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| MATR Newsletter - Fri Nov 27, 2009 |
“It depends on the dedication of students and parents, and the commitment of private citizens, organizations and companies. It depends on all of us.” President Obama http://matr.net/articl ... .html
Montana is truly lucky to have a number of outstanding Angels and VC's who either live here full time or for just a portion of the year. One of the most knowledgeable is Bill Payne http://www.billpayne.com. Bill has started writing a blog that will provide entrepreneurs and fellow Angels an insight into his years of experience and success. I encourage everyone to take advantage of Bill's wisdom and I thank Bill for being so generous with his time and energy for Montana's entrepreneurs. MATR will be posting his thoughts under this new category. (It only took me three days to think of the title...) "Bill Payne" http://matr.net/news.p ... Payne+
Bill Payne
Montana SBA
- Angel investor, Bill Payne, gives time, money to entrepreneurs in Montana and beyond
Bill Payne found a key to success early on in his career: surround yourself with people who have more experience than you do.
- Bill Payne "Bootstrapping a time-proven financing tool for entrepreneurs"
Don't raise money from outside sources for your startup venture unless you absolutely must.
- Who are these angels?
VCs and angels are quite different.
- Why are Angels Forming and Joining Angel Groups?
It’s a GREAT time to be an angel. Find a group and jump in!
University of Montana Tech Transfer
- How small businesses can survive 2009
There are steps that small-business owners can take today that may help change these dynamics and make the 2009 holiday season more profitable and successful.
PrintingForLess
- University of Montana Spinoff, Sinapis Pharma, Closes Series 'A' Financing
Sinapis Pharma has discovered and is developing a novel therapeutic approach to neuronal protection using its intravenous methamphetamine technology.
Highway 12 VenturesCome Home Montana
- Smooth Seas Don’t Make Skillful Sailors
The game is long. Your next start-up is right around the corner. It may be hard to see right now but investors like to invest in people who have learned the hard lessons on someone else’s dime. Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.
Developing Tech Jobs in Rural Communities
- Montana Career Opportunity - Center Director for the Montana Audubon Conservation Education Center - Billings, Montana
The Director of the Audubon Conservation Education Center (“Center”) will be a strategic-thinking entrepreneur, a leader, fundraiser, and charismatic facilitator who is able to work with a partnership of public and private entities to grow and administer a “flagship” Montana Audubon Center in Billings, Montana.
- Recognizing the many ways Montana's got it good
We're lucky to live here, fellow Montanans, and we know it. So this year, when we sit at the table with our families and friends, let us give a moment of thanks for what Montana has given us—and a promise to do what we can to return her many favors.
- Kalispell, Montana's TeleTech call center will hire 90 more workers
TeleTech has two job fairs scheduled for the week of 11/30/09.
Montana Biotech
- Pacific Northwest Quakes Could Imperil Urban Areas
Major earthquakes occurring along the Cascadia subduction zone off the coast of Washington state could strike closer to the state’s urban areas than some models have suggested, a new study notes.
Montana Business
- Montana Department of Commerce Awards $2.5 Million for Biomedical Research to Montana Research Institutions
“Groundbreaking scientific research is happening every day across Montana,” said Anthony Preite, Director of the Montana Department of Commerce. “These grant awards will help expand Montana’s growing research and technology sector, create cutting-edge jobs, and allow Montana to remain competitive in the exciting fields of bioresearch. These awards are long term-investments in the discoveries of tomorrow.”
Montana Economic Development
- DOE Selects Pacific Northwest Regional Smart Grid Demonstration Project. Regional project includes two NorthWestern Energy demonstration projects
NorthWestern Energy is one of two Montana utilities participating in the project. NorthWestern plans to test the operational efficiencies and customer service enhancements that may be gained by the installation of technology to enhance communication between the utility and the meter.
- Semitool Sale’s Impact on Flathead Valley Workforce
“Applied Materials has resources to continue investing in the technology Semitool developed and grow the local operations,” Kellie Danielson, president of Montana West Economic Development said. “We want Applied Materials to understand how important the operations are to Montanans and the advantages of doing business in the Flathead Valley.”
Funding and Building your Business
- Gazette opinion: Prescription for more of the doctors Montana needs
Nearly all of Montana’s 56 counties are designated primary-care shortage areas.
Montana Education Excellence
- How to Use Social Media
If you could use only one service to market a product, which one would it be?
Education
- Thinking about College? Attend a Bitterroot College Program New Student Orientation - Multiple Orientation Dates
Start now ~ Spring 2010 classes begin January 25 OR plan ahead ~ Fall 2010 is just around the corner!
- Montana education leaders doing important work
Please thank these leaders for making the commitment to create a 21st century learning environment for our students. They will need our help to succeed.
- Business experience, classroom credit combined
"Customer service is a really big deal," Haffner said. The students are learning responsibility — showing up to work on time is huge — as well as dealing with different people.
Community
- Learning community teaches spirit of entrepreneurship
"The real goal is fostering the entrepreneurial student, and that's a student who's entrepreneurial in his or her whole life."
- Race to the Top in Education - "The State with the Best Education Wins!"
Competition among the states is also vital to reform. The administration is resisting the temptation to award funds to as many states as possible. And that's good. To be effective, Race to the Top funds cannot become a democratic handout. Competition brings out the best performance. That's true in athletics and in business, and it's true in education.
- Wyoming schools can help others improve
It's clear from our reporter's research that other Wyoming schools don't have to look outside the state for models of innovative approaches to education. There are plenty of examples here of "best practices" that can be shared with other school districts.
Connectivity & Communications
- Holiday giving: How to choose a charity
New tools help givers, and those in need, find answers.
Energy and Climate Change
- Google Launches Automated YouTube Captioning; AAPD Applauds
“We applaud industry leadership such as this. We look to other companies to be as innovative in making their products and services accessible to people with disabilities.”
Miscellaneous Ramblings
- Oregon proposes new fees for tracking greenhouse gas emissions
The agency's annual budget for greenhouse gas reporting is $330,000.
- New report says climate change accelerating much faster than expected
Ice sheets are melting more quickly and Arctic sea ice is disappearing much faster than previously projected, and significant sea level rise is more certain than ever, according to a new global scientific synthesis prepared by some of the world's top climate scientists.
- Studies: Fighting global warming reduces diseases
Slashing carbon dioxide emissions could save millions of lives, mostly by reducing preventable deaths from heart and lung diseases, the studies show.
- State proposes trading program to cut emissions
The ambitious program would cap most of the state's greenhouse gases, including those from more than 600 power plants, refineries, cement plants and other big factories. It would allow companies to buy and sell emission allowances among themselves to reach an overall goal of cutting planet-warming pollutants 15% below today's levels by 2020. The state's action comes as Congress wrestles with a cap-and-trade bill for planet-heating emissions. Legislation passed by the House is stalled in the Senate.
- Volkswagen: The Fun Theory - Piano Stairs
Fun can obviously change behavior for the better.
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