Found In The Rockies

In today’s episode, we have Wesley Eames, CEO and founder of after.com. Wesley is working to fix what is an antiquated and broken funeral system and he has the entrepreneur chops to do it.

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Wesley’s early start in entrepreneurship at 12.
• Wesley’s background in business.
• Trace.com - genealogy - Wesley’s first VC backed company
• Diving into dating apps by buying another startup - MeetMindful
• Founding Tales.com with his wife
• The importance of memorializing stories.
• Why death tech?
• The death of big funeral - https://youtu.be/0hU1-kIGhJo
• No one has tried this before. Why is that?
• The environmental impact
• How death traditions have changed
• Finding a co-founder.
• The pre-planning services
• What are the locations?
• Adding the death insurance component
• Wesley’s thoughts on the future of the industry.
• Wesley’s thoughts on legacy

Resources:

Website: https://www.after.com/

Wes Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weames/

Wes Twitter: https://twitter.com/WesleyEames

After LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/after-com/

In today’s episode, we welcome back the original host of Found in the Rockies - Stef Sample. Stef now has a new company, FUNDID, which is empowering business owners on their growth journeys by simplifying business finance & access to capital

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Growing up in Billings, MT
• Moving to Missoula to study Chinese
• The Insight Studio and supporting other entrepreneurs
• How The Insight Studio helped inspire FUNDID.
• Raising her Seed round.
• Thinking of fundraising like a competitive sport
• The importance of having a good marketing plan in an ecosystem.
• If you ask for advice, you get money. If you don’t ask for money you get advice.
• How the VC world is broken.
• Closing the seed round.
• Getting business funding to small businesses - which account for 98% of all women owned businesses
• Launching a business charge card direct to those who need it.
• A move to Salt Lake to grow FUNDID
• Family Balance

Resources:

Website: https://www.getfundid.com/

Stef LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefaniesample/

FUNDID LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fundid/

In today’s episode, I speak with Zach Smith, who is the founder of the FinTech company, Align Tech, and also on a professional mission to improve financial literacy for young people. Zach's journey is underscored by his persistent commitment to create value respect and lead people from all backgrounds and walks of life.

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Zach’s story and how it all began.
• Men of Tomorrow
• Growing up in Florida and having mentorship.
• How Zach’s life changed after he left the University of Florida and went to Nantucket.
• How did Zach end up in the Rockies
• The endless beach vs. the humbling mountains of entrepreneurship.
• Working with Uber - creating Mobile Auto and Diesel
• Relationship with Lincoln Tech
• What was the inspiration for Best Mobile?
• Why you have to be humble enough to recognize your own expertise.
• Developing AlignTech
• Zack’s background in crypto trading and crypto mining.
• Zach’s thoughts on entrepreneurship as a solo quest versus a family quest.
• Finding your purpose.
• What is next for Zach and his growth.

Resources:

Website: aligntech.io

Zach LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharey-smith-itilv4-0aa014123/

In today’s episode, we have an incredible team, building data driven solutions to power Diversity, Equity and Inclusion change. It's practical, real and focused. This is going to be a great episode, I'm pleased to welcome Jason Thompson, and Justus Thompson co-founders of CAPE inclusion.

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Introducing Jason Thompson and Justus Thompson.
• Jason’s career in diversity and inclusion.
• The Olympic and Paralympic teams.
• Justus’s start building diversity programs.
• Working at TechStars.
• Jason’s book: Diversity and Inclusion Matters
• CAPE Inclusion: Collect, Analyze, Plan, and Execute
• The disconnect between the data and the people who use it.
• Why companies don’t focus on diversity inclusion and/or cut the programs
• The first MVP.
• What TechStars taught Justus about being a founder
• The partnership with Javier as an angel investor
• What is exciting Justus about the business right now
• Diversity is constrained by who leaves and who stays.
• Don’t try to “boil the ocean”
• What’s the right data? What are the metrics?
• Understanding blind spots
• Diversity training is tailored to the actual problem.
• Why you need to be serious about diversity in your investments.

Resources:

Website: https://www.capeinclusion.com/

Justus LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justus-thompson-he-him-his-02ab64101/

Jason LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thompso4/

CAPE Inclusion LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/capeinclusion/

CAPE Inclusion Twitter: https://twitter.com/capeinclusion

CAPE Inclusion Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/capeinclusion

CAPE Inclusion Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/capeinclusion/

In today’s episode, we have another incredible story that takes us from Idaho, to the great State of Utah. I am excited to welcome Rilee Butters, who is the co-founder and CEO of Dónde the travel as a benefit company that is taking PTO to the next level.

Here’s a closer look at the episode:

• Rilee’s childhood in Idaho and looking for a place to belong
• How a trip to India started her love of travel
• From a collegiate athlete to BYU Advertising Program
• Film producing
• How Rilee’s experiences prepared her for Dónde
• Leaving advertising to chase her dream
• Why a travel company?
• How much PTO goes unused each year
• Empowered-PTO
• What is “good PTO” and how does it drive ROI?
• How Dónde works
• The value of travel in workplace culture
• The first year and challenges of COVID
• Optimizing the time during COVID to focus on the tech
• Raising money - while pregnant
• Advice to other women/mothers who are entrepreneurs
• Importance of confidence
• What’s coming up in the next few months?

Resources:

Website: godonde.com

Rilee Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rbuttars/?hl=en

Dónde LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/d%C3%B3nde/

Dónde Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/go_donde/