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| MATR Newsletter - Fri Apr 20, 2007 |
"The brain is a wonderful organ. It starts working the moment you get up in the morning, and does not stop until you get into the office." -- Robert Frost
"Montana’s exports top $1 billion Here's an opportunity for your company to take advantage of foreign markets opportunities." http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
Come Home Montana
Developing Tech Jobs in Rural Communities
- Montana Career Opportunity - Senior Software Design Engineer - RightNow Technologies, Inc
RightNow is looking for a guru, user-interface software engineer to drive the Communication management user interface features for our product suite.
- Montana Career Opportunity - Executive Director – The Vision Livingston Downtown Partnership (VLDP)
The Executive Director will develop and coordinate, programs and events that enhance the economic condition and appeal of downtown commerce.
Montana Education Excellence
- The 2007 State New Economy Index. Benchmarking Economic Transformation
Economies – national, state, or local – have two principal ways to grow over the medium and longer term. They can get bigger by increasing the number of employed workers, or they can get more productive, increasing the value each worker produces.
- Your commute might be hazardous to your health
Stress, higher blood pressure can be linked to long drives, researchers find
Education
- University of Montana creative writing and American Indian studies professor, Debra Magpie Earling has been awarded a 2007 Guggenheim Fellowship
Her first novel, "Perma Red," has received several awards and critical acclaim since its release in 2002.
- Butte teams qualify for Future Problem Solving international competition
Two Butte teams have once again qualified to compete in the Future Problem Solving International Competition in June.
- The University of Montana School of Business Administration Proudly Annouces the 2007 Outstanding Distinguished Alumna Mary N. Olson
Today she is responsible for $2.5 Billion in revenue and IBM's Senior State Executive for Montana
Montana Business
- Sun Microsystems chair, Scott McNealy touts open-source education for K-12 kids
''The two hot-button issues every CEO would put at the top of their list are health care costs and better-educated employees -- everybody agrees that if we haven't gotten them by the eighth or ninth grade we might lose them,'' McNealy said. ''Getting kids excited about learning is at the top of our lists, and this is just one little piece of the puzzle.''
Montana Economic Development
- On the move / Business brings accessible vehicle modifications, repairs to Missoula "Montana Mobility Products"
The new business acts as a distributorship for several different kinds of wheelchair vans and accessible vehicles, and also sells disability equipment ranging from hand controls to wheelchair locks. It is capable of modifying various equipment to fit the individual and will install and repair the equipment as needed.
- Semitool Penetrates Key Asian Memory and Logic Manufacturer; Expands Market Share in Growing Copper Damascene Sector
Larry Murphy, president and chief operating officer, said, "This win is vital to our overall Asian penetration strategy. We are very excited to work with this new customer in developing their next generation Cu devices for both logic and memory."
- LigoCyte Pharmaceuticals Wins Montana Small Business of the Year Award
“The award for the Montana Small Business Persons of the Year is a great honor, but in reality there is an entire team of nearly 50 people here at LigoCyte who have each contributed to our success,” said Donald Beeman, the company’s Chief Executive Officer. “It is important to recognize that the high standards that everyone sets here at LigoCyte have been instrumental in the company’s achievements.”
- Montana’s exports top $1 billion Here's an opportunity for your company to take advantage of foreign markets opportunities.
“If foreign currencies appreciate vis a vis the dollar, it in essence cheapens exports from the U.S. It makes them more affordable to foreign buyers, so yes, exchange rates play a significant role,” he said.
- RightNow Technologies’ first-quarter loss widens as costs grow
For the quarter that ended March 31, the company posted a net loss of $6 million, or 18 cents per share, compared with a loss of $440,000 during the same period a year ago.
Developing Funding Opportunities in Montana
- Montana Economic Summit registration on hold - 1852 people already registered.
A notice on the summit Web site, http://www.montanaeconomicsummit07.org, told visitors Monday that "registrations are nearing the capacity limits for the Montana Tech facilities. As a result of these limitations, we expect that it will be necessary to suspend registration."
- The Montana SBIR Outreach Program is Changing its Name to the Montana Technology Innovation Partnership (MTIP)
The state’s support of small technology firms is expanded to ALL sectors of Montana’s burgeoning technology-business community, regardless of their involvement with SBIR and STTR.
- Working Together to Help Montana Businesses Export! We need your input.
Please take a minute to review the following 3 questions and provide any feedback you can think of that might be useful.
- Choteau asked to help with geo-map by the National Geographic Society
The term geotourism means tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place, its environment, heritage, aesthetics, culture and the well-being of its residents.
Funding and Building your Business
- Fund of Funds program producing top jobs in Utah
The program invests in venture capital firms that bankroll new Utah technology and medical science businesses strapped for cash. Since investments began last year, nine funds have poured $44 million backed by Utah tax credits into 20 start-up companies.
- Ten tips for angel investors. (Entrepreneurs, this is what Angels think about when they're evaluating your company.)
It's probably useful for anyone thinking about putting money into a new company, high tech or not.
Oregon Business
- What Every Start-Up Company Needs To Know with Dorsey & Whitney:, 5/1, Butte
What Every Start-Up Company Needs to Know: Licensing and Commercialization, Raising Capital, Issuing Securities, Formation, Protecting Intellectual Property and Mergers & Acquisitions
- Building a "business to last" versus building a "business to sell."
To sell or not to sell...
- Right to search computers in workplace etc.
Both decisions defended the searches involved, but also reaffirmed protections for the personal computers in various contexts.
- 5 annoying habits of entrepreneurs
When you work with entrepreneurs, what most often keeps them from becoming great leaders?
- Tips for Structuring A Profit-Sharing Deal
Profit-sharing arrangements between a capital partner and a so-called sweat-equity partner can be set up in countless ways. What matters most is that both partners feel the deal is fair.
- "Duct Tape Marketing: The World's Most Practical Small Business Marketing Guide"
When you combine that with the cult-like obsession many people have for all things duct tape you also get a pretty good example of how something simple like the right name can do a great deal for a company, product, service, or book.
- "Your next startup, whatever it is, sucks," "Venture capital 2.0: bright future or broken forever?"
It could have been a rather dry session. But nothing is dry when Arrington is in the room.
- Smaller Companies Seeking First Round VC Find More Than a Few Obstacles. Can you speak "Term Sheet"?
This is an excellent opportunity for accredited investors who do angel and direct investors to learn. Bill Payne is the instructor with an expert panel.
- The 9 best classic business books of the past 30 years--and why they're still relevant today.
Here are nine worthy of space on any entrepreneur's shelf--now and in the future.
Regional Economic Development
- Oregon Angels join forces to focus on sustainable ventures
Portland and Oregon have a culture that is hospitable to new ideas for sustainable industry and clean energy. But the challenge for the state's startups has always been access to capital. That's why it was so important to create some kind of vehicle for creating more "informed capital," said Zenger.
Utah Business
- Reports on Rural America - Demographic Trends in Rural and Small Town America
As policymakers consider responses to the issues being faced in nonmetropolitan areas, it is critical that rural constituencies have a seat at the table.
- Blueprint Recommends New Approach to Cluster Strategy for Tucson Region
According to the analysis, accelerated workforce training is essential in preparing workers for existing high-quality jobs in the short-term. However, raising educational attainment rates is the long-term solution for positioning the region as a knowledge job center.
- TechStars Selects Ten Start-ups
TechStars said that the selected firms will develop their prototypes, products and business models this summer in Boulder, Colorado, and will receive office space, operations support and up to $15,000 in seed capital.
- New report weighs Rocky Mountain West’s negatives
Case studies indicate what could be the beginning of a trend that moves away from sprawl and focuses on preserving open space and wildlife habitat, with affordable housing part of the mix.
Utah Economic Development
- vSpring to honor Utah technology and biotech entrepreneurs
"The v100 community of entrepreneurs continues to be an indication of the abundance of one of the most important factors of production in our region - human capital," said Ed Ekstrom, managing director of vSpring Capital.
- Salt Lake-based Coherex Medical completes equity financing
The lead investors in the financing round were Oxford Bioscience and vSpring Capital.
Government Technology
- Utah Guv touts connecting world via broadband
Huntsman noted how Utah must keep its various infrastructures — from technological and educational to livability and quality-of-life — in place or improving "to take us to the next level."
Idaho Business
- How quickly do state governments reply to constituents' e-mails?
Fewer than half of the states responded within 24 hours. Reading an e-mail message shouldn't take a full day. (Montana responded within 2 hours.)
Oregon Economic Development
- Business boom reinvigorates Downtown Boise, Idaho
The influx of new businesses has coincided with the emergence of Downtown as the place to live in Boise.
Washington State Business
- Oregon bioscience development forecast: Back to reality
The fountain of new companies, jobs and tax revenue that was supposed to flow from taxpayers' investment has not materialized as rapidly as envisioned. And OHSU's new president, Joseph Robertson, acknowledges that the university's projections were "optimistic" and "exuberant."
Government
- Startup Avvo completes second round of funding. Secretive firm has raised $13 million
Avvo Chief Executive Mark Britton still isn't saying much about his new online legal services startup.
- Inside Entrepreneurship: Washington CASH helps small startups get going
One of the most underutilized resources around town, I believe, is Washington Community Alliance for Self-Help.
Other Economies
- Montana takes lead in revolt against Real ID
“Montanans don’t want the federal agents listening to their phone conversations, rifling through their papers, checking on what books they read and monitoring where they go and when. We think they ought to mind their own business.” Gov. Brian Schweitzer
Miscellaneous Ramblings
- Affordable housing in Alberta could receive a $100 million boost. Affordable Housing Conference in Missoula - 5/17-18
The Stelmach government is set to unleash a torrent of spending in today's provincial budget -- including $100 million in new cash to municipalities for affordable housing
Incubators and R&D
- Web 2.0 is all about the money
"Consumers are moving toward a trend where they don't care so much about privacy," Ewing replied. "The case for privacy on the Internet is eroding rapidly."
University TechTransfer
- News briefs from the frontiers of science
Why ethanol may not be a pollution solution.
Montana Education/Business Partnerships
- Does Localizing University Tech Transfer Come at a Price? "Harnessing Success: Determinants of University Technology Licensing Performance"
The overriding factor on examining the productivity of licensing has less to do with the type of university and more to do with each university’s incorporation of incentives for its researchers.
Business Plan Forums
- Montana Career Clusters Conference - Business And Education Developing A Vital Future Together, 6/27-29, Kalispell, MT
This is a conference should be attended by everyone interested in the future of Montana. Remember.... The State with the Best Education Wins!
Small Diameter Timber Utilization
- Venture Capital: Young high school chocolatier wows crowd at The seventh annual Early Stage Investment Forum in Seattle.
Crabtree's smooth investment pitch -- more polished than some from those twice his age at the conference -- won him converts.
Careers
- Forest Service Awards Grants to Montana Companies for Biomass Projects
North Slope Sustainable Wood of Missoula received the money to market wood flooring from larch and Douglas fir trees about 8 inches or less in diameter. John Jump Trucking of Kalispell got a grant to launch a system for collecting and moving woody biomass in western Montana.
Non-Profit News
- College graduate job outlook, pay stronger this year
Bizjournals study finds the hottest metros for job opportunities for young adults
Energy
- The Charlotte Martin Foundation will grant $1 million to Montana nonprofits this year
The grant reviewers would like to see Montana foundations involved in this process.
Connectivity & Communications
- Air Force embraces solar power
The largest solar power plant in North America will soon be providing electricity to an Air Force base in the Nevada desert.
- Boise, Idaho developer Gary Christensen plans zero net energy buildings
“We’re striving for nothing … and when we get to nothing, we’re going to do even less.” That’s what Boise developer Gary Christensen says about his energy consumption goals.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Montana Telecommunications Association Commentary -AT&T Proposal to Stabilize the Universal Service Fund
No wonder the system is broken.
- Lessons From Virginia Tech: A Disaster Alert System That Works
Since 9/11, some security experts have pushed the idea that peer-to-peer alert systems that rely on openness and the crowd can save lives, particularly when centralized communications and decision-making break down.
- Microsoft increases efforts to bridge world's digital divide
Microsoft said Thursday it will build on existing efforts to bridge the digital divide worldwide and announced several new ventures, including a $3 software package for governments that subsidize student computers.
- Owning the Keys That Will Make the Internet More Secure. "This is the U.S. government stepping forward and showing leadership."
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is funding the development of a technical plan for controlling the top level domains, like .com and .org
- Creepy-crawly robot to mend a broken heart
The device, called HeartLander, can be inserted using minimally invasive keyhole surgery. Once in place, it will attach itself to the heart and begin inching its way across the outside of the organ, injecting drugs or attaching medical devices. In tests on live pigs, the HeartLander has fitted pacemaker leads and injected dye into the heart.
- Modified ink printer churns out electronic circuits
The UK researchers behind the feat say their experimental device could pave the way for safer and cheaper electronics manufacturing.
- Tech Talk: PowerBeam uses laser to power solar panel with energy beam
Who ever heard of wireless electricity? Seems impossible.
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