2020 Big Sky Business Insight Summit
Where challenges become opportunities
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The Big Sky Business Insight Summit convenes cross-sector leaders to define big problems, identify Montana’s strengths to address them, and provide insights on how solutions can grow higher paying jobs, strengthen our statewide economy, and improve our overall quality of life. Montanans are problem solvers and from individual entrepreneurs to whole industries, for generations we’ve created solutions to global challenges through science, technology, and innovation. Today our challenges are more complex than ever, but our ability to meet them is greater than ever too.
The 2020 Big Sky Business Insight Summit, held October 6-8, looked at the challenges presented by COVID-19 and Montana’s opportunities to solve them and grow stronger in the process. Featuring Governor Steve Bullock, Rocky Mountain Labs Director Marshall Bloom, and a host of experts and industry leaders, all sessions from 2020’s summit are available to view below.
Big Sky BIS Sponsors
Thank you to our Big Sky Business Insight Summit sponsors.
Big Sky BIS Sponsors
Thank you to our Big Sky Business Insight Summit sponsors.
Title Sponsor
Montana Bioscience Cluster Initiative
The Montana Bioscience Alliance serves as a hub for Montana’s biotechnology companies, entrepreneurs, laboratories, hospitals, clinics and universities to commercialize, grow and sustain globally competitive bioscience companies — ultimately to create high-quality jobs and economic opportunity in Montana.
Day Sponsors
Montana Governor’s Office of Economic Development
The Montana Governor’s Office of Economic Development is charged with supporting the business community and workforce of the state to grow the economy. To that end, the Office commonly serves as the single point of contact for businesses that are interested in relocating to or expanding in Montana. The Governor’s Office of Economic Development also advises Governor Bullock on economic policy, and houses business or workforce-related special projects.
Two Bear Capital
We invest early in founder-led companies with disruptive innovations in AI, cybersecurity, healthcare, and biotech that can deliver dramatically better solutions to our toughest problems. Our goal is ambitious: build a virtuous cycle of economic opportunity, create high impact companies along with jobs for communities, and in the process, change the world for the better. In addition to capital, we provide our founders with the talent, skills, and experience required to guide their business through every stage of growth, from seed to market leadership. The companies we help build are poised to deliver massive positive change along with exponential growth in value.
C2M Beta Powered by Blackfoot
C2M is a technology accelerator partnering with startups and innovative corporations to create impact in the Rocky Mountain region.
Additional Sponsor
Montana Bioscience Alliance
The Montana Bioscience Alliance serves as a hub for Montana’s biotechnology companies, entrepreneurs, laboratories, hospitals, clinics and universities to commercialize, grow and sustain globally competitive bioscience companies — ultimately to create high-quality jobs and economic opportunity in Montana.
Day 1: Montana's Strong Foundation
Rocky Mountain Lab Director Marshall Bloom, Governor Steve Bullock, Harvard trained economist Bryce Ward, and a panel of distinguished industry leaders take a look at the state of our health, bioscience, and technology sectors with focus on where they intersect and how these sectors shaped our COVID-19 response.
Big Sky Business Insight Summit Introduction
Grant Kier (Missoula Economic Partnership), Bryce Ward (ABMJ Consulting)
Panel:
Moderator: Marshall Bloom (Rocky Mountain Laboratories)
Panelists: Jason Carter (Montana State University), Maggie Cook-Shimanek (MT Department of Labor & Industry), Jay Evans (Center for Translational Medicine), Robert Goodwin (Vibliome Therapeutics)
Day 2: Navigating A Pandemic Through Innovation
Over six months into the pandemic, we’re still navigating dynamic changes in conditions, from caseloads to supply chains and even our understanding of the virus. Cross-sector experts discuss the state of the virus, acute needs, and ways in which Montana’s industries, research & development labs, educational institutions, and investors are pivoting to fill gaps in products, services, and knowledge to navigate acute conditions.
Panel
Moderator: Avery Sonnenberg (Two Bear Capital)
Panelists: Delila Bruno (MT Disaster and Emergency Services), Neil Ku (Billings Clinic), Blake Wiedenheft (Montana State University), Scott Whittenburg (University of Montana)
Day 3: Designing Around our Strengths to Create Health and Economic Resilience Beyond COVID-19
Based on what we’ve already learned and experienced in this pandemic, our panel of experts explores anticipated potential long term changes in our key industries and sectors, and how industry leaders, institutional leaders, policy makers, and communities can best position Montana for long term recovery that will make us economically stronger and more resilient in the future.
Panel
Moderator: Sean Becker (MHA Ventures)
Panelists: Chelsea Bodnar (Montana Pediatrics, Ahana Pediatrics), Chris Booth (FYR Diagnostics), Shannon Lewis (State Workforce Innovation Board), Liz Marchi (Two Bear Capital), Bryce Ward (ABMJ Consulting)