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Welcome to West Slope Startup Week! We’re celebrating our 5th year and gathering in Durango, CO, August 21–25, 2023.

Every session, meetup, workshop, lecture, discussion, and celebration is in-person, radically inclusive, and totally FREE!
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Wednesday, August 23 • 2:30pm - 3:30pm
The Business of Us: Building a Successful Startup with Your Spouse

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In this interactive and supportive session, our panel of married/ partnered co-founders will share their stories, strategies, and peer insights for successfully navigating the unique journey of being a Co-Founder Couple.

There are about 1.2 million married business partners operating firms in the US, ranging from small mom-and-pop shops to high-growth. These high-pressure companies make it to the Inc. 5000 list. Combining spouse and entrepreneur roles can present distinct challenges and potential advantages.

This session will explore the delicate interplay between the personal and professional dimensions of building a successful business and a strong marriage simultaneously.

We will explore how:
  • The maturity of your relationship is integral to weathering the pressures of running a startup
  • Personal synergy is a strategic advantage
  • Your emotional and intellectual bonds can improve your ability to innovate

High-value topics including:
  • Aligned passions, equal motivation, and complementary skillsets
  • Trust and commitment
  • Well-defined roles and responsibilities
  • Creating and maintaining boundaries between work and home life
  • Conflict management and keeping work-related discussions at work
  • Planning for your future - both personal and professional.

Q&A Session - Open forum for participants to ask specific questions or seek feedback.

Whether you are contemplating the journey or well on your way, this session is designed to support your most important startup—your marriage.


Moderators
avatar for Suzanne Phare

Suzanne Phare

Owner, Real Ideal Coaching
Suzanne has over twenty years’ experience in executive coaching and human resource management and currently owns Real Ideal Coaching. She is the former HR Director at Ska Brewing and is currently active conducting Leadership Training and Executive Coaching in the Four Corners Area... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Jeff Vierling

Jeff Vierling

Co-founder/CEO, Tailwind Nutrition
Jeff is a co-founder of Tailwind Nutrition, along with his wife Jenny. Tailwind began with Jeff's head in a trashcan at the finish line of the Leadville 100. That sparked a quest that led to creating his own drink mix for endurance athletes. Soon he was meeting people in parking lots... Read More →
avatar for Jennifer Nierling

Jennifer Nierling

Cofounder, Tailwind
Jennifer Vierling is the co-founder, along with her husband Jeff, of Tailwind Nutrition, a sports nutrition company, based out of Durango, CO. Recipients of the 2017 Colorado Companies to Watch and the 2019 Governor’s Award for Excellence in Exporting, Tailwind Nutrition manufactures... Read More →
avatar for Reet Singh

Reet Singh

Cofounder, TripOutside
👋 I look forward to meeting you! I'm passionate about the outdoors and spend most of my outdoor time mountain biking, trail running, hiking, paddleboarding, and kayaking in the summers. In the winter I snowboard, snowshoe and just recently picked up XC skiing. I'm passionate about... Read More →
avatar for Julie Singh

Julie Singh

Cofounder, TripOutside
LK

Laura Komick

Cofounder, R Space Coworking
avatar for Kirk Komick

Kirk Komick

Cofounder, R Space Coworking


Wednesday August 23, 2023 2:30pm - 3:30pm MDT
FLC - Center for Innovation