Kinect Capital To Convene 42nd Annual Investors Choice Conference

Midvale, UT — September 9, 2025

The 42nd Annual Investors Choice Conference, hosted by Kinect Capital, will take place on September 17, 2025 at Zions Technology Center:

The all-day event will blend startup pitches with panel discussions featuring entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders, and even an Olympic medalist.

The core of the conference remains the same: startup founders get two minutes on stage to pitch, with their full ten-minute presentations made available online. But organizers say the 2025 edition is designed to be more curated and high-energy than ever.

“This event is designed to put founders and investors in the same room in a really focused way,” said organizer Ray Smithson. “When the room is full, the energy is electric. That’s when people feel like they’re exactly where they need to be — and that’s what makes Investors Choice so powerful.”

This year’s program features startup pitches, high-profile panels, and recognition of leaders driving entrepreneurship and innovation.

Startup Pitches

30+ founders will deliver rapid-fire 2-minute pitches, with access to their full 10-minute presentations provided online.

ICON Award Honorees and Panel

• Steve Chen – Co-Founder of YouTube (joining virtually with a pre-recorded message)
• Judy Robinett – Author, TEDx speaker, Fortune 500 executive
• Paul Ahlstrom – Investor, serial entrepreneur, author of Nail It Then Scale It
• Scott Anderson – CEO of Zions Bank for 26 years
• Brad Bertoch – Former CEO of the Wayne Brown Institute, supporting $30B+ in startup exits

Olympic Panel

• Peter Vidmar – 2x Olympic Hall of Fame gymnast: 2 Gold, 1 Silver
• Bill Schuffenhauer – 3x Olympian, Silver Medalist
• Additional Olympians to be announced

WeROC Panel

• Kristine Widtfeldt – Panel moderator and serial entrepreneur
• Maile Keone – CEO, Listen Technologies
• Jolene Anderson – Co-Founder, Vector PointVentures & Inmedix Inc.
• Gabriele Niederauer – CEO, Freyya

Behind the event is Kinect Capital, a nonprofit committed to helping founders succeed. Through its Cooperative Venturing model, Kinect pairs entrepreneurs with experienced mentors who guide them through pitching, fundraising, and building durable businesses. Since 1983, the organization has supported more than 1,000 companies across 43 states and three countries.

With its mix of rapid-fire pitches, high-profile panels, and curated networking, Investors Choice has become a fixture in Utah’s startup ecosystem. With registration already pushing capacity, Smithson says the packed Zions Technology Center will be part of what makes this year’s event one to remember.

Registration is required to attend. To be considered, click here.