As ‘Unicorns’ Emerge, Utah Makes a Case for Tech Entrepreneurs
“With no outside funding, there’s no lifeline and you have to figure it out on your own.”
One reason for the growth, said Mark Gorenberg, a venture capitalist with Zetta Venture Partners in San Francisco, is the emphasis
that some start-ups have placed on data analytics — a growing field that has helped put the state on the map.
Last month, for example, several founders worked until 3 a.m. at Mr. Smith’s home, organizing a January conference meant to coincide with the Sundance Film Festival in Utah — an effort to create a tech
and entertainment conference similar to the annual South by Southwest festival in Austin, Tex.
“Founders viewed their companies like they’re building the family business or a farm — they’re building them to keep,” said Ryan Smith, the founder of Qualtrics, a data analytics company
that focuses on surveys and other research for corporate and academic clients.
Mr. Smith’s father, Scott, started Qualtrics in 2002 to help businesses measure customer
and client satisfaction; the younger Mr. Smith joined the nascent company while an undergraduate at Brigham Young University after doctors diagnosed cancer in his father (who has since recovered).