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.

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.