Start up accelerators typically involve highly competitive, cohort-driven, months-long programs designed to mentor and educate the leadership team, culminating in a pitch/demo day that ultimately frees the start-ups to set sail on their own.
But what if you could achieve the same or even better results in just one week?
That’s what sets HyperAccelerators apart. HyperAccelerators offer exceptional resources and mentor access, accelerated training, networking opportunities, and access to angel and VC investors in a fraction of the time commitment required by traditional accelerators.
In one such standout program, Early Stage Montana trains Montana technology companies to monetize and scale their technologies into a business. This program has filled a critical gap in the Montana entrepreneurship ecosystem, boosting the success of participating companies, including spinoff companies from Montana State University.
In a week-long, free HyperAccelerator program, Early Stage MT runs an annual cohort to prepare start-ups to scale. In a fraction of the time it takes a traditional accelerator, this training and mentoring program covers pitch refinement, target markets, sales and marketing strategies, IP and legal issues, valuation, financing through risk capital, grant funding, and bootstrapping, and exit strategies. In the culmination of the program, the fledgling companies pitch their idea to a group of investors and tech stakeholders.
This successful program has been operating in Montana for four years, working with more than 40 start-ups that have gone on to create over 130 jobs in the state and raise over $40M in capital.
We are teaming with leaders from all three entities to provide this deep-dive case study-style program:
With this detailed session, you’ll hear our expert presenters describe their complementary roles in the same ecosystem, and how they leverage each others’ capabilities and strengths to guide budding entrepreneurs toward success. They’ll also detail their unique roles in assisting with mentorship, funding, recruiting, and networking. Here’s a brief look at the agenda:
- Approach to ecosystem building and developing the HyperAccelerator
- Review of significant wins/successes in four years, and plans for the future
- Collaboration strategies: Blackstone Launchpad and MSU Tech Transfer
- Inside the HyperAccelerator — Identifying serious candidates and weeding out the tire kickers:
- what are the criteria
- focusing on team versus idea
- Transitioning from the tech transfer office to the Launchpad:
- Defining the relationship between to the TTO, Launchpad and Early Stage MT
- Milestone requirements for joining the HyperAccelerator?
- A detailed walk-through of the HyperAccelerator program
You’ll come away with proven strategies and new ideas for creating your own HyperAccelerator program.
Meet your session leaders:
Trevor Huffmaster
Executive Director
Blackstone Launchpad, Montana State University
Trevor was on the founding team of MaternOhio Management Services, a physician practice management organization, and subsequently spent over 15 years in senior IT management and software implementation roles with startups and leading healthcare organizations, including the Ohio State University Medical Center. In 2015, Trevor participated in both the MITx Global Entrepreneurship Bootcamp at MIT and the Executive Program in Social Impact Strategy at the University of Pennsylvania. Trevor was instrumental in creating Montana State’s 406 Labs, a business incubator and accelerator and member of GAN (Global Accelerator Network). Leading 406 Labs and the Blackstone LaunchPad over the last five years, Trevor has coached, mentored, and collaborated with hundreds of passionate entrepreneurs and startups.
Daniel Juliano
Associate Director, TechLink
Director of MSU Tech Transfer
Since 2016, Daniel has been the Director of the Montana State University Technology Transfer Office, following 16 years of technology development experience in industry. His most recent role included product development and senior management at a Silicon Valley VC-funded startup company that grew to 500+ employees, including responsibility for creating and managing the corporate intellectual property program. Daniel has been granted 24 US patents, and has BS, MS, and PhD degrees in Physics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Jenni Graff
Executive Director
Early Stage Montana
Jenni is the Founding Executive Director of Early Stage Montana. She oversees the daily operations and is tasked with multiplying the organization’s statewide impact on the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Prior to joining ESMT, Jenni was the founder of a professional recruiting firm, and worked in Economic Development. She has worked extensively with state and local agencies to bring technology companies to the state and encourage business growth.
