Entrepreneurship: Shaping the Future Through Innovation

How can I start a career as an entrepreneur in Montana?

Dr. Brock LaMeres, president of Resilient Computing, and Kendra Cook, Senior Systems Engineer at the U.S. Government Innovation Pavilion Startup Showcase.

  • Have you been called a “go-getter” and consider yourself a self-starter?

  • Do you enjoy problem-solving and overcoming challenges?

  • Do you like to build things and see your ideas become reality?

  • Is the thought of being your own boss appealing?

If so, consider launching a career as an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurship involves creating a business from scratch, beginning with an idea or a proposed solution to a problem. Careers in entrepreneurship range from small business entrepreneurship like startups, social entrepreneurship like nonprofits, innovative entrepreneurship where entirely new products are brought to market, and much more!

Your Pathway to Success

Explore our guide to education and training in Montana and get started on your entrepreneurial journey today. Whether you're seeking rapid training programs, certificates, or advanced degrees, you'll find diverse educational pathways to help you align your studies with your career goals.

Check out our Entrepreneurship Career Pathways page to explore in-demand entrepreneurship roles in Montana and take the first step toward a successful career in Entrepreneurship.

Table of Contents

Rapid Training, Certificates, and One- and Two-Year Programs

  • Entrepreneurship Certificate

    • Program Length: 1 year

    • Description: The goal of Carroll College’s Entrepreneurship Certificate program is to expose students to real-world practical instruction in the formation and advancement of new business ventures that can result in viable businesses. The program begins with a kickoff lecture followed by a pitch night where multidisciplinary teams present their proposals. Up to 12 proposals are selected for further mentoring. In the certificate program, students will learn how to develop a business plan, develop a business plan for their own idea, then work with a professional mentor to develop their idea as far as possible, even to commercialization.

  • Business Management Certificate

    • Program Length: 1 year

    • Description: Students within the Business Management program at Gallatin College MSU gain an understanding of the many important aspects of growing and leading a successful small business in the twenty-first century. Throughout the program, students develop a working knowledge of business fundamentals that include management principles, marketing, product and service development, sales and basic accountancy in order to succeed in the contemporary marketplace.

  • Small Business Entrepreneurship Certificate of Applied Science (C.A.S.)

    Small Business Management Technology Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.)

  • Entrepreneurship Certificate (ONLINE Option)

    • Program Length: 1 year

    • Description: Miles Community College’s one-year Entrepreneurship Certificate program can be taken on campus or through a combination of online and ITV courses. This program is designed to provide students with the basic skills necessary to run their own business or qualify for employment in wholesale or retail business. Upon completion of this program, students will be able to proficiently write a business plan, understand proper hiring techniques, successfully implement marketing tools for their business, adeptly communicate in business, understand the fundamentals of bookkeeping, and identify basic laws that apply to small business.

    Small Business Management Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) (ONLINE Option)

    • Program Length: 2 years

    • Description: Miles Community College’s Small Business Management A.A.S. program is designed to provide students with the skills necessary to start their own business or qualify for employment in middle-level management positions in wholesale or retail businesses. Upon completion of this program, students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of communication, organizational and managerial skills, understand how to market and promote products, demonstrate working knowledge of application software used in the field of small business, understand the elements of the accounting cycle and general financial statements, and demonstrate an understanding of the global economy and its impact on and opportunity for small business.

  • Entrepreneurship Certificate

    • Program Length: 1 year

    • Description: Students in the Entrepreneurship Certificate program at Montana State gain an understanding of the business startup process in order to better prepare them to start their own businesses or nonprofit organizations. Students completing the Entrepreneurship Certificate program will be able to demonstrate understanding of the business startup process; apply fundamental concepts in accounting, finance, management, and marketing to solve startup-related problems; and create a business model for a new business. The Entrepreneurship Certificate program is open to non-business majors only.

  • Entrepreneurship & New Venture Creation Certificate

    • Program Length: 1 year

  • Business: Small Business Management Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.)

    • Program Length: 2 year

    • Description: FVCC’s Small Business Management A.A.S. program offers development of the knowledge and skills necessary to demonstrate proficiency as a small business manager or entrepreneur. Upon completion of this program, students will be able to use basic accounting and financial principles to make management and marketing decisions, apply technology and specific software as related to business applications, apply basic business law applications to daily business operations, organizational issues, and personnel, explain the advantages and disadvantages of various organizational formats available to the small business owner, develop a basic business plan, marketing plan, and financial projections as commonly used in business, apply the basic principles of human resource management and employment law to the overall management of an organization, understand the benefits of various agencies available to assist the small business owner and explain the pros and cons of various funding options available for starting or expanding a business.

  • Management Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.)

    • Program Length: 2 years

    • Description: Missoula College’s Management two-year program prepares graduates with a variety of skills and knowledge needed in the business world. Such as, but not limited to, accounting, web development, marketing, and computer technology. Those pursuing a degree in management can decide between a concentration in entrepreneurship, or a concentration in sales and marketing. Entrepreneurship is more than a title. It's a spirit, a drive, an unfettered motivation for success. If these adjectives remind you of yourself, then this could be the degree and concentration for you.

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Minors and Four-Year Programs

  • Entrepreneurship & Small Business Management Minor

    • Program Length: 3 years

    • Description: The Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management minor at Montana State provides students with perspective and skills to pursue a successful entrepreneurial career. The minor opens doors to a range of professional opportunities with startup organizations and small businesses, as well as for those wishing to starting their own business.

  • Small Business Management Minor

    • Program Length: 3 years

    • Description: Learn the skills for successful small business operation. Montana State University Northern’s Small Business Management minor is designed to give you the tools necessary to own or manage a successful small business. You will be ready to manage small teams and businesses with the small business management training offered at Montana State University. Be a part of a program that offers exciting and challenging courses in small business practices and entrepreneurship.

  • Management and Entrepreneurship Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

    • Program Length: 4 years

    • Description: The University of Montana’s management and entrepreneurship degree is designed to prepare tomorrow’s business leaders to meet the complex challenges of managing global organizations. This innovative program places special emphasis on the essential soft skills that will become critical as you advance in your management career — skills such as motivating employees, fostering teamwork, managing conflict, and creative problem-solving. The entrepreneurship program takes a hands-on approach to leadership training, integrating real-world applications and experiences so you can see how classroom lessons play out in real organizations.

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  • C2M Beta is a technology accelerator that partners with startups and innovative corporations to establish an impact in the Rocky Mountain region. C2M’s 90-day program is offered at no fee and is open to companies across the U.S. Previous participants include PatientOne and Audience Awards. C2M has served many founders and is responsible for over 1000 mentor hours supporting multiple cohorts.

  • Accelerate Montana serves businesses, employees, and residents who are looking for new career opportunities or training in high-demand industries. By collaborating with Montana businesses and partners in education and economic development across the state, Accelerate Montana brings Montanans the training they need to upskill, compete, and thrive. Accelerate Montana’s rapid training program offers a variety of online business and leadership courses that can help you on your entrepreneurial journey such as authentic leadership, building your brand and network, pursuing your passions, and more.

  • The Blackstone LaunchPad network makes entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial skills accessible and relevant for all college students to help them build thriving companies and careers. Blackstone LaunchPad works with higher education institutions to deliver proven startup resources, facilitate access to a global network of mentors and advisors, and offer unique virtual and physical convening opportunities so thousands of college students can go further, faster. Students learn by doing, gaining knowledge and critical skills to help them succeed as a founder or contributor to the 21st century economy. Blackstone Launchpad provides its services to both Montana State University in Bozeman and the University of Montana in Missoula.

  • The Missoula Lifelong Learning Center offers a variety of in-person and online classes, certificates, and career training opportunities year-round. The Grantmanship Fundamentals course teaches the art and science of proposal writing, and other aspects of grantsmanship, including funder research, budgets, and effective proposal writing. Suitable for beginners and experienced grant writers, this course uses hands-on practice in a workshop format to provide both feedback on your own work and improvement of critical editing skills. Courses are subject to change, so be sure to check back frequently.

  • The University of Providence’s Argo Connect and dual credit programs are crucial in helping to increase the educational options and opportunities for currently enrolled high school juniors and seniors. Not only do these programs provide students with a unique opportunity to earn credit at the secondary and postsecondary levels simultaneously – they provide students with an early glimpse of college life; including course load, deadlines, structure, and more. Students in Dual Enrollment can take up to three 3-credit courses at no cost.

Skill Development and Certifications

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Additional Career Resources

  • Check out our entrepreneurship career pathways page to explore recommended entrepreneurial skills.

  • To identify in-demand roles in Montana, our team at the Montana High Tech Business Alliance pored over workforce data from the U.S. Department of Labor, research studies, and online job listings to create a list of tech jobs projected to grow fast in the next few years. See our list of 31 hot Montana jobs projected for 2023.

  • The Alliance’s Funding and Business Support Resource Guide has helpful information to support your journey as an entrepreneur: including Venture Capital & Angel Investors, accelerators & incubator programs, government programs, professional services, and more.

  • Discover how you can launch a successful career as an entrepreneur in “3 Tips for Montana Entrepreneurs – MSU Innovators Share Secrets to Launching and Growing Tech Startups.”

  • On May 5th, 2022, five Montana entrepreneurs came together to discuss the challenges of starting and scaling their businesses. Check out our article “3 Tips for Startups – Entrepreneurs Share Lessons Learned While Growing Businesses and Raising Money in Montana” to learn more.

  • We invite you to take advantage of Microsoft's Skills for Jobs initiative, which offers free access to LinkedIn Learning courses covering a wide range of topics, including AI and soft skills. Enhance your digital skills and empower your team and community with valuable knowledge that aligns with the evolving needs of today's economy.

  • Discover summer internships and local mentorship opportunities in Billings through the Campus Billings program hosted by Big Sky Economic Development.

  • CompTIA’s Career Explorer is a comprehensive resource designed to inform, inspire, and guide individuals toward their next career step in the tech industry and beyond. Explore the entire portfolio of Career Explorer resources at no cost, watch video profiles featuring diverse professionals sharing their non-traditional paths into tech careers, and gain insights into earnings potential, job outlook, employer hiring trends, remote work opportunities, and much more across the U.S. and 250 metro areas.

  • Reach Higher Montana’s Work-Based Learning Collaborative website features resources for employers to grow their talent pipeline through work-based learning, materials to help educators connect their classroom learning to careers, and links to resources that will help Montana students explore their career interests through on-the-job training.

  • The WBLC Data Dashboard aims to make data on work-based learning in Montana accessible to help improve workforce support, work-based learning, and educational opportunities so that young people are better prepared for employment success and employers gain skilled workers. Updates are made annually.

  • Produced by the Montana Work-Based Learning Collaborative, the Work-Based Learning Toolkit for Employers provides employers with resources, tools, and guidance to successfully develop high-quality work-based learning experiences for student workers.

  • Check out MHTBA’s Great Places for Tech article series to learn more about high-tech opportunities in Montana.

  • Take a look at our Jobs board that we use to post many tech jobs that are in Montana from entry level to Senior level positions.

  • If you can’t find what you’re looking for on our Jobs Board, see this O*NET Career Database for additional information.

  • Interested in more careers outside of Montana or outside the High-Tech Industry? Find additional occupational information with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook.

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Do you have a helpful resource you’d like to suggest we add to this guide? Do you have information you are searching for, or other feedback? The Montana High Tech Business Alliance would love to hear from you. Please reach out to us at communications[at]mthightech.org.

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