 

AI is changing ecommerce right now - and this event dives into how.

We've all heard the hype, seen fun videos online of how AI will completely change how we advertise and run our businesses.

But what is hype and what is real? Where do you need to invest in AI, and what is available right now?

In this unique format, Commerce Catalyst is hosting an AI in Ecom full-day workshop. You'll learn from multiple keynotes, network with other brands, and get follow-up questions answered in breakout sessions with industry experts.

Covering topics like GEO/Agentic commerce, content creation, ads, CX and product discoverability… the sky is the limit with what AI can do, and we aim to cover more of that!”

Link to RSVP: https://luma.com/jvwnjkbb

On January 20, you’re invited to the second session of our free, four-part, live "Lunch & Learn" series on Salary Negotiation at Silicon Slopes hosted by A Bolder Way Forward.

Closing the Gap is a free, four-part, live series from Bolder Way Forward’s Gender Pay Gap Spoke. If you want better pay for yourself, more equitable pay across your workplace, or you aim to be a fair, effective leader, this series is for you. We’ll start with the basics—what Utah’s gender pay gap is (the difference in average earnings between women and men) and why it persists—then build to clear, repeatable salary-negotiation tactics you can use right away.

Seats are limited so reserve yours TODAY!
Click here for more details: 

In 2025 alone, the tech industry has already laid off over 200,000 professionals. Yet, nearly 750,000 AI-related jobs remain open, offering a 56% wage premium.

The message is clear: The gap between "traditional" software engineering and AI engineering is widening. Which side of the gap are you on?

You want to upskill, but you are overwhelmed by the breakneck speed of AI advances.

You don't need another video tutorial. You need a structured learning pathway to turn your projects/ideas into reality.

Introducing: AI Engineering Development Program By Saras AI Institute

Designed in collaboration with:

• Eduardo Kassner, Chief AI & Data Officer at Microsoft

• Tomas Pfister, Head of AI Research at Google Cloud

Master the most in-demand skills—10x Coding, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Agentic AI, GenAI, and Custom LLMs—by building a GitHub portfolio of 4 enterprise-grade projects.

Format: 4 Courses | 5 Months | Online, Live (once a week)

Don't let the AI revolution leave you behind. Invest in yourself. Invest in your future.

Start date is Feb 2.

USBCI, a program run from the governor's office, is preparing for their 3rd and final tranche of $20 million dollars to lend to Utah business. We are looking to line up borrowers to secure funds. Funds should be ready early 2026. The program is looking to help businesses expand and bring jobs to Utah by providing lower interest rates. 

 USBCI Qualifications 

• Small business <750 looking to expand and create jobs that can’t get full funding

 in the traditional setting. 

• Positive equity even just one penny

• Positive Cash flow to debt service a ratio 1:1

• If purchasing real estate it must be 100% owner occupied

• The business can’t access capital on reasonable terms. 

• The funds have no federal or government funds incorporated into the loan. 

• Amortization can’t exceed 20 years 

• Provide funds up to 50% of loan requests in partnership with bank or loan fund.

• Must be collateralized 100%

• Each natural person with a 20% or more ownership interest in the operating company

 OR passive company must guarantee the loan. 

• The lender will do an appraisal of their standards for collateral 

• Loan can't exceed NCUA’s guidelines for interest ceiling 

• Fees can’t exceed 3%

Interest rates:

• 0-35 months - .5%

• 36-59 months - 1%

• 60-83 months - 1.5%

• 84-119 months - 2%

• 120-179 months - 2.5%

• 180-240 months - 3%
  

The state requires that an Economic Development Organization helps facilitate loans and the state's money.  Alex Leonardi at Davis County is the best contact for this and can work with approved banks to help facilitate loans.

Reach out to Alex at 801-698-4863 or [email protected]. 

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!