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| MATR Newsletter - Fri May 30, 2008 |
"I have failed many times, and that's why I am a success." -- Michael Jordan
See you in Bozeman on Sunday. "June 1 and 2 conference in Bozeman to focus on developing research in Montana. Sunday evening reception added to agenda" - http://matr.net/articl ... .html
City Club Missoula
Making the Most of the American Prairie
- City Club Missoula Forum - Recycling Wealth - Investing In Missoula, 6/9, Missoula
How are the fortunes of entrepreneurs of the past being recycled to help the entrepreneurs of today in Missoula, Montana?
Come Home Montana
- The Great Plains, Restored
It is hard to love a land you don’t understand, and for most of my life I had no idea why anyone would ever live in the Great Plains – let alone love the place.
Developing Tech Jobs in Rural Communities
- Living the dream: Couple show their love for Philipsburg by restoring historic soda fountain. Doe Brothers Restaurant & Old Fashioned Soda Fountain
"This is a great town," Marchi said. "It's the kind of town children can play in the streets. It's community-minded, and it's a Norman Rockwell kind of town, frankly."
- ThisIsBozeman.com – View & Upload Videos About the Bozeman Area!
View, upload and share Bozeman Videos online. Video-focused Community website created by Earthtalk Studios that includes professionally-produced high definition videos and user uploaded videos about Bozeman and surrounding areas.
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- Remote Workers: How to Be Out of Sight but Not Out of Mind
Here are some suggestions for making your presence felt in the office, no matter where you happen to be working.
Montana Business
- Minnesota Legislature Creates New Office of Science and Technology to Assist Entrepreneurs
In support of Gov. Tim Pawlenty's Strategic Entrepreneurial Economic Development (SEED) initiative, legislators established the Office of Science and Technology to help small businesses and entrepreneurs access federal grant programs for technology development, according to the governor's press office.
Montana Economic Development
- Montana Businesses Honored for Worklife Wellness Leadership
The award winners were varied, but included seven from municipal or public school entities. “That representation really demonstrates a strong effort to improving the health of our towns, cities, schools and citizens,” said Chelsea Fagen of the Cardiovascular Health Program for DPHHS.
- Bresnan Wins Huge Montana Cable Contract
The State of Montana Information Technology Services Division and the Montana University system has selected Bresnan Communications as a provider of statewide data transport services for Montana’s state agencies, local governments, universities and schools.
- Mountain Springs Spa may open facility in Butte. - City approves money for feasibility study
Butte Local Development Corporation's Jim Smitham says a plant in the TIFID District would bring all operations under one roof making the production process more efficient.
- Inside A Montana Billionaire's Real Estate Troubles - Timothy Blixseth and the Yellowstone Club
Tim and Edra Blixseth didn't start out intending to have a messy divorce.
Regional Economic Development
- Montana Department of Commerce Grant Offers $300,000 for Tourism Infrastructure Projects - August 1, 2008 Application Deadline
“We invite non-profit organizations along with local and tribal governments from across the state to use our TIIP grants as part of the funding package they put together to improve Montana’s visitor attractions and facilities,” said Commerce Director Preite.
- Sunburst, Montana welcomes big economic boost
"We see a lot of green and white U.S. Border Protection vehicles in this area now, and it's tremendous," said Toole County Commissioner Ben Ober. "They represent good-paying jobs for employees who bring their families to live in this area."
- 2007 LEGISLATIVE QUOTIENT: When Shaping the Business Climate, Numbers Speak Louder Than Words. Montana is #36
Our 12th annual Legislative Quotient™ examines the impact each of the 50 individual state legislatures have on local business climates.
Careers
- New Climate Report Foresees Big Changes. Water crucial in the West
According to the report, Western states will face substantial challenges because of growing demand for water and big projected drops in supplies.
Developing Funding Opportunities in Montana
- The Art of Losing Well
Despite the sports aphorism, winning isn't the only thing. Accepting and learning from defeat can take you a long way
Funding and Building your Business
- Coastal VC firms see investment opportunity in Midwest companies
Alison de Bord, director of San Francisco-based Alta Partners, sought to debunk the traditional thinking that coastal venture capitalists aren't willing to seek out investments in historical "fly-over" states.
Incubators and R&D
- Should I protect my IP before I try to build my product?
As a deep cynic about software patents and IP protection around process technology in software, my short answer is that it's better to go build the product (and the business) rather than spend your limited time and resources on the IP protection. My position is not a uniform one - many people would encourage you to put real energy and time into trying to protect your IP before you build the product.
- Finding, hiring, and keeping next-generation talent
With the coming shortage of critical talent, such companies may find themselves going head-to-head over a new generation employees—one that presents unique challenges.
- The role of company advisors
Is an Advisory Board or Advisors necessary?
- Starting up: Recession can be good for start-ups
There are some good things about a recession.
- How to Pickup a VC
# #8 You say: "If you sign an NDA, I'll tell you my idea." Investor thinks: "You are clueless. How can you not know that venture capitalists don't sign NDAs?"
- Founder of Clear a visionary. Steven Brill has knack of finding untapped areas of opportunity
Brill was at Salt Lake City International Airport on Thursday for the debut of Clear, a service now in 18 U.S. airports that allows those who pay for a $28 background check and a $100 annual fee to breeze through an expedited security line.
- Patent rulings since 2000 invalid?
The net effect of this is that nearly 2/3rds of the Patent Board judges are not legally appointed and their decisions could be invalidated.
Montana Education Excellence
- Public-private partnerships can build technology economy
In Wisconsin's desire to compete in the technology-based “knowledge” economy, public officials know the state cannot bring to bear the resources of a California, a Texas, or a New York, but it can use collaboration to stretch the assets it has.
- Two Montana State University students receive NSF research fellowships
"The support is important, but it just facilitates me continuing the work that I already knew to be important," Colson said. "It has the significance of being recognized by the National Science Foundation."
Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR)
- Peace Corps director Ron Tschetter to visit UM, MSU
UM now ranks 17th for producing volunteers among medium-sized universities and colleges with enrollments between 5,001 and 15,000.
- University of Montana names Christopher Comer next arts and sciences dean
Comer is a professor of biological sciences, neuroscience and bioengineering at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
- NY Times best-selling author Greg Mortenson visits Columbia Falls Junior High
Junior high students presented Mortenson with a check for $1,498.50 toward Pennies for Peace. Mortenson started the program under his Central Asia Institute. The focus is to fund education projects and donations are based mostly on folks giving pennies toward the cause.
Idaho Business
- Utah SBIR/STTR Center to Help Entrepreneurs Win Grants
O’Malley says that part of the problem is that many entrepreneurs don’t know about SBIR and STTR grants and, therefore, don’t apply. “This center is really aimed at increasing the number of proposals and increasing the quality of those proposals.”
- Boulder-based OptTek Systems Inc. focuses on workforce. The small firm uses SBIR grants to create "holistic" software solutions.
Companies contending with an aging workforce and looking for new ways to attract and retain a diverse workforce may one day turn to a tiny Boulder software company for help.
Washington State Business
- Interview with Idavation Keynote Gary Hoover of Hoovers.com. What must Idaho offer to ensure the business climate is welcoming to entrepreneurs?
The primary thing is to get children and young people interested in and open to the power of entrepreneurship to improve people’s lives and to serve the public good.
Wyoming Business
- $10 million in VC funds for Ontela. Startup facilitates photo transfers
"It was one of the most amazing Mondays I've ever had in my life," said Shapiro, who was receiving wire transfers from his investors while looking at ultrasounds with his wife at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle.
- Seattle, Spokane in get-to-know-you mood
Some insightful individuals and companies have already seen the potential of Spokane’s role, or relations between the two metro areas, as enhancement for the statewide economy.
Education
- Powell, Wyoming launches fiber-optic network
"For Powell, this is the single most important technological advance since the water got here," said Kim Capron, director of the Powell Valley Chamber of Commerce.
- Wyoming Gov: State has resources to train workers
Work force development and training should happen within the community colleges rather than through a separate technical or training school system, Gov. Dave Freudenthal said Thursday.
Miscellaneous Ramblings
- Boost math scores with early intervention
Finding the problem areas a student is having with math faster allows educators to begin working on the solution much sooner.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- The last word in diet, exercise and health advice.
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO, What a Ride" AND....
Government Technology
- Touch-screen use in next Windows
"Today almost all the interaction is keyboard-mouse," Gates said. "Over years to come, the role of speech, vision, ink — all of those — will be huge."
- Monkeys Control a Robot Arm With Their Thoughts
The report, released online by the journal Nature, is the most striking demonstration to date of brain-machine interface technology, which scientists expect will eventually allow people with spinal cord injuries and other paralyzing conditions to gain more control over their lives.
- First LIVE images and videos of FULLSCREEN Android demos!
Google’s latest Android prototype is miles improved over the versions we last saw.
Transportation
- Gov. Christine Gregoire: The Importance of the "Why"
"Technology, to me, is just a tool for getting to the why."
- Airlines’ Cuts Making Rural Communities No-Fly Zones
The Essential Air Service program was created in 1978, when the airline industry was deregulated, to ensure that communities in rural and remote areas would be linked to the nation’s air system.
- Horizon Airlines will halt flights to Butte, Mont.; is reducing service on other routes. Officials weigh airline options for Butte
Horizon still will fly from Seattle to Helena and Bozeman in Montana, both roughly 70 miles from Butte.
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