Developing Funding Opportunities in Montana

Once a company makes it through proof of concept, it needs much larger capital rounds to scale and grow geographically, as well as across new product lines and market segments.

Homestake Partners is focused on what its founders see as the state’s "backbone" businesses, be it the local hardware store or the new corner market.

"Being able to get actual college credit for going through an incubator program was really important," Jameson said. "I didn’t have to make a compromise."

The purpose is to create a dialogue with business leaders, economic development organizations, business incubators, and community leaders to promote investment in Montana and support businesses as they start up and/or grow their existing operations.

Investors are starting to see gold in the Treasure State’s hot tech scene, and Missoula is playing an ever-increasing role.

If you really want to get venture capitalists to invest in the Midwest, it will take more than a three-day trip. But, how else do you get venture capitalists to give Midwest investments a chance?

On the local front, we are meeting with dozens of Montana-based technology companies and providing advice and support to help them accelerate their growth path.

Montana has fallen behind other states in the region in its support for technology startups, though one group of angel investors is looking to grow its network in hopes of influencing state policy to close the gap.