Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana

The possibilities are endless.

Kauffman research has found that top-down approaches do not work best to promote entrepreneurial activity. Instead, an entrepreneur-centered approach is recommended, where the government still plays a supportive role, but avoids dictating specifics.

I’ve gleaned just as much business wisdom from nonbusiness books, whose reading list falls into five categories:

MADE members voted last week to expand its mission from focusing on School of Business Administration students to encompass all UM students and entrepreneurial talent across the state.

The Launchpad provides students, alumni and staff with the resources to pursue entrepreneurship as a viable path.

According to the 2015 Kauffman Index, Montana ranks as the state with the highest level of startup activity–the third straight year it has topped the rankings. However, how sustainable is its recent entrepreneurial success?

The Kauffman Foundation Startup Activity Index shows especially strong activity this year in Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, Colorado and Vermont.

Start-ups are competing with each other, rather than working together.

Other countries are doing a better job of learning to capture entrepreneurial spirit and using it to grow business. What can we learn from them?

The Blackstone LaunchPad at MSU is the only organization in Montana to win the grant.