FAST FACTS

• 250+ students have provided 9000 hours of pro-bono business analysis.
• More than 40 firms in the Bozeman area have participated including:
  RightNow Technologies
  Ligocyte Pharmaceuticals
  PrintingForLess.com
  Zoot Enterprises
• The program was one of 19 recognized by the SBA in 2005 and 2007 for demonstrated market-based results.

Purpose
There is a sincere belief and commitment among the faculty and administration of the MSU College of Business that an entrepreneurship program can make a significant contribution to the economic development of the state and provide a framework for an outstanding educational experience for students.

At the Center for Entrepreneurship for the New West, students gain valuable experience by working for start-up or growth technology companies. Students apply the knowledge gained from group projects, case studies, and classroom exercises in a real-life business. Client companies benefit from students' skills and expertise.

Benefits to MSU Scientists
There are a large number of scientists at MSU who can benefit from the activities of the Center. The Center for Entrepreneurship for the New West facilitates in helping to commercialize science that exists on campus. Faculty in agriculture, bio-agriculture, plant-science, chemistry, engineering and biology hold literally dozens of patents that have high commercialization value. The activities of the Center will provide interaction between scientists, students and business practitioners that can help bring this science to market.

In fact, the focus on MSU campus entrepreneurship is responsible for the "New West" designation for the Center. Much of the science on the MSU campus relates to the agricultural foundation of this western land grant university. While different products have passed the rigors of laboratory and field testing, they still need to be tested for commercial viability, which can be done at the Center. Such projects truly represent opportunities to create "New West" businesses. These types of businesses preserve a highly revered rural, traditional life-style, but do so with products and processes that have high economic potential.

National Recognition
The Center has been recognized with generous grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Department of Labor totaling $450,000. The Center has also received grants from the Kauffman and Coleman Foundations.

The Alderson Program and the Center for Entrepreneurship for the New West (CENW) were named by the SBA Office of Advocacy as an Economic Development Best Practices Program national finalist in 2005. The CENW was also a Finalist for EDA’s 2007 Excellence in Economic Development Award.

The Center for Entrepreneurship for the New West
910 Technology Blvd. Ste. A, Bozeman, MT, 59718
tel: 406.994.4423 fax: 406.556.0969 bryant@montana.edu