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Jeff Burningham on Bias for Action, Reinvention, and the Power of Grace
From startups to politics, Jeff Burningham has lived a life of bold moves. Here’s what he’s learned from success, failure, and stepping into the unknown.
Casey Baugh
April 9th, 2025
Build Something Beautiful
What do you do when the risk is gone? If you’re Jeff Burningham, you go find more of it.
In this week’s episode of Case Studies, Jeff sits down with Casey to talk about what it means to live with intention. From building Peak Capital and investing in Utah’s top startups, to running for governor, to writing a book on humanity and AI—Jeff’s journey is anything but conventional.
From Startup Grit to Statewide Campaigns
Jeff started his first tech company at BYU and sold it by age 26. He poured the profits into real estate, scaled a private equity firm with partners Jeff and Jamie, and backed early-stage winners like Podium, Owlet, and MX.
But as success grew, something shifted.
“Once the risk was gone, I wasn’t as interested. I’m wired to create what’s never existed.”
So he did something most wouldn’t. He stepped away, ran for governor, and lost—publicly.
And yet, that loss led to something bigger.
The Case for Action (Even When You’re Not Ready)
If there’s one thing Jeff’s known for, it’s a bias for action.
Start the company before you have it figured out.
Take the meeting. Make the investment. Try the thing.
Trust that the reps will teach you what the books can’t.
“The best way to be an entrepreneur is to be an entrepreneur.”
This conversation is packed with reminders to stop waiting and start moving.
Faith, Family, and a Legacy of Love
Jeff doesn’t measure success by headlines or net worth. He measures it by relationships.
He shares:
A moment in a pool with his daughter that changed how he parented
What makes a marriage work after decades of building and pressure
Why loving your people well matters more than any deal ever will