Philo Studio Welcomes Scott Evanson as Venture Partner and Head of Platform
LEHI, UTAH - November 13, 2023 - Philo Studio, a Lehi, Utah-based venture studio built to create value through zero-to-one business inception, is excited to announce the addition of Scott Evanson as Venture Partner and Head of Platform. With his extensive experience in early-stage startup development and a passion for fostering innovation, Evanson will play a pivotal role in propelling Philo’s innovative platform to new heights and transforming early concepts into successful startups.
Part of Philo Ventures, Philo Studio brings order to the chaos of new beginnings through the application of proven processes and the dedicated attention of early-stage experts like Evanson. As a Philo team member, Evanson will leverage his zero-to-one experience in founding, funding, and mentoring startups to help turn innovative ideas into viable businesses. His responsibilities include ongoing refinement and implementation of a proven playbook for startup success and partnership development with industry leaders to identify new opportunities for innovation and value creation.
In his new role, Evanson will spend meaningful time facilitating playbook adoption, training programs, and co-founder boot camps to equip Philo’s founders-in-residence with the tools and abilities necessary to thrive in the typically tumultuous startup lifecycle. With experience as both a serial founder and mentor to undergraduate students involved in Sandbox, Brigham Young University’s technology startup incubator, Evanson brings a unique perspective to cultivating talent and fostering entrepreneurship. Evanson founded and subsequently sold two successful startups: Smart Rhino Labs and DataSpark.
Evanson will additionally be focused on developing innovation partnerships with industry leaders in Philo’s focal verticals, including the built environment, sustainability, hospitality, education and healthcare. In partnership with industry leaders like the Gardner Group, a pioneer in sustainable development, Philo helps identify new opportunities for value creation through innovation. They then bring together the necessary components — industry know-how, talent, capital, and startup best practices — to efficiently capture those opportunities.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Scott to the Philo leadership team,” said Cory Cozzens, Philo Ventures co-founder and studio managing partner. “Scott is a venture builder at heart. His passion, paired with his insights as a successful serial founder, early-stage investor and mentor to hundreds of young entrepreneurs, will be invaluable to our efforts to create value through zero-to-one innovation.”
“If anybody is doing interesting things in the Mountain West startup and technology ecosystems, we want to know about it,” said Evanson. “Whether by way of incubation through our venture studio, traditional VC investment or otherwise, Philo is excited to create value through zero-to-one innovation in partnership with builders throughout the region.”
Philo is actively hiring for several key positions within their studio and portfolio companies. To learn more about opportunities at Philo, visit philo.ventures/opportunities.
About Philo Ventures
Philo Ventures is a Utah-based venture group, driving innovation and economic growth through its startup studio, venture fund, and real estate development team. Led by serial entrepreneurs Chad Staheli, Cory Cozzens and Greg Whitehead, Philo Studio’s diverse portfolio includes advanced aerospace tech, outdoor hospitality, and sustainable infrastructure. Notable Utah business leaders, such as Christian Gardner and Dan Shaw, serve as advisory and capital partners. For more information, visit philo.ventures or contact hello@Philo.Ventures.