Marriott Student Review Volume 1 Article 5 Issue 1 The Power of Words

April 2017 BYU Tech Club: At the Base of Silicon Slopes William R. Adams BYU Marriott School, [email protected]

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Recommended Citation Adams, William R. (2017) "BYU Tech Club: At the Base of Silicon Slopes," Marriott tS udent Review: Vol. 1 : Iss. 1 , Article 5. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/marriottstudentreview/vol1/iss1/5

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the All Journals at BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Marriott Student Review by an authorized editor of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. Adams: BYU Tech Club 3. The death spiral. As insurance premi- The Bottom Line ums continue to rise, only the very sick No matter what happens in Congress, BYU TECH CLUB will choose to buy health insurance. At someone is going to pay for health some point along this spiral, insurance care. Don’t expect a replacement to companies will die, as losses add up. Obamacare anytime soon, but do expect continued weakening of its infrastruc- To prevent a death spiral, Congress ture. Republicans have already started made government funds available for pulling plugs on the legislation, and the AT THE BASE OF SILICON SLOPES use during what was called the “Risk health insurance industry’s resilience will Corridor.” Because of the drastic change be tried, with no guarantee of any bail- in who participated in health care markets out. Obamacare, Congress’s patient, has (a big increase in clients), accurate pricing a lot of preexisting conditions, and it became effectively impossible. The Risk doesn’t sound like anyone wants to give Corridor Funds were intended to shore up it insurance. insurance companies that priced too low and incurred losses. Notes: 1. “Executive Order Minimizing the Economic Burden of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Pending Insuring the insurance companies in this Repeal,” The White House, https://www.whitehouse.gov/ the-press-office/2017/01/2/executive-order-minimizing- way created an additional moral hazard; economic-burden-patient-protection-and, (January 20, almost all the companies underpriced. 2017). With the promise of tax dollars to bail 2. Brian Blase, “Overwhelming Evidence that Obamacare Caused Premiums to Increase Substantially,” https:// Flickr User: a4gpa them out if they lost money, they had no www.forbes.com/sites/theapothecary/2016/07/28/ motivation to price correctly. A death spi- overwhelming-evidence-that-obamacare-caused-premiums- to-increase-substantially/#2bcab13615be, (July 28, 2016). By William Adams to fuel their growth. For Brigham Young ral was avoided, but moral hazard racked 3. Kimberly Amadeo, “Obamacare Pre-Existing up a hefty bill, now up to around 8.3 bil- Conditions,” https://www.thebalance.com/obamacare-pre- University, the response to such explosive 4 existing-conditions-3306072, (January 5, 2017). lmost a decade has passed since Josh growth is the formation of what some have lion dollars. If Republicans choose to stop 4. Shelby Livingston, “The state of the ACA’s risk corridors,” bailing out companies, the insurance mar- http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20161205/ AJames christened the area connect- called “the newest, hottest club on cam- ket may again face a death spiral risk. NEWS/161129937, (December 5, 2017). ing Salt Lake and Counties as Silicon pus”: the BYU Tech Club. Slopes. James, the founder of Omniture Letting Obamacare decay will cause and Domo, originally chose the nickname The story of BYU’s Tech Club begins in late another period of uncertainty, and as a nod to the technology metropolis of 2014. John Koelliker was a sophomore on Congress and the President have to Northern California and as a bit of a mar- an investment banking recruiting trip in decide how they will proceed. Promising a keting ploy to garner attention for Utah’s San Francisco. Amidst the stops to differ- “bailout” of sorts will generate security for own nascent tech scene.1 ent financial institutions, the group paid insurance companies and individuals who a visit to ’s corporate headquar- rely on them, but the past shows such a Since that time, Silicon Slopes has kept ters. A light bulb went on in John’s head: bailout will not be free. Without funds to Utah’s press corps busy and propelled its “We should be placing more top students shore up potential losses, companies will business community to lead the nation in at tech companies in !” be forced to predict more accurately, but economic growth.2 The few original acres the tendency will be to price high rather surrounding Thanksgiving Point have Returning to school, John couldn’t find than low. More companies will likely fail. expanded to include most of the Wasatch an organization specifically designed to Front, comprising dozens of startups and help students from every major learn more even spawning four unicorns.3 As the pro- about tech and get connected to opportu- liferation of tech companies has continued, nities at companies like Google or Apple. businesses have turned to local universities “There were several niche clubs trying to

Published by14 BYU msr ScholarsArchive, 2017 Winter 2017 15 1 Marriott Student Review, Vol. 1, Iss. 1 [2017], Art. 5 The Bottom Line: Now in its first semester as an official our real measure of success will be how BYU organization, the Tech Club has seen many students within our club actually get In the last decade, Utah has seen unprecedented growth in the high-tech growth mirroring that of the surrounding internships and job offers as a result of our space. BYU’s new Tech Club is the university’s response. With a dedicated startups within the valley. From the orig- events,” says Erika Mahterian, the club’s group of students and the interest of local professionals, the club is out to inal team of five students, the club has VP of Member Experience. help you land the job of your dreams. exploded with 170 students attending the club’s kickoff and over 100 participating in The club is starting to see success in its placement efforts. One student, for exam- get a toe hold,” he recalls, “but nothing wasn’t a lack of interest; the school sim- Will building relationships with ple, came to the club’s kickoff with a casual substantial was happening because none ply didn’t have the infrastructure to take companies in Utah inhibit the curiosity in technology. After meeting of them had as their driving purpose place- on the daunting task of getting business Tech Club from making in-roads in with a club member who had worked at ment in elite tech companies.” Continuing students without technical skills into tech- Silicon Valley? Amazon, the student applied to the com- to research, John found that most of the nology giants like Google and Facebook.” pany and ultimately accepted a summer top universities across the nation had a “I think it is important to keep internship. technology club with just that purpose. If The two assembled a team with a few other a long-term perspective when BYU was going to capitalize on Utah’s tech interested students and agreed upon a we talk about the relationship The leadership team sees a bright future boom, it needed to take deliberate action. threefold purpose: between Silicon Slopes and Silicon for the club, and central to that vision is the continued growth of Silicon Slopes. Valley. We want to help students The following schoolyear (2015) John 1. Inform. Create awareness for students As Lauren Todd, VP of Communications, land jobs where they want to tried to get his idea off the ground, but about opportunities in tech. puts it, “Through the Tech Club, BYU has land jobs and we plan to show without a network—and no experience in 2. Prepare. Build the necessary skills to the potential to become for Silicon Slopes them all their options. With so the industry—the logistics proved to be be successful in various roles within what Stanford is for the Bay Area—a pipe- many incredible companies in our too much. “So I went back to the draw- tech. line for the university’s best students to ing board. I spent hours and hours calling 3. Place. Help students of all majors backyard, many students will feel work in their same geographic area and alumni, sending emails to anyone in tech. receive internships and full-time offers like staying in Utah is the best build camaraderie between businesses I flew out to Silicon Valley. I applied for from the tech companies of their option. Others might want to get and the school.” Such a symbiotic relation- 4 every position I could find online.” The dreams. out of Utah and try something ship is already underway, given that many hustle paid off; John landed an internship new. However, regardless of of the companies trace their roots to BYU, the following summer on Uber’s strategy With the help of a few enthusiastic infor- where these students go upon yet Lauren wants to further streamline team. (And for the record, those hours mation systems professors to help the graduation, many of them plan on the connection.6 “I see the relationship mastering how to connect with profes- team navigate to paperwork, the club was returning to Utah. When they leave becoming stronger between the two as sionals paid off too: John has accepted a officially formed. Utah, they will be able to spread the club grows and places more students full-time offer with LinkedIn. Feel free to the good news about Silicon Slopes at companies in Silicon Slopes. I see great endorse him for “networking” next time and then bring back talent to Utah relationships budding from the events we you view his profile.) that otherwise might never have will hold with the businesses in , and a lot of job opportunities for students come. It is an endless cycle that Back at school the following semes- “The BYU Tech Club can help prepare in the BYU Tech Club.” helps everyone.” ter, John swapped notes with his friend students to understand what to Landon Eyre. Landon had spent the sum- expect in a career in tech and Local companies have also taken note of –John Koelliker mer interning with Google. “My boss told specifically what are the common the gap the Tech Club has filled. “Tech me he had tried to open the pipeline with positions and opportunities that is one of the great opportunities for stu- BYU, but the Marriott School said it would 5 are not typically discussed in its SQL training night. But the club’s aim dents coming out of BYU, and yet it's have to put Google through the verifica- curriculum.” is higher than good turnout to its meet- been underrepresented in certain ways,” tion process before the company could ings. “While it’s exciting to see so many says COO of Lucid Software, Dave Grow. post any job openings on the school’s students get involved for our activities, “As a result, it has at times been hard [for –Dave Grow, COO of Lucid Software recruiting website,” Landon explains. “It https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/marriottstudentreview/vol1/iss1/516 msr Winter 2017 17 2 Adams: BYU Tech Club companies] to connect with the students Club could be a phenomenal resource Club is organizing recruiting trips for the companies will know that if they want tal- who are definitively interested in pursu- to our portfolio companies through fall of 2017 to San Francisco and along ent, they can reach out to the BYU Tech ing a career in tech (as opposed to other internships and full-time employment the , with the possibility of Club, and we will give them an audience careers like private equity, consulting, etc.)” opportunities.” The club has already taken a third trip to Seattle in the future. of highly qualified, hardworking students because there hasn’t been one centralized steps in this direction. In March the club with diverse backgrounds.” point of contact. He anticipates the club organized a local tech career fair, hosting As the club continues to expand, its lead- providing real value. “It can help prepare over twenty technology companies, many ership wants the organization to play the For more information on the BYU Tech of them startups based in Utah. role of collaborator, not cannibal. Unlike Club, visit its website: http://www.tech- many clubs that are more role-based, the club.byu.edu/. BYU Tech Club purpose: While local companies offer exciting Tech Club is industry-oriented, giving it 1.Inform opportunities, focusing on the Utah tech a unique position among other student Notes community may result in a lack of trac- organization. “The Tech Club is the one 1. Andrew Zaleski, “A high-tech mecca rises to rival Silicon Valley,” CNBC, July 13, 2016, http://www.cnbc. 2.Prepare tion with placement outside the state. spot where any student from any major com/2016/07/13/a-high-tech-mecca-rises-to-rival-silicon- On the other hand, devoting most of the can get access to top tech companies,” valley.html, accessed February 2017. 3.Place 2. A search for “Silicon Slopes” on the websites of Utah’s Tech Club’s resources towards developing Koelliker says. “There are plenty of clubs major local news media returns nearly 500 results from pipelines at tech giants has the potential with other purposes that have placed within the last decade. Kurt Badenhausen, “The Best States students to understand what to expect in a risk of hindering relationships with firms some students at tech companies, but For Business And Careers 2015,” October 21, 2015, http:// www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2015/10/21/the- career in tech and specifically what are the where natural connections already exist. their main focus isn’t just tech and their best-states-for-business-and-careers-2015/#7231e71d53b9, common positions and opportunities that When asked about the potential for con- membership base is limited to students accessed February 2017. Scott Cohn, “Utah is America’s Top State for are not typically discussed in curriculum. flicting priorities between catering to with the skill set the club targets.” To this Business in 2016,” CNBC, July 12, 2016, http://www. . . . It's exciting to see useful skills—like Silicon Slopes and Silicon Valley, Koelliker end, the club has already launched an cnbc.com/2016/07/12/utah-is-americas-top-state-for- business-in-2016.html, accessed February 2017. SQL—being taught, since these can make doesn’t foresee a problem. “Even if many exhaustive effort to partner with student 3. For a definition and examples of unicorns, see the students immediately more valuable in of our students leave Utah after gradu- associations and majors across campus, Buzzwords to Know on page ¬¬¬____. their first job.” ation, they still carry the BYU brand—a with the goal of promoting one anoth- 4. BYU Tech Club Mission Statement, working draft. 5. Internal club data. The SQL night was sponsored by a brand intrinsically associated with Silicon er’s events and coordinating wherever the local training company, SQL Prep, and highlights the club’s John Mayfield, who previously worked Slopes—and will build relationships with organizations’ missions overlap. “We’re ambition to partner closely with top companies. at and Instructure before step- people who might eventually be drawn to working with other groups to build strong ping into his current role at Peak Ventures, Utah as well.” To build relationships with recruiting pipelines into various companies shares Grow’s perspective. “The BYU Tech companies in both tech hubs, the Tech both locally and around the nation. These

Does the club’s leadership really not consider Utah companies as stepping stones to the big leagues?

“I never saw my summer internship last year here in Utah as a stepping stone to a ‘more elite’ opportunity elsewhere. Opportunities around Utah are definitely ‘elite’ when the value of some of the companies here is taken into account. I think there will always be students interested in staying in Utah based on their ties to the state, not because they lacked options outside of Utah.” –Lauren Todd

“Local companies shouldn’t be seen as a stepping stone but rather the goal. The companies in Utah have greater growth opportunities than most and students can often make more of an impact here.” ¬–Landon Eyre

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