Beck Venture Startup Forum: Discovering Winning Value Propositions

Beck Venture Center's Startup Forum: Discovering Winning Value Propositions with Mike Clarkin:

Discovering Winning Value Propositions for Startups is designed to help early-stage entrepreneurs and startup teams craft compelling B2B value propositions by tackling important questions: Who is your target customer? What benefits and needs do you address? Which are the most important or most lucrative use cases? It also covers figuring out whose problem to solve, understanding customer segments and their outcomes, and navigating the decision-making process, including end users and key influencers. Attendees will explore practical ways to test ideas, validate problems, and assess how well their solutions resonate with real customers.

About Mike Clarkin:

Michael Clarkin is a seasoned strategic advisor and B2B marketing executive with over three decades of experience driving business growth and product innovation. Currently serving as a Strategic Advisor at Traxion startup accelerator, the Founders Institute, and the Colorado School of Mines, he plays a pivotal role in nurturing early-stage companies by connecting them with essential resources across the community.

Previously, as Chief Marketing Officer at Scaled Agile, Inc., Michael spearheaded initiatives that propelled revenue from $45 million to $93 million in just five years. Under his leadership, the marketing team expanded significantly, and the company established itself as a leader in business agility solutions. His innovative strategies included building strong partnerships with high-profile clients such as Porsche and FedEx, enhancing brand visibility and customer engagement.

Michael's career spans key roles at major companies like Sykes Enterprises, where he led the development of groundbreaking digital customer experience services, and HP, where he managed a $150 million optical semiconductor business. His expertise encompasses business strategy, market research, product development, and customer experience design across various sectors, including hardware, analytics, and supply chain.

An advocate for continuous learning, Michael has also served as an executive lecturer at the Tuck School of Business, where he guided aspiring entrepreneurs in market validation. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College, and earned his MSEE and the University of California, Santa Barbara. With a proven track record of transforming challenges into opportunities, he combines strategic foresight with practical execution to foster innovation and growth.

About Beck Venture Center's Startup Forum:

Startup Forum is a program series designed to empower entrepreneurs with essential knowledge and insights crucial for startup success. Each session within the series features a diverse lineup of industry experts and thought leaders who delve into a wide array of topics. These topics include Accounting Basics for Startups, Discovering a Winning B2B Value Proposition, venture capital insights, founder panels, and practical advice on capital fundraising, among many other topics. Through engaging speakers and interactive panels, Beck Venture Center’s Startup Forum provides invaluable guidance and networking opportunities aimed at equipping founders and entrepreneurs of Mines and the broader community with the tools and understanding needed to navigate the competitive startup landscape effectively.

The local startup community is the heartbeat of the Beck Venture Center, and we ensure plenty of time for networking at every startup forum event! Come network with us and enjoy complimentary snacks and drinks, including happy hour beverages, courtesy of the Beck Venture Center. We hope to see you there!

Event Timeline:

3:30 PM: Doors
4:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Program and Networking

Upcoming Startup Forum Dates:

Forum 4: Wednesday, February 26, Topic TBA, Register HERE.

Forum 5: Wednesday, March 12, Topic TBA, Register HERE.

Forum 6: Wednesday, April 2, Toppic TBA, Register HERE.

Host or Publisher Beck Venture Center, Colorado School of Mines