The Art of Attracting Investors & Strategic Partners
July 15 & 16, 2008
The University of Montana Skaggs Building

Missoula, MT

Experience teaches us that successful businesses 1) develop focused planning that can be leveraged for results, and 2) create alliances to achieve select objectives. The Montana BioScience Alliance’s Annual Meeting will be a conference that features presentations and a local success story to help you with meaningful planning and business relationships. Attendance at this conference promises an opportunity to grow business skills that will help you to:

  • Think about what you need to meet the fast-paced growth demands of your target industry.
  • Effectively explain your business and tell your story to staff, partners, and investors
  • Understand and distinguish between the various types of investors, tailor plans and presentations to meet their expectations, and make the cut for their next investment
  • Define your preferred commercial profile (manufacturing, licensing, etc) and recruit strategic alliances that match your profile.
  • Hone in on a meaningful strategic alliance.
  • Balance courtship of an alliance with due diligence.
  • Examine the negotiation and legal structure of a partnering relationship.
  • Successfully manage the alliance life-cycle.

July 15, 2008 Pre-Conference Events

  • A 1 ½ hour workshop will be devoted to individuals who are less familiar with the SBIR/STTR to learn what is required to participate successfully. The workshop presenter, John Balsam, will explore the purpose of these federal research grants; basic rules for participation; differences among the 11 participating federal agencies, the kinds of companies that tend to be successful, and most importantly, what an interested company should do to proceed.

  • A one-hour workshop, Dave Desch, Director of the Montana Board of Research & Commercialization Technology, will provide an overview of its state funding opportunity, key points that can strengthen a company’s proposal, and matching fund requirements.

  • An evening networking reception will provide participants with an opportunity to network and interface with colleagues working in Montana’s technology-based community, Montana BioScience Alliance members, state/federal officials, and technical advisors who specialize in strategic planning for high-tech and bio science companies.

July 16 Conference Events

“Business Planning: How to Map Your Route and Tell Your Story,” presented by Brian Taylor of The Larta Institute, shows company leaders how to sharpen their focus and create a living document that tells their story to company staff, business partners, and potential investors. Topics include defining and building your business model, identifying your value proposition and target customer segments, and effectively presenting your financial data and profit opportunity. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to more effectively communicate your business strategy, Brian’s interactive presentation will help equip you for the challenging road ahead.For more details click here.

“Identifying and Nurturing Strategic Alliances,” will be presented by Marti Elder of Marti Elder Inc. This presentation will identify the many forms an alliance can take to address your business objectives. Partnering with others can be a win-win deal if both companies have well devised planning and a mutual vision. Marti will explore how to identify a suitable partner, the negotiation process, and the basics of achieving and sustaining a high-value business alliance. For more details click here.

The LigoCyte Success Story Rob Bargatze, a company co-founder and its Chief Scientific Officer, will tell the story of LigoCyte’s growth and how it recently achieved V.C funding which represents the largest single private equity investment ever made in a Montana biotech company.

Speaker Biographies: Click here for Speaker Biographics

Cost/Registration: Free. Because this conference is being subsidized by many committed sponsors, no registration fee will be required. However, advanced registration is required.

Sponsors to Date: Montana Technology Innovation Partnership of the Montana Department of Commerce, Montana NSF EPSCoR Program, Montana BioScience Alliance, The University of Montana Biomedical & Pharmaceutical Departments, Northwest Research & Education Institute, Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) and GlaxoSmithKline.