The term ROI may evoke dollar signs in the eyes of some, but for T. Craig Bott, president and CEO of Grow Utah Ventures, it’s about a different kind of capital—the people kind. “I’m looking for the return that comes from those relationships and seeing people succeed,” Bott says. “I decided long ago in my career to invest in people.”

Helping people succeed in business is what Grow Utah Ventures (Grow Utah) is all about. Founded in 2004 by Alan Hall, the non-profit organization’s purpose is to encourage and promote entrepreneurial development. The organization provides tools and resources for entrepreneurs, ultimately to help the venture reach success.

“I believe fundamentally, when people are successful, they will then benefit someone else,” Bott says. “They will create wealth and value for themselves and for those associated with them.”

An entrepreneur himself, Bott operated several different companies of his own, each with varying degrees of success. And somewhere along the way, he found his passion and calling in life: seeing others succeed.

“It’s my personal passion to strengthen Utah’s economy and I believe that’s best done by entrepreneurial development,” he says. “Growing and mentoring your own people is so vital because in the future, they’ll fund our schools, universities and programs—they’ll be the ones to give back.”

Bott was first exposed to the entrepreneurial world at a young age as he helped with the family’s retail business. “My father instilled in me the idea of serving a customer, meeting their needs and keeping them satisfied,” Bott says.

He recounts working alongside his father to deliver television sets or pianos on Christmas Eve. “You learn from an experience like that; you learn that customers are important and even though it may require a little extra effort, it makes a big difference.”

The father of four and grandfather of six, Bott strives to instill the same service-centered values in his family. He recalls exposing them to the various ventures of which he’s been involved. Whether taking them on deliveries or helping them come up with an entrepreneurial idea of their own, he wanted them to see how successful businesses operate.

Bott employs the same success-centered approach with the young entrepreneurs involved with Grow Utah. “For me right now, it’s about helping some of these younger entrepreneurs succeed, so they can create jobs of the future,” he says. “We’re not just looking to see one business be successful and then they go on their way, but to educate and mentor so they will give back at some point.” Therefore, the cycle goes.

When asked what impresses him most among today’s up-and-coming entrepreneurs, Bott says, “Their passion. These entrepreneurs spend a significant amount of personal time, research and energy on the innovation of their passion.”

Bott says he’s excited about Grow Utah’s Concept to Company program, a contest of innovation, created to encourage entrepreneurism and stimulate business growth. The ongoing innovation contests take place in various regions throughout the state and focus on the entrepreneurial strengths of each region. Winners of the contest receive a myriad of benefits, including prize money to get their business off the ground. “The Concept to Company program basically helps those with a great idea, realize it and bring it into fruition,” Bott said.

Last year in the St. George region, Concept to Company met with students interested in heating up the watering trough for animals out on the range. “You wouldn’t think it would be a problem, but the water freezes over and the animals can’t get water,” Bott says. “These students figured out a way to heat the water and there’s a market for it.” For Bott, there’s an internal investment on what he’s doing, and at the end of the day, he finds great satisfaction in the work he does.

“I’ve been able to fulfill my dream of helping people achieve their dreams in a way that maintains their values.”