Find Out Why Eastern Idaho Entrepreneurs Are Thriving

Keegan Rice

With talent streaming in from colleges and universities, a collaborative network of entrepreneurial incubators and resources, and a spirit of innovation, it’s no wonder that Idaho is ranked No. 2 on U.S. News & World Report’s list of states with the best business creation rates.

In Eastern Idaho, entrepreneurs appreciate the ability to partner with like-minded businesses, introduce the community to their products and operate in a cost-effective environment. Accessibility to products and services, along with affordable housing for employees, go a long way for business owners.

Several Eastern Idaho entrepreneurs share more about what it’s like to launch a new business in the region.

Mikey Franco, Franco Snowshapes

Since he was 17 years old, Mikey Franco has been around snowboards, whether as an instructor, coach, backcountry guide or designer.

When an injury took him off the slopes, he discovered that he could still enjoy the industry, just from the other side – manufacturing. His business, Franco Snowshapes, produces hand-crafted snowboards, splitboards and powsurfers.

“The first board I made was in March 2010,” Franco says. “By 2013, most of my clients that I had formerly guided or coached were now riding on boards that I made for them. This direct source of customers was the fuel I needed to build the brand and get it off the ground.”

Franco started his business in his hometown of Jackson, Wyoming, but was limited both by real estate costs and by other manufacturers’ materials, machines and methods. So, he built a factory in Victor – something he could not have financed in Jackson.

“My first employee was more than happy to move over the hill to find a community he could afford,” Franco says. “Finding staff that have housing and are happy to not have to commute over Teton Pass is key. The lower cost of living means that all the folks that work for me are more settled, secure and excited about their future.”

The Teton Regional Economic Coalition acted as a networking machine, introducing Franco to other manufacturers and businesses, including tenants that now rent space in his new building. Plus, the location is ideal.

“One business bonus in Eastern Idaho is ease of shipping and quick access to Idaho Falls,” he says. “Since Teton Pass is no longer part of the equation, shipping is reliable, and I can easily acquire everything I need to run my business.”

Oscar Klassen, JawsTec

To bring accessible manufacturing to companies across the country, Oscar Klassen co-founded JawsTec in 2018 and set up shop in American Falls. Just six years later, the company has grown to 25 employees and over 40 industrial machines.

JawsTec is an additive and subtractive manufacturing company specializing in 3D printing, CNC machining and metal fabrication services.

The business attributes its success to several factors, including its fast and easy online quoting engine, its advanced 3D printing capabilities, an experienced collaboration team that works directly with clients, and its home base in Eastern Idaho.

“Not only did this building perfectly fit our needs for a workspace, but we also just love being located in Eastern Idaho,” Klassen says. “The community of American Falls and Aberdeen has been excellent, and we’ve been able to secure good employees from local areas.”

Four nearby institutions of higher learning – Idaho State University, College of Eastern Idaho, University of Idaho and Bringham-Young University-Idaho – serve as prime feeders of qualified candidates.

Since JawTec works with a variety of industries – including aerospace and aviation, medical, food production, education and consumer electronics – job opportunities and community involvement abound.

“We host local schools with STEM programs,” Klassen says. “They enjoy visiting our facility to see the machines and everything we print here. I’ve also given talks to parents and teachers interested in how we came to be and why we are located in Eastern Idaho.”

Sean Luangrath, Inergy

Sean Luangrath has always been interested in technology, and one of his favorite former jobs was working at Big Dog Solar Energy in Pocatello. The company does solar installations for residential and commercial customers.

The solar units that Big Dog installs are large-scale models for entire homes and businesses, and some customers began asking the company if they had a smaller, mobile version of this system that they could carry on camping trips to power their electrical items.

“By 2014, we had a prototype portable product and eventually spun-off into Inergy,” Luangrath says. “We have grown and are now headquartered in Salt Lake City.”

The products are portable solar generators about the size of a large beverage cooler, as Luangrath explains, and a fully charged generator can power several devices for many hours without being tethered to a wall outlet.

“Our flagship product is called the Flex and weighs only 29 pounds, and the starting price is $1,400,” he says. “It takes about two hours to fully charge, then you can watch your TV for about 20 hours and run a refrigerator for 30 hours – and much more.”

Luangrath adds that, when the company launched in 2014, they needed a top-notch video to help showcase and market the Inergy product, so they contacted the video production department at BYU-Idaho.

“That department is called Soapbox Agency, and it allows students to put together videos for clients,” he says. “They produced an incredible wonderful video for us to get rolling, and we pre-sold $800,000 of our product thanks to that introductory video.”

Now in its 10th year, Inergy has earned a total of more than $35 million in revenue, and it markets its solar generators directly to the consumer through social media. Their total revenue includes more than $6 million they secured in military contracts with the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force.

Subitt

Student Entrepreneurs Thrive at BYU-Idaho

The College of Business & Communication at Brigham Young University-Idaho in Rexburg has garnered impressive accolades, including being ranked among the nation’s top business programs by U.S. News & World Report and Bloomberg Businessweek.

Several Eastern Idaho entrepreneurs have started successful small businesses as students at BYU-Idaho, including Nick Hepworth. He and fellow students, Aoi Kuriki and Jae Kim, have launched a business called Subitt. It’s an online service that allows a customer to subscribe to favorite local businesses for products or services, thereby gaining access to exclusive discounts and promotions from companies that the customer knows and likes.

“Subitt offers a one-stop subscription platform accessible on phones or computers, where subscribers get discounts from their favorite workout gyms, daycare centers, barbers, grocery stores, coffee shops and so forth,” Hepworth says. “We started in Rexburg, getting subscribers who now benefit from localized marketplace savings from Rexburg businesses. We have already expanded Subitt down to Provo, Utah, and also have interest from businesses in Boise and Idaho Falls.”

As for BYU-Idaho, Hepworth says it is an ideal school for student entrepreneurs for several reasons.

“First, the university is very affordable and in a beautiful college town with plenty of outdoor activities,” he says. “And probably the biggest reason for students having success is because the faculty and mentors here are excellent. They aren’t just on the faculty to have a job. They truly care about helping students move forward.”

Hepworth adds that the College of Business & Communication offers valuable courses that help many entrepreneurs, including classes in software, logic, AI, marketing, finance and communication.

“The professors here at BYU-Idaho provide a great experience to their students,” he says. “The professors really strive to help make students successful careerwise as well as better overall people.”

One of those professors is Mark Malone, who teaches in the College of Business & Communication. Malone says several staff professors are qualified to teach and advise students about entrepreneurship because those professors have also started their own side business ventures – including Malone.

“We work with many entrepreneur business students as well as students in other departments on campus,” Malone says. “For example, we’ve helped clothing design students as well as floral design students to launch businesses.”

He points out that many business students at BYU-Idaho are asked to start potential businesses while on campus to learn about finance, marketing, leadership roles and other aspects of being an entrepreneur. If a classroom business eventually has the chance to be successful, the idea is pitched to local bankers to finance the endeavor for the real world.

In addition, BYU-Idaho has an Innovation & Entrepreneurial Society on campus. This and other resources are all intended to help entrepreneur students start, grow, expand and strengthen their individual businesses.

“Back in 2001, our university elder made a speech about how our students should always be focused on innovation and change,” Malone says. “Today, we have a large reach of BYU-Idaho grads who are all around the world, and they are making positive and innovative differences wherever they live.”

– Kevin Litwin contributed to this article.