Goguen headlines Startup Weekend

Whitefish philanthropist and venture capitalist Michael Goguen will be the keynote speaker at the upcoming Glacier Startup Weekend.

Goguen has been a managing partner at Sequoia Capital in Menlo Park, Calif., focusing on infrastructure and technology investments for more than 17 years.

Sequoia Capital’s selective approach has led the company to invest in companies that have become household names, such as eBay, Google, LinkedIn, Zappos, YouTube, Amazon and Instagram.

Goguen is currently a director of more than 10 companies and has led Sequoia’s investments in companies such as Ardent, Cumulus Networks, Navini, Virident and Pipelinks, along with many others.

Forbes named Goguen, 50, on its Midas List, calling him a “member of the ‘new’ old guard at Sequoia Capital.”

Goguen’s keynote address at the Glacier Startup Weekend will begin at 7:20 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19, at Flathead Valley Community College.

During the weekend entrepreneurial blitz, about 120 participants will come together, pitch ideas, form teams and launch business startups — all in 54 hours.

Kim Morisaki of Montana West Economic Development, a key organizer of the local Startup Weekend, said organizers are “thrilled” that Goguen was able to commit to the event and believe his participation will attract entrepreneurs.

“A visionary like Michael Goguen will inspire current entrepreneurs, and those that dream of starting a business, to take action, encouraging them to make their dreams become reality,” Morisaki said.  

Goguen is well known locally for his philanthropic involvement not only in Whitefish but throughout the Flathead Valley. Goguen discovered Whitefish about a decade ago and built Two Bear Ranch as a weekend retreat between Whitefish Lake and the Beaver Lakes area.

He has invested heavily in community businesses and organizations such as North Valley Food Bank, and has contributed millions of dollars to the Whitefish Trail project, along with giving easements for trail access and working on land deals to provide further access and trail expansion.

Goguen recently started Two Bear Air as a search-and-rescue operation. The Two Bear Air website notes that Goguen wants the organization to be his legacy philanthropy project, “giving to something that really makes a difference — saving lives.”

In addition to Goguen, Glacier Startup Weekend has an impressive lineup of regional talent that will serve as coaches, mentors and judges to the teams over the weekend.

Will Schmautz, Jerry Meerkatz, Jeff Heut-maker, Travis Pine, Chad Waite, John Frandsen, Lori Marin, Craig Schwabl, Diane Conradi, Diane Smith, Larry Cates, Andrew Donkin, Mike Kaz-mier, Ty Weber, Bill Payne, Connie Cermak and Diana Damron will be involved in the event.

Their full biographies and more information about the weekend event can be found at www.glacier.startupweekend.org.