Editor's Note

 

Alan Hall's Editor's Note

November/December 2006

Launch Magazine

 

Welcome to the inaugural issue of Launch, the magazine for Utah's entrepreneurs brought to you by Grow Utah Ventures.

Why Launch and why now? It's all part of Grow Utah Ventures' plan to help foster entrepreneurship in the state.

I believe we are entering a golden age for entrepreneurship here in Utah. We have talented, dedicated, intelligent and hard-working people considering, for the first time ever, starting a company. The economic forecast, funding environment, business schools and government support have never been better in Utah. All of the resources and opportunities existing today for entrepreneurs truly make it a great time to start a business.

When I started MarketStar 18 years ago in my basement, I didn't have many of the resources available to me that entrepreneurs have today. Access to funding was extremely limited and unorganized, few organizations existed to give entrepreneurs advice and until recently, many business schools did not recognize the value of entrepreneurship programs and courses.

After I sold MarketStar, my wife Jeanne and I decided to use the proceeds from the sale of the company to help educate Utah's youth and grow local businesses. We did this not for the recognition or accolades, but out of humility, knowing it was the right thing to do.

One of the ways we used the money to do good was to start Grow Utah Ventures. It was started as a way to give back to the business community by providing funding assistance and mentoring to some of Utah's most promising new companies and young entrepreneurs.

Besides investment capital, Grow Utah Ventures helps organize local angel investment groups, provides mentoring and educational programs for entrepreneurs and also operates two Northern Utah locations of the E Station business incubator.

I invite you to visit www.growutahventures.com to learn more about Grow Utah Ventures' offerings.

I hope you enjoy this first issue of Launch. We at Grow Utah Ventures hope this magazine becomes a fantastic educational and research tool for both current and would-be entrepreneurs.

Please send me your feedback, suggestions and comments to feedback@launchutah.com.

- Alan E. Hall

Grow Utah Ventures Founder and Chairman