Supporting Local Entrepreneurs in Utah County
Recently, Utah County’s startup scene received a significant boost as two innovative entrepreneurs were awarded funding through the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity’s Get Started: Business Idea Competition. This initiative encourages local entrepreneurs to present their business ideas and gain the financial support they need to grow.
Meet the Winners
Stephen Olson from Lehi and Malorie Black from Provo were among the early winners in this business pitch competition, which aims to support initiatives with a cash prize of $500 for essential business milestones. Each has a distinct vision for their projects.
Malorie Black and goGood
As the founder and CEO of goGood, Malorie Black is focused on connecting volunteers with nonprofit organizations through a modern platform that appeals to younger generations. She stated, ‘I wanted to focus on helping the younger generation, especially those in their 20s, make serving and donating a part of their culture.’
goGood distinguishes itself from other service apps by introducing a gamified approach to volunteering. Users earn points for their service, which can be exchanged for rewards, like discounts from local businesses. Black’s commitment to ending generational poverty inspires her to leverage technology for social good.
Investing in the Future
The recent funding will assist Black in developing her branding and establishing legal structures for her company. She is already collaborating with nonprofits to understand their needs, aiming for the goGood app to be functional for organizations by summer and available for volunteers by year’s end. Black encourages new entrepreneurs, saying, ‘The world needs more entrepreneurs, so I would say to go for it. There’s a lot of support out there just waiting to help you on your journey.’
Stephen Olson’s Health Venture
On the other hand, Stephen Olson’s venture, Benchmark Body Metrics, aims to enhance the health journey for individuals through precise body composition analysis. This Lehi-based business provides in-person scans that measure essential health indicators.
Olson transitioned from the tech industry, stating, ‘I got burned out of the corporate tech world and wanted to launch a company and do something I love.’ With his winnings, Olson plans to invest in additional testing equipment, expanding the variety of services offered at his new facility.
Conclusion
Both Olson and Black exemplify the spirit of innovation and community-focused entrepreneurship being fostered in Utah County. Their success through the Get Started program highlights the importance of state-supported initiatives in enabling local startups to thrive.
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