n^ Reference Group featuring Adam Fife — CEO of CenCore

​Few people have built a business that does $1B in revenue!

​And even fewer have done it while maintaining anonymity!!!

​At our next Reference Group we start to peel back the curtain behind what Adam Fife built at CenCore! He has raised zero dollars to build his company into one of the largest companies in Utah!

Nucleus Fund Introduction

Nucleus Fund Introduction

2026 State of Innovation

Where Utah aligns on the future of our innovation economy.

The State of Innovation is the annual convening of leaders from across industry, government, and higher education to define the priorities of Utah’s innovation economy and propel our ecosystem forward.

This isn’t your typical conference.

This is Utah’s annual moment to step back, align across ecosystem sectors, and shape what comes next for the state’s innovation economy. It’s your chance to have your voice heard. Don’t miss the opportunity to share your expertise at Utah’s Innovation Strategy Session.

Learn More and Apply Here

Nucleus Fund Introduction

​We’re hosting a special n^Reference Group session with Jeff Martin—one of the more quietly influential builders behind the evolution of digital media, mobile commerce, and platform ecosystems.

Jeff has operated at the intersection of technology, media, and distribution for decades:

• ​Early Apple executive, working directly with Steve Jobs post-NeXT acquisition and helping launch products like iMac, Mac OS X, and early digital media initiatives

• ​Pioneer in mobile music and commerce (pre-iPhone), helping establish the first legal mobile music ecosystems and contributing to the foundation of mobile wallets

• ​Founder behind companies that drove over $1B in mobile entertainment revenue and helped shape how artists, brands, and consumers connect digitally

• ​Investor, advisor, and board member across institutions like the Smithsonian, National Academy of Sciences, and leading global tech and education organizations

​He’s also been deeply involved in global innovation efforts—from the UN to the Abraham Accords—while continuing to invest and build through Stalwart Ventures.

​Why this one matters:

​Jeff’s career is a blueprint for seeing around corners—identifying platform shifts before they’re obvious (desktop → mobile → commerce → immersive), and positioning early.

​What we’ll get into:

• ​How to spot the next platform shift early

• ​What founders consistently misunderstand about distribution and timing

• ​Lessons from working alongside iconic operators (including Steve Jobs)

• ​Where he’s placing bets today—and why

​This will be a small, high-trust conversation with plenty of time for discussion.

​Thanks to JP Morgan for sponsoring lunch.

Register Here

Startup Launchpad

Join University of Utah Innovation for the second annual U Startup Launchpad, a proud partner of BioHive Week 2026!

Go from discovery to startup!
Startup Launchpad is a one-day summit for researchers, founders, investors, and entrepreneurs building—or interested in—science-based ventures.

Learn from the best of Utah’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and network with founders, funders, and partners shaping the next generation of innovation-driven companies.

​Agenda:
8-8:45am Breakfast & Networking
8:45-11:30am Morning Keynotes
11:30am-12pm Networking lunch / Round Table Discussions
12:30-3pm Afternoon Workshops

​Featured speakers include Chris Gibson, founder of Recursion (worth $1.8B) & Erin Mendenhall, Mayor of Salt Lake City. 

Learn More Here

Join us for our Annual PSM Summit:

Innovation in Action

A showcase of the real-world impact of collaboration between academia and industry.

We'll highlight PSM students’ industry-applied projects and bring in local leaders to discuss the future of their sectors.

Learn More Here

Nucleus Fund Introduction

​I recently met Ryan Anderson and was immediately blown away by the speed, intensity, and way he operates.

​Ryan founded Filevine in 2015 and has turned it into a multibillion dollar legal tech platform currently serving over 6,000 clients!

​Hope you’ll join us for this rare opportunity to learn how Ryan builds a tribe of relentless doers building a unicorn here in Utah!

Register Here

Click Here for More Information

Nucleus Fund Introduction

Few people know how to get things done in Utah like Jefferson Moss!

​We’re so excited to hear from the CEO of Nucleus and Executive Driector of the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity. He has an incredible vision for the State of Utah and we hope you'll get a peek behind the scenes of how things are coming together to create a prosperous state for all of us!

​This will be a can't miss session if you're trying to understand how the public, private, and higher education world is coming together to position Utah as a global innovation hub!

Register Here

​​The Manufacturing Foundry: Forging Opportunity in Manufacturing

Date: March 31, 2026
Time: 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Location: Zions Bank Founders Room, 1 S Main St, Floor 18, Salt Lake City, UT 84133
Parking: City Creek (first 2 hours free, $3/hour after)

​​The Manufacturing Foundry is a half-day event connecting Utah manufacturers with the capital providers, resource partners, and ecosystem leaders that support growth and scale.

​​This event is designed for small manufacturing companies—particularly those owned by emerging communities—seeking access to funding, advanced manufacturing technology resources, and meaningful industry connections. The Manufacturing Foundry also welcomes ecosystem partners interested in collaboration, supplier diversity, and applied innovation.

​​The program features keynote insights, curated roundtable discussions, and networking with organizations focused on financing, technical assistance, and manufacturing enablement—creating practical pathways from opportunity to execution.

​​Agenda Highlights

• ​​Networking breakfast and lunch

• ​​Opening and closing keynote speakers

• ​​Curated roundtable rotations with ecosystem partners

​​Whether you are a growing manufacturer or a partner supporting the manufacturing ecosystem, The Manufacturing Foundry offers a focused space to connect, collaborate, and build what’s next.

Register Here

n^ Boost Conference

Cache Valley! Don’t miss this opportunity!

A day to change your trajectory!

​Learn from some of the best founders and subject matter experts around!

​Speakers include founders of some our state's fastest growing companies - Nursa, Strider, and Torus. As well as one of our largest private companies - Wasatch Group. Outside of great speakers during fireside chats, keynotes, and breakouts we'll also offer 1:1 mentoring.

​Our goal is to connect you with peers and mentors that hopefully give you the boost you need to grow your business and career!

Register Here

Lunch & Learn

Fundamental Finance

with Haynie & Company and Nucleus

Nucleus Fund Introduction

Research Meets Industry: Building Partnerships with Weber State

​Join us at Weber State University for Research Meets Industry: Building Partnerships with Weber State. This interactive event connects small businesses with Weber State research faculty and sparks new collaboration opportunities. The program will feature a faculty-led case study highlighting real-world experience working with Weber State, followed by short pitches from local companies outlining their research needs and faculty sharing their areas of expertise. The event will conclude with dedicated networking time to help turn ideas into partnerships.

​Register Here

Do you have a high school girl in your life who’s curious about technology, engineering, or innovation?

On February 24, 2026, more than 3,500 high school girls will attend SheTech Explorer Day at the Mountain America Expo Center in Sandy, Utah—an immersive career exploration field trip featuring hands-on STEM experiences, exposure to Utah colleges and leading tech companies, and hundreds of industry mentors.

Registration is free and open to all girls in grades 9–12.

Learn More Here

We’re also looking for adult volunteers and mentors to help make the day meaningful, welcoming, and memorable for every student.

If you can share this opportunity with a student—or sign up to mentor—your support helps more girls see what’s possible.

Register or Volunteer Here

Innovation Funding Opportunities for Small Businesses​

Spend your lunch hour with us as we explore innovation funding opportunities for small businesses engaged in technology development.

​With the recent lapse of the SBIR/STTR programs, many entrepreneurs are seeking alternative funding paths. Join us as we review how various federal agencies are currently soliciting proposals to support the launch of new technological solutions.

​Topics to be covered:

• ​SBIR Update: Latest developments regarding the program status.

• ​Federal Funding Overview: Opportunities from the NSF, USDA, DoW, DOE, HHS (including NIH), and NASA.

• ​Q&A: An opportunity for attendee input and questions.

​We look forward to seeing you there!

Register Here

Utah Tech Week Student Day is a full-scale, student-first experience designed to help emerging talent turn curiosity into career momentum.

Produced by The Nucleus Institute in partnership with the University Growth Fund, Student Day creates a direct bridge between students and Utah’s technology and innovation economy—bringing education, opportunity, and access into one highly interactive environment.

Built for Students, Designed for Action

Student Day prioritizes practical experience over passive programming. Rather than lectures alone, students engage in hands-on learning, real conversations, and career-ready preparation.

Throughout the day, students will participate in:

• Skill-building workshops focused on real-world application

• Recruiting tools and strategies for interviews and applications

• Company showcases highlighting internship and early-career opportunities

• Mentorship and internship guidance from professionals across the ecosystem

• Panel discussions with industry leaders sharing honest insights on navigating a career in tech and innovation

Career-Ready Experiences

Student Day also offers tangible tools students can use immediately:

• A free professional headshot station to support polished applications

• A short-form pitch competition, giving students the opportunity to present ideas, receive feedback, and compete for prizes

Who Should Attend

Student Day is ideal for:

• Undergraduate and graduate students

• Students exploring careers in technology, innovation, entrepreneurship, or research

• Those seeking internships, entry-level roles, or mentorship within Utah’s tech ecosystem

Why It Matters

Utah’s innovation economy depends on the next generation of talent. Student Day ensures students aren’t just observing that ecosystem, but actively engaging with it—leaving better prepared, better connected, and more confident about what comes next.

Utah Tech Week

Strategic Open

How Innovation Leaders Think

The Utah Tech Week Strategic Open is an immersive, high-energy experience that turns strategic thinking into something you can see, feel, and participate in.

Hosted by The Nucleus Institute, Utah’s central engine for innovation, this event blends a rare live simultaneous chess exhibition with concise, thought-provoking panels that explore how Utah’s most effective innovation leaders think, decide, and build for long-term impact.

What Is a Simultaneous Exhibition?

In a simultaneous chess exhibition, one highly skilled player competes against multiple opponents at the same time, moving from board to board while managing dozens of strategic scenarios simultaneously. Each move requires foresight, adaptability, and the ability to weigh risk, timing, and consequence in real time.

That same mindset is at the core of innovation.

As the exhibition unfolds, attendees can watch strategy take shape—how a single decision can ripple across many outcomes, how momentum shifts, and how long-term positioning often matters more than short-term wins.

Strategy in Motion — On and Off the Board

The chess exhibition anchors the experience, but it doesn’t stop there.

Chess boards will be set up throughout the space, inviting experienced players and first-time participants alike to sit down, make a move, and try their hand at the game. Whether you’re a seasoned player looking for a challenge or someone learning the rules for the first time, the environment is intentionally welcoming, social, and low-pressure.

These open boards transform the event from something to watch into something to join—sparking conversation, curiosity, and connection across experience levels.

From Game Play to Real-World Impact

Between rounds of play, the action on the chess floor is paired with short, high-impact panel discussions featuring leaders from Utah’s innovation ecosystem. These conversations connect what’s happening on the board to real-world decision-making, exploring topics such as:

• How research is translated from the lab into commercial success

• How founders and operators make decisions amid uncertainty

• How complex technology ventures scale responsibly and sustainably

• How long-term strategy drives economic and technological impact

Rather than abstract theory, the Strategic Open makes strategy visible—bridging chess, innovation leadership, and real-world execution in a way that’s engaging, accessible, and memorable.

Who Should Attend

The Strategic Open is designed for:

• Founders and startup operators

• Researchers and commercialization leaders

• Investors and ecosystem partners

• Students and professionals curious about how innovation decisions are made

No chess experience is required. Whether you come to watch, listen, play, or simply explore, this event invites participation at every level.

Why It Matters

Innovation doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of disciplined thinking, calculated risk, and the ability to see several moves ahead. The Strategic Open brings those ideas to life—creating a shared space where strategy becomes tangible and Utah’s innovation community comes together.