StartFest

StartFEST

StartFEST is an event for all entrepreneurs and startup investors held here in Provo. It was a fantastic event that featured a slew of successful innovators and the people that helped back innovation across the state of Utah.

            I went to StartFEST because my goal this year at school is to becoming increasingly involved in the startup community and establish myself as a legitimate entrepreneur. The event featured some workshops directed by industry leaders. The first workshop I attended was focused on naming and branding startup ventures. I learned that you have to establish what kind of brand/name you’d like for your company. There are 4 options: Functional, Experiential, Invented, and Evocative. Functional names are exactly what they imply – functionality of their company. Experiential brands are hard to trademark, like Quicken. Some of the best brands are Invented  brands, however, they usually need some sort of subtitle or unique logo. Evocative brands reference something big – they seem senseless or too big, ie. Quora.

            My aspirations to be fully involved in a startup were further motivated by this branding workshop and others. I’d say my ability to come up with branding ideas, how to better access a market, and how to be creative when developing my peers business ideas was enhanced through my attendance to StartFEST.

            One of the best outcomes of StartFEST was the chance I had to mix and mingle with a large group of like-minded people. I focused much of my time at StartFEST on networking. As I continue down my unique journey as an entrepreneur, I know that skill will catapult me to the places I want to be. More importantly, as I build my network I’ll be able to help my peers and other entrepreneurs connect with the right people. This element of networking is the most intriguing to me.