ChIPs launches Utah chapter to connect women in tech and IP

ChIPs Network opened a new Utah chapter on Sept. 11, 2026, to serve women in tech, law and policy across the Mountain West. The move targets a fast-growing intellectual property and tech market centered in the Salt Lake City area.

Why it matters: - ChIPs Utah is built for leaders outside the country’s biggest tech and intellectual property hubs. - The chapter aims to connect women in tech, law and policy across the Mountain West. - The launch comes as Utah’s tech employment, manufacturing and engineering sectors keep expanding. - Salt Lake City’s growing IP ecosystem now includes major tech employers and a newly opened USPTO engagement office.

What happened: - ChIPs Network opened a new chapter in Utah on Sept. 11, 2026. - The new chapter, ChIPs Utah, expands the global nonprofit’s regional footprint. - Hannah Follender, partner at Loza & Loza, LLP, founded the Utah chapter. - Joan Toth, ChIPs executive director, framed the launch as a step in the organization’s mission to advance women in tech, law and policy.

The details: - ChIPs Utah is focused on the Mountain West region. - Utah has become one of the fastest-growing U.S. markets for tech employment, manufacturing and engineering. - The state has earned the nickname “Silicon Slopes.” - Microsoft, Oracle and Adobe all have a presence in the Salt Lake City metro area. - A new USPTO engagement office has opened in the same region. - Follender said Utah has quietly been an IP hub for years and that growth in Silicon Slopes made that more visible. - Follender said the chapter will give local women access to ChIPs’ national and international network, programming, mentorship and career opportunities. - Toth said the Utah chapter was a logical next step for the organization. - Toth said ChIPs intends to support women and male allies in the area as they build a new IP community. - The chapter is supported by ChIPs Utah’s Founder’s Circle: Foley & Lardner LLP, Ray Quinney & Nebeker and Workman Nydegger. - ChIPs Network says it has more than 10,000 members and 30+ regional chapters across North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and Africa. - ChIPs describes itself as a nonprofit that advances and connects women in technology, law and policy. - The organization says it is open to all who share its mission.

Between the lines: - The Utah launch reflects a broader shift in where IP and tech communities are concentrated. - ChIPs is positioning itself where growth is happening, not just in traditional coastal hubs. - The chapter’s mix of law firms and tech-sector momentum suggests a push to build a more durable regional professional network.

What's next: - ChIPs Utah will likely use programming, mentorship and networking to deepen its local community. - The chapter’s success will depend on how well it links Utah’s growing tech base with women and allies in IP and legal fields. - Further chapter activity and events are expected as the local network develops.

The bottom line: - ChIPs is betting Utah’s rising tech and IP market can become a new center of gravity for women leaders in the field.