C2M Beta: Montana’s startup studio accelerator
A 12-week program that provides weekly meetings with our workshop team who sprints alongside you to uncover unique insights and big market opportunities within your space. You have a team to collaborate with to test and prototype rapidly — getting you to conviction, concept, and customers, in half the time you would have on your own. In the accelerator, our companies develop their business model and operation processes to increase productivity and sales, leading to a sustainable future. After the accelerator, our team is accessible to you to continue to help solve business challenges.
the ecosystem
Nestled among the mountains and rivers of Big Sky Country is a growing hotbed of technology startups. Annually recognized as a leader in entrepreneurship by the Kaufmann Foundation, Montana’s tech scene has started to attract the attention of outside capital. In 2017, $83 million in venture capital was deployed in Montana, a 3x increase from the previous seven years combined. Montana High-tech companies generated more than $2 billion in revenue in 2018 and grow at rates up to 9x faster than the statewide economy, according to a recent study conducted by the University of Montana Bureau of Business and Economic Research.
the process
Twice a year, startups are invited to participate in Open Innovation Sessions to get to know C2M beta and Blackfoot executive leadership, and talk about their venture. From these sessions, a handful of startups are invited in to the cohort, a 12-week experience working with C2M beta to test their products, and build operational processes. The capstone of the experience is an invite-only demo day, where startups present and meet with key decision makers.
our partners
C2M partners with like-minded Montanans who share a common mission - to help build sustainable companies. Current partners and coaches hail from Front Street Capital, The Insight Studio, Audience Awards, and Intralogix.
our corporate sponsors
Headquartered in beautiful Missoula, Montana, Blackfoot is the operator of the region's largest multi-gigabit network. C2M beta was launched in 2018 as part of Blackfoot's "smart growth" strategy, a decade-long commitment to deliver cutting-edge products to its customer base that spans 20 states. C2M has now opened its corporate sponsorship offering and is accepting new corporate sponsors. If you would like to become a sponsor of C2M, contact us for more information.
the leadership
Joe Fanguy joined Blackfoot as VP of Strategic Development and founder of C2M beta in 2018, bringing with him a wealth of experience in team building, commercialization and startups. To enhance the experience of the startup studio accelerator, Joe has assembled a seasoned group of industry experts, mentors, investors and entrepreneurs to join C2M beta.The accelerator assembles a customized multi-disciplinary team to support each startup and provide a combination of business, technical and project support, with a focus on using lean startup and agile methodologies.
connect
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