About

Accelerated Innovation:
Our Journey with RAMP

Bringing a truly disruptive product like Thirsty the Dehydrator from a deeply personal vision to a market-ready reality is an immense undertaking. Innovation thrives on passion and persistence, but it truly accelerates with expert guidance, critical resources, and a supportive community. For us, that catalyst was the RAMP Accelerator Program. We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Spring 2025 Cohort and want to acknowledge the profound impact RAMP and its dedicated team have had on our journey. Simply put, Thirsty wouldn't be poised for launch without their invaluable support.

About RAMP: Utah's Premier Product Accelerator

RAMP, powered by Grow Utah, isn't just another startup program; it's a focused, intensive 10-week accelerator specifically designed for Utah's product innovators. Whether consumer goods, outdoor recreation, industrial, or B2B products, RAMP provides a unique ecosystem tailored to the challenges of physical product development and launch. Key elements that made a difference for us include:

No Equity Requirement: Allowing founders to retain ownership while benefiting from top-tier support.
Expert Mentorship: Access to seasoned professionals in product design, manufacturing, marketing, operations, and business strategy.
"Lean-Launch" Methodology: Practical guidance on business model design, achieving product-market fit, and defining a compelling value proposition.
Prototyping & Testing Resources: Unfettered access to essential lab equipment like 3D printing, CNC machining, water-jet cutting, and more – crucial for iteration and refinement.

The RAMP Mentors

Experience That Makes the Difference

While the program structure and resources are exceptional, the true heart of RAMP lies in its mentors. These individuals bring decades of real-world experience, hard-won insights, and a genuine commitment to helping innovators succeed. We were privileged to learn from and collaborate with an incredible team:

Beirne Chisolm (High Mountain Marketing / Consulting / Connecting)

Beirne offers a wealth of entrepreneurial experience, having built companies with $100M+ in retail sales. His "been there, done that" perspective on everything from retail strategy and logistics to sales and distribution provid invaluable practical guidance.