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July 12, 2018 Newsletter
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Montana High Tech News

Montana Top Tech Employers 2018

Illustration by Deb Santo Schmaus.

This article is the third in a three-part series. Read part 1, Montana Startups to Watch in 2018. Read part 2, Montana High-Growth Companies to Watch in 2018.

By Katy Spence

Fast-growing Montana tech firms expect to add more 1,200 new job in 2018, but some firms in the state already employ hundreds of people. In 2017, the Alliance published our inaugural list of Montana tech companies to watch, many of which are top employers, such as Montana Precision Products, onX, Spika Design and Manufacturing, Foundant, Elixiter, and PFL.

In the final installment of our 2018 Companies to Watch series, the Montana High Tech Business Alliance has named 25 of the top tech and manufacturing employers in the state for this year.

Companies fit two or more of the following criteria:

  • 20 employees or more
  • plans to grow workforce in Montana
  • established in the state for more than 10 years
  • consistently hiring
  • involved in the community
Click the link below to read about Montana's top tech employers on our website.
Read the story

From the Executive Director:

Alliance Hits 350 Member Milestone; Workiva CTO Jeff Trom to Serve as New Board Chair

Jeff Trom, Workiva Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, is the new Board Chair of the Montana High Tech Business Alliance Board of Directors. Photo by Tommy Kurdy, Ndigena.
By Christina Henderson

The last few months have been a season of growth and change for the Montana High Tech Business Alliance.

On July 9, the Alliance hit a new milestone as we welcomed our 350th member - WhiteBark, LLC, a telecommunications software consulting firm in Missoula headed by Ethan Schroeder. It is amazing to see how much the Alliance has grown since we launched with 20 founding members in 2014.

At the same time, three of our founding board members are ending their terms after four years of service to the Alliance.

On May 1st, Lance Tinseth, CIO of Murdoch’s Ranch and Home Supply, announced that he is leaving Montana and the Alliance Board and Chair position as he and his family are moving to Colorado. Rob Gilmore, Executive Director of NRMEDD, and David Hayden, Co-founder of Service Target, also resigned from the board to pass the torch to new leaders.

It has been hard for me to say goodbye to three board members who hired me as Executive Director in 2014 and have done so much to shape the Alliance into what it is today. But as we work through the transition, I am excited for our next chapter.

On June 27th, the Alliance Board of Directors elected Jeff Trom, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Workiva in Bozeman, to serve as the new Board Chair. Trom is a Co-founder of Workiva, a publicly-traded SaaS firm, as well as a previous tech company, Engineering Animation, that was acquired in 2000. As a founding board member of the Alliance, he will help carry the mission and vision of the Montana High Tech Business Alliance forward into our next phase of growth, along with three other continuing board members:
  • Jason Mittelstaedt, founding board member, Partner at Yellowstone Growth Partners, Bozeman and former Chief Marketing Officer, RightNow Technologies
  • Paige Williams, Founder and CEO, Audience Awards, Missoula
  • Liz Marchi, Founder of Frontier Angels and Liz Marchi Consulting, Polson
The Board of Directors also welcomed two new members in July.

Tom Stergios, SVP Strategy and Corporate Development for Advanced Technology Group (ATG), Missoula. A native Missoulian, Stergios returned home after working as a consultant internationally on six continents for Accenture, Axiom, IBM, Cygent, and Convergys. He started at ATG working remotely in his basement and then launched the Missoula Solutions Center in 2011, growing his team to more than 135 employees. Stergios/ATG is a founding member, one of Montana's fastest growing tech employers, and among the Alliance’s biggest supporters from day one.

Kelly Schwager, Vice President, Global Communications for Oracle, Columbia Falls. Born and raised in Silicon Valley, Schwager moved to Columbia Falls around six years ago where she works remotely. She previously served as Executive Vice President at global PR firm Edelman and Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer for the IOT transportation company Streetline, Inc. Oracle is a founding member, and Schwager has been a generous and enthusiastic supporter of the Alliance. We’re thrilled she will now lend us her time, expertise, and industry connections in a more official capacity serving on the board.

Four years ago, the Montana High Tech Business Alliance was launched by seven founding board members – Greg Gianforte, Jeff Trom, Lance Tinseth, Rob Irizarry, Rob Gilmore, David Hayden, and Jason Mittelstaedt. They all happened to be male, and all in Bozeman, but they had a vision to ultimately create a nonpartisan organization that would be statewide and diverse.

Today, 50 percent of the Alliance’s six Board of Directors members are female. Two are in Bozeman, two in Missoula, and two in the Flathead Valley – representing our three largest hubs of membership.

A seventh board seat is still under consideration. The board is also looking at additional ways to further engage the talents of our Board of Advisors and other leaders in our membership across the state.

As the Board of Directors begins the process of onboarding and strategic planning, we welcome input as to how the Alliance can provide value for you, our members, and the ways you might like to contribute to supporting Montana’s booming high-tech sector.

Member News:

IronCore Raises $1.5M for Cloud Privacy and Data Control Platform

Boulder, Colorado -- IronCore Labs, the cloud privacy platform, announced on June 28, 2018 that it has closed an additional $1.5M of seed funding. The round was led by Next Frontier Capital with participation from Blue Note Ventures, PV Ventures, and several others. IronCore, a TechStars Boulder 2017 graduate, will use the funds to accelerate growth and to support its vision of empowering people and businesses to control their data. This round, composed of new and prior investors, brings the total funds raised to $3M.

 “If Facebook had been using our technology, they wouldn’t have lost control of the data for 87 million users.  Today, if you use a cloud service, you don’t know who it’s shared with, you don’t know who the vendors’ vendors are, who their employees are, or who’s been browsing your data,” said Patrick Walsh, CEO of IronCore. “With IronCore, data owners retain control of their data no matter where it lives. They determine who can see it, monitor how it's accessed, and can revoke that access at any time.”

High profile breaches and new regulations like GDPR are driving new requirements in enterprise software deals. IronCore helps developers meet these requirements quickly and thoroughly, enabling them to close those deals.

“We see enormous opportunity in IronCore, impacting essentially all software” said Richard Harjes, Managing Partner at Next Frontier Capital. “Their path-breaking technology is transforming how private information is managed in a world of distributed data.”

Read the full press release.

Read the article in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle.

POLITICO acquires technology from startup company Statehill Inc. to fuel next generation Pro Intelligence platform

POLITICO Europe, a joint venture of POLITICO and Axel Springer, announced on July 3 the acquisition of technology from startup company Statehill Inc. Co-founded by Karl Bjelland in 2015 and formerly known as Billczar, Statehill is headquartered in Conrad, Montana.The newly acquired technology will fuel the launch of an innovative new information platform: Pro Intelligence. The acquisition is part of POLITICO’s growing European expansion and continuing investment in their range of premium policy services – POLITICO Pro.

POLITICO Europe will integrate the newly acquired monitoring technology into its professional news service, POLITICO Pro. The new platform, Pro intelligence, will combine journalistic, political and policy expertise with innovative technology and data analysis, providing the first fully comprehensive platform for organizations tracking EU and national legislative and political developments. The move further enhances POLITICO’s mission, and expertise, in connecting the dots between EU and national level, making legislation more accessible and transparent.

The new Pro Intelligence platform encompasses data sets on European institutions and national legislatures including UK, Germany and France. Pro’s news service and its already substantial features will be integrated into the new platform, which will hit the market early fall this year, providing one comprehensive tool for the thousands of professionals who rely on Pro every day.

Read the full press release.

Montana Photonics Industry Alliance answers, "Why Bozeman?"

This video features Alliance members Montana Photonics Industry AllianceMSU Blackstone LaunchPad, City of Bozeman, and TechLink. Video produced by the MSU Blackstone LaunchPad.
Montana High Tech Business Alliance: Why This State Out Ranks California and New York as the Best Places in the U.S. to Start Up (Inc), New Heights for High-Tech: Montana’s Tech Sector Is Stronger Than Ever, (Montana Business Quarterly)
Blackfoot: Senator Jon Tester Visits Blackfoot Communications, Reviews Montana-Focused Innovation Initiatives (Bristol Herald Courier)
Missoula Economic Partnership: Report: High crime rates, lack of local sales tax hinder Missoula's economic development (Missoulian)
Cowboy Cricket Farms: Entrepreneurs Chirp Their Way to Success (Make Montana Home)
Missoula airport: Early phases of Missoula airport terminal project set to begin this summer (Missoula Current)
STEM education: MSU camp exposes middle-schoolers to STEM fields and life at college (Bozeman Daily Chronicle)

Welcome New Members:

Big Sky Economic Development, Karen Baumgart, Billings
REDAPT Attunix, Brandon Gross, Bellevue
WhiteBark, LLC, Ethan Schroeder, Missoula

Upcoming Events:

1 Million Cups and Hellgate Venture Network Cookout at Dunrovin Ranch - Lolo. July 12, 6:00pm, Dunrovin Ranch. Come and enjoy a cold beer while you mingle with a community of Montana entrepreneurs who are developing and shaping innovative Montana businesses. We will have a hot grill available and ask that you provide your own "grillables" and a side to share with fellow guests while everyone baskes in the splendor of the Bitterroot Valley. Please RSVP if you plan on attending.
Montana Code School Demo Day - Missoula. July 12, 5-7pm, Gecko Designs, 523 N Higgins. Join us for Montana Code School’s Demo Day to meet our talented students who will be available for hire starting in August 2018. Our students are ideal candidates for tech companies looking for software developers and interns. Free Beer and Food Provided! Learn more and register to attend.
1 Million Cups Bi-Weekly Meeting - Missoula. July 18. Meets the first and third Wednesday each month at 9:00 am at The Loft, Missoula. 1 Hour Free Parking across the street in the city parking garage. Start your morning with coffee and start your business with 1MC Missoula, a place to percolate your startup. Entrepreneurship runs through it. For more information visit the website or Facebook page.
Automation/Technology Collaboration Monthly Workshop - Missoula. July 18, 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm, Missoula College. Modernizing equipment and facilities to take advantage of the newest trends that optimize efficiency through automation & technology are providing manufacturer’s with a strategic competitive advantage. The Western Montana Manufacturing Partnership (WMMP) offers an opportunity to collaboratively learn the automation process. Discover 6 steps to implement automation within your organization. 
Learn more and register.
Big Sky Dreamin' Salesforce Conference - Bozeman. July 19 - 20. Big Sky Dreamin' is in its inaugural year and will be hosted at the Rialto in downtown Bozeman, Montana. They are looking for presenters on topics that will grab the attention of novice and experienced members of the Salesforce Ohana.  Call for papers and early bird registration closes April 30, 2018. Learn more.
ATG Quote 2 Cast - Missoula. August 1 - 3. Whether you’re building a company, launching a product, raising a family, or simply implementing a CPQ tool, effective teaming is essential. At Quote to Cast 2018, ATG is going to explore the concept of Teams, within the context of world-class Quote to Cash solutions. For 18 years, ATG has been working with great Clients, Vendors, and fellows SIs to deliver innovation in Quote to Cash. Learn more.
2018 Economic Update Series, Make Montana Home - Enticing Entrepreneurs - Statewide. August 2 in Kalispell, August 6 in Glasgow, August 6 in Sidney, August 7 in Billings, August 7 in Bozeman, August 7 in Butte, August 8 in Helena, August 8 in Great Falls, August 9 in Missoula. ‘Montana University’ of the Montana Chamber Foundation invites you to participate in the 13th Annual Economic Update Series. This annual series provides brief mid-year updates and economic projections for local, state, and national economies. The series takes place in nine locations across the state, with additional stops in Glasgow and Sidney being added this year. The State of Entrepreneurship study will be released in conjunction with the series. Additionally, a panel of local entrepreneurs will participate, providing reactions to Patrick Barkey’s (Bureau of Business & Economic Research, University of Montana) economic projections and thoughts on entrepreneurs can succeed in Montana.Learn more and register.
1 Million Cups Monthly Meeting - Bozeman. August 8. Meets the first Wednesday of the month at 7:30 am at Red Tractor Pizza, Bozeman. Creating conversation around Bozeman startups, business development, and economic growth in the most entrepreneurial state in the nation (plus, coffee). For more information and application to present, visit the website.
Wage & Hour Part I: Exempt Employees - statewide. August 8, noon -1 pm. This webinar presented by Associated Employers will define exempt employees, discuss the importance of job descriptions in determining exempt status, and more. Email reg@aehr.org, call 406-248-6178, or register online
Montana Ambassadors Dinner and Innovate Montana Symposium - Billings. Aug 8 - 9, DoubleTree by Hilton, Billings. The 2018 Innovate Symposium is the first statewide event entirely focused on giving early stage ventures actionable insights to get to market and grow their companies. Every aspect of the day - from the keynote speaker and panelists to invited attendees - will be curated for their ability to create products with a clear market fit, raise investment, and build teams from the ground up.  The Launch and Grow tracks will give businesses in diverse fields the steps they need to take immediately, and a plan for scaling in the future. Learn more and buy tickets.
Collaboration, Critical Thinking, and Communication seminar -  Bozeman.. August 16, 8 am - 4:30 pm. Effective communication, critical thinking, and collaboration are essential skills for success in the modern workplace. Studies show these foundational skills benefit nearly every facet of business operation, build trust, and significantly improve engagement, retention, and operational profits. Learn these skills and more in this dynamic seminar with the Engineering Leadership Institute. Learn more and register here.
Wage & Hour Part II: Non-exempt Employees - statewide. August 22, noon -1 pm. This webinar presented by Associated Employers will define non-exempt employees, discuss the definition of a work wee, properly determining and paying overtime, and more. Email reg@aehr.org, call 406-248-6178, or register online
University of Montana Career Fair - Missoula. August 30, 9 am - 3 pm. University Center. The Student Employment Fair is a great opportunity for employers to connect with students seeking work-study, non-work study, part time, on campus, off campus and volunteer positions while going to school. Register and learn more.
Montana Tech Career Fair - Butte. Sept. 13, Career Fair. Sept. 14, 2nd day interviews. Take part in one of Montana Tech's signature events. For more information, email careerservices@mtech.edu, call 406.496.4140, or visit the website.
Leadership Training Workshop - Bozeman. Sept.19, 2018, First Interstate Bank Training Center, downtown Missoula. The workshop presenters, industry leaders with the Western Montana Manufacturing Partnership (WMMP), will teach participants tools and skills to help improve their business and become better equipped for the challenges faced as supervisors and managers. Learn more and register.
Early Stage MT statewide showcase - Bozeman. Sept. 22, Museum of the Rockies, Bozeman. From each regional ESMT competition, two finalists were selected to advance to the Statewide showcase taking place on September 22, 2018 in Bozeman. There, competitors will have the opportunity to pitch their business to dozens of investors, mentors, and members of the Montana business community and possibly win your share of up to $50,000 in investment capital. Learn more here.
MSU 31st Annual Fall Career Fair - Bozeman. Oct. 4. Learn more and register.
Past Newsletters:
06/28/2018 - Robot Snacks chosen ESMT finalist; New MHTBA jobs board and calendar; Zoot names new President; Big Sky Dreamin' Salesforce conference
06/14/2018 - 5 Advantages to Doing Business in MT; MWTC features GDPR at TechEx; Inaugural Women’s Summit Explores Inclusive Innovation
05/31/2018 - Blackfoot Hosts Missoula Reception (photos); Helix Acquires Accelas; Early Stage MT announces finalists; Prime Labs receives $225k grant
05/17/2018 - Kalispell's PROOF Research achieves 1,000 percent growth; Zoot earns Gold & Silver Stevie Awards; MPP receives $210K grant to create 31 jobs in Butte
Click to view more past newsletters.
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1121 E Broadway St, Suite 108
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