Grow Utah Ventures along with Funding Universe, unveiled a new entrepreneur forum, the Northfront Entrepreneur Alliance (NEA) yesterday in Kaysville at a Business Ignitor Series event. The NEA will serve as a way for entrepreneurs in Northern Utah to develop creative ideas and to network with business leaders.

 

“This is really a forum for entrepreneurs in Northern Utah to meet regularly and have the opportunity to network,” said Craig Bott, president and CEO of Grow Utah Ventures. “There is nothing like this in all of Northern Utah and it allows entrepreneurs to have a forum where they will meet regularly and rub shoulders with other entrepreneurs, with mentors, advisors, angel investors, and with service providers.”

 

The organization will hold regular meetings throughout the year to provide the entrepreneurs with a place to express their ideas. Meetings will incorporate training components such as workshops and seminars, awards ceremonies to recognize Northern Utah entrepreneurs, and an ignitor event each month. The ignitor events will give entrepreneurs the chance to pitch their idea for a business to a panel of angel investors.

 

Bott said start-ups and new ventures generated within the forum will be instrumental in saving the state’s sluggish economy. “It will stimulate business development and it will provide opportunities and support for existing entrepreneurs,” he said.