Over the past seven years I’ve been a member of just about every business networking group in Utah. An organization would have had to try hard to fly under my radar. I’ve been a member of or have attended Association for Corporate Growth, Utah Technology Council (formerly UITA), Mountain West Capital Network (formerly MWVG), Utah Valley Entrepreneurial Forum, Corporate Alliance, Genus Group (now First Fridays), various chambers of commerce, Fight Club, the BYU Management Society, American Institute of Graphic Artists, The Breakfast Club, Business Partner Meeting, technology@breakfast, and Young Entrepreneur’s Organization, just to name a few. I must admit I have missed out on the National Association of Women Business Owners, but would be happy to attend if invited, pending permission from my wife.

One of my favorite groups to attend has been the Utah Valley Entrepreneurial Forum (UVEF). As the name suggests, the organization is focused on entrepreneurship in Utah Valley. Each month they have a nice luncheon in a hotel banquet room and they have a speaker, generally an established and successful entrepreneur. Once a year they also have an event honoring the 25 fastest growing companies under 5 years old, as opposed to MWCN’s event that honors the 100 fastest growing companies in Utah over 5 years old. What I particularly like about UVEF is that it attracts a decent mix of older and younger entrepreneurs, there aren’t any salespeople (other than the entrepreneurs themselves), and the speakers are generally interesting. It’s a simple organization that doesn’t demand much, doesn’t try to do too much, but which provides a noteworthy service to the business community.

What puzzles me is why there is no such organization in Salt Lake County, or if there is, why I don’t know about it. Perhaps it’s because there are other organizations that overlap. But none of these has an exclusive focus on entrepreneurship. MWCN includes a lot of entrepreneurs, but also focuses on venture capital and fundraising, which leaves out most entrepreneurs. UTC attracts some entrepreneurs, but the focus is on technology. ACG also attracts entrepreneurs, but other business people as well. The only organization I know of that is solely focused on entrepreneurship is YEO, but this is restricted to entrepreneurs whose businesses brought in at least $1M last year, and you have to be under 40.

Personally, I would like to see an organization in Salt Lake County that is similar to UVEF. Members pay dues that cover the cost of the luncheons and simple gifts for the speakers. Perhaps some type of awards ceremony could be organized each year. A website could act as a member directory, event calendar, and informational resource. Like UVEF, the organization would not try to bit off too much, but would serve as a networking group for any and all entrepreneurs, but only entrepreneurs. The question I have is whether there would be enough demand to make such an organization work. In order to get started I would estimate the group would need roughly 50-100 members, at least 40-50 of whom would attend the luncheons on a regular basis.

Let me know your thoughts on the matter. Obviously I wouldn’t want to start such a thing if an organization that serves this same purpose already exists, but to my knowledge it doesn’t.