Utah Business

What Utah Business does

Utah Business is a privately held, Utah-focused B2B media company founded in 1986 and operated as a media property within the Deseret News / Deseret Digital Media group. It serves as the state's primary business publication through a multi-product portfolio that includes a monthly print magazine (Utah Business Magazine), a daily digital news platform (UtahBusiness.com), email newsletters, and a video/audio podcast (including the Founder Friday series). The company's product surface is anchored by a calendar of live events and recognition programs: the annual Forward conference (featuring LEAD, GROW, INNOVATE, IMPACT, and AI tracks), monthly Founder Friday events, industry roundtables, and ten-plus award programs spanning Fast 50, Innovation Awards, CEO of the Year, Executive Excellence, Women to Watch, Forty Under 40, Healthcare Heroes, Legal Elite, and Best Companies to Work For. Custom publications (Book of Lists, Life in Utah, Business in Utah) round out the offering.

The underlying technology is a standard digital publishing and events stack — website, email newsletter system, podcast/video hosting, and event ticketing (via Leap Event Tech) — with infrastructure provided by the Deseret Digital Media parent. The company does not disclose proprietary technology, AI/ML products, or patents. Utah Business generates revenue primarily through advertising (print, digital, newsletter, and podcast), event sponsorships, conference and event ticket sales, and custom publication work. Pricing is tiered and event-driven, with Forward 2026 individual tickets at $295 early-bird / $419 regular, group tickets at $269, and VIP options available, alongside multi-tier sponsorship packages.

The audience — described internally as 66% having net worth above $1M, 67% earning $100K+ annually, and 40% in executive positions — is the core asset sold to B2B advertisers and sponsors seeking access to Utah's enterprise decision-makers across technology, healthcare, legal, construction, and financial services. The company covers more than 25,000 companies and executives across the state and distributes content through one domestic geographic market only.

Name

Utah Business

Legal name

Utah Business

Website

https://utahbusiness.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Utah Business is a Utah-focused B2B media company operating a print magazine, daily digital platform, newsletters, podcast, and a calendar of events including the annual Forward conference, Founder Friday, and 10+ regional award programs serving the state's enterprise and executive audience.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Media and Publishing

NAICS

Periodical Publishers (513120), Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Services-Advertising (7310)

akta.pro primary industry

News, Politics & Current Affairs Magazines (MPAJAEAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Newsstand & Aggregation Platforms (Magazine/News Apps, Bundles) (MPAJAKAE), Subscription & Fulfillment Services (Print & Digital) (MPAJAKAB)

Keywords

• Business media publishing
• Regional business magazine
• Digital advertising platform
• Business events and awards
• Executive newsletter content

Headquarters

HQ city

Utah

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Advertising - Print: Print advertising in the monthly Utah Business magazine, including display ads and cover takeovers
2. Digital Advertising: Digital ads and content marketing articles on UtahBusiness.com, daily newsletter display ads, premium contextual ads, and primary email sponsorship
3. Podcast Advertising: Video and audio ads on the Utah Business Podcast
4. Event Sponsorships: Sponsorship packages for award events and community events including Forward conference, Founder Friday, roundtable conversations, and award ceremonies
5. Event Tickets: Revenue from tickets to events including Founder Friday (free but limited seating), conference registration, and award luncheons
6. Custom Publications: Revenue from custom publications including Life in Utah, Business in Utah, and the Book of Lists

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Utah Business is a multi-platform business media company that produces a monthly print magazine (Utah Business Magazine), a daily digital news site (UtahBusiness.com), email newsletters, and a podcast series covering Utah's business ecosystem. The company also organizes live events, including the annual Forward conference, monthly Founder Friday events, and industry roundtables, and administers more than ten annual award programs (Fast 50, CEO of the Year, Forty Under 40, Healthcare Heroes, Legal Elite, Innovation Awards, Executive Excellence, Women to Watch, Best Companies to Work For) plus custom publications like the Book of Lists. Revenue is generated primarily by selling advertising, sponsorships, and event tickets to businesses targeting Utah's affluent executive audience.

Product overview

Utah Business is a multi-platform media company offering a unified portfolio of print, digital, and event products serving Utah's business ecosystem. The core offerings include Utah Business Magazine (monthly print publication), UtahBusiness.com (digital news platform), Utah Business Daily Newsletters, and the Utah Business Podcast. The company produces live events including Founder Friday (monthly founder interviews), Utah Business Forward (annual conference with five tracks: LEAD, GROW, INNOVATE, IMPACT, AI), and Roundtable Conversations. The company also manages 10+ award programs including Best Companies to Work For, Fast 50, Innovation Awards, CEO of the Year, Executive Excellence, Women to Watch, Forty Under 40, Healthcare Heroes, and Legal Elite. Custom publications include the Book of Lists, Life in Utah, and Business in Utah.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Utah Business Magazine Monthly print magazine covering Utah's business ecosystem with in-depth coverage of local businesses, executives, industry trends, and economic developments; available to subscribers and at select locations.
• UtahBusiness.com Digital news platform providing online coverage of Utah business news with articles, videos, podcasts, and multimedia content for business readers and advertisers.
• Utah Business Daily Newsletters Daily email newsletters delivering Utah business news and updates to subscribers; offers display ads, premium contextual ads, and primary email sponsorship opportunities to advertisers.
• Utah Business Podcast Video and audio podcast series featuring interviews with company founders and business leaders, including the Founder Friday series; offers video and audio advertising opportunities.
• Founder Friday Monthly live in-person event and podcast series offering intimate conversations with company founders, sharing their journey, challenges, and leadership insights; held at Kiln in Lehi with podcast distribution.
• Utah Business Forward Conference Annual one-day in-person conference where Utah's top business achievers share strategies, featuring keynote speakers, breakout sessions, and networking across five tracks (LEAD, GROW, INNOVATE, IMPACT, AI).
• Roundtable Conversations Industry discussion events bringing together key leaders and decision makers to discuss challenges and opportunities across industries, with editorial coverage in the magazine and website.
• Best Companies to Work For Awards Annual awards program recognizing Utah's premier employers based on employee feedback and workplace assessments.
• Fast 50 Awards Annual awards recognizing the fastest growing companies in Utah based on revenue growth.
• Innovation Awards Summit Statewide celebration of problem-solving, creativity, and technology, recognizing innovative companies and solutions.
• CEO of the Year Award Annual award celebrating visionary, innovative, and influential company and organization leaders across Utah.
• Executive Excellence Awards Awards honoring members of executive teams whose vision and expertise are vital to company growth.
• Women to Watch Awards Annual awards spotlighting women who are carving out legacies, shattering norms, and paving the way for future female leaders.
• Forty Under 40 Awards Annual awards honoring Utah's rising business stars who are trailblazing across a wide range of industries.
• Healthcare Heroes Awards Awards recognizing individuals making extraordinary contributions to healthcare around the state.
• Legal Elite Awards Awards honoring distinguished attorneys across Utah, spotlighting leaders who exemplify professionalism and community commitment in the legal field.
• Book of Lists Annual business directory publication ranking top companies and organizations in Utah by industry sector.
• Life in Utah Custom publication targeting niche audiences with lifestyle and business content.
• Business in Utah Custom publication focused on business news and insights for Utah's business community.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reaches 66% of readers with net worth exceeding $1 million
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Huntsman School of Business (Utah State University)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 November 2026Track sponsor for the Utah Business Forward conference, providing educational content and business leadership programming
• LARSCOminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 November 2026Track sponsor for the Utah Business Forward conference
• Mountain America Credit UnioncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 November 2026Naming rights sponsor for event center at The Point in Draper, UT through Oak View Group partnership
• Oak View GroupcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 November 2026Global partnership team securing naming rights deals for event venues in Utah, including Mountain America Credit Union naming rights for Draper event center
• Deseret Digital MediacoreOthers · 10 November 2026Parent company of Utah Business providing digital publishing infrastructure, advertising technology, and event ticketing platforms
• Salt Lake Marriott Downtown at City CreekcoreOthers · 10 November 2026Venue for Utah Business Forward annual conference at 75 S West Temple St, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
• The Grand America HotelcoreOthers · 10 November 2026Venue for award ceremonies including Fast 50, Best Companies to Work For, Forty Under 40, CEO of the Year, and Women to Watch events
• Leap Event TechcoreTechnology or Integration · 10 November 2026Event ticketing and registration platform provider for Utah Business Forward conference and various award ceremony registrations
• Utah Cultural Celebration CenterminorOthers · 2 September 2026Venue for Innovation Awards Summit on September 2, 2026
• Kiln (Lehi)coreOthers · 17 July 2026Venue partner for monthly Founder Friday events, providing intimate setting for founder interviews and audience networking

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Silicon Slopes: Utah-based tech industry organization hosting major events (Silicon Slopes Summit) and community programming—overlaps with Utah Business's Utah executive and Silicon Slopes tech audience and event sponsorships.

Direct peers

• Denver Business Journal: Regional business journal serving Denver-area executives with print, digital, events, and award programs under the American City Business Journals umbrella—the most direct comparable to Utah Business in structure and audience.
• Nashville Business Journal: Regional business publication covering the Nashville market with print, digital, events, and recognition programs—directly comparable in targeting affluent local executives and event-driven monetization.
• Boston Business Journal: Long-established regional business journal covering Boston's executive community through print, digital, events, and award programs—analogous structure and revenue model to Utah Business.
• Phoenix Business Journal: Regional business journal for the Phoenix metro serving executives with print, digital, events, and rankings—closely comparable to Utah Business in audience profile, multi-platform monetization, and Sun Belt regional focus.

Broad incumbents

• Inc. Magazine: National business magazine targeting entrepreneurs and founders with editorial, events (Inc. 5000), and digital—overlaps with Utah Business's entrepreneur/founder audience and award-program monetization (e.g., Fast 50).
• American City Business Journals: Parent of the Business Journal network of 40+ regional business publications—the closest broad incumbent and template for the multi-market regional business media model Utah Business operates at a single-market scale.
• Entrepreneur Media: National business media brand targeting entrepreneurs with print, digital, events, and franchises—directly comparable to Utah Business's entrepreneur-focused Founder Friday and editorial coverage.
• Forbes: National business media brand with editorial, events (Under 30, CEO lists), and digital subscriptions—competes for the same executive audience and advertiser spend, but at national scale rather than regional.

Others

• Deseret News: Parent organization of Utah Business providing shared infrastructure, digital platforms, and advertising technology—enables Utah Business to operate at lower cost than standalone regional media peers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/utahbusiness
• Xx.com/UtahBusiness
• Facebookfacebook.com/UtahBusiness

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Utah Business