The Blackstone LaunchPad at Montana State University recently hosted 16 female entrepreneurs who were visiting Montana as part of World Montana, an organization that partners with the U.S. Department of State to build stronger ties with international business leaders. The 16 hailed from Bolivia, Cuba, Spain, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary, Egypt, Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia.

The Blackstone LaunchPad at MSU, which is housed under the Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship, is an entrepreneur resource for students, alumni and faculty across the university and community that offers coaching, ideation and venture creation support.

“As an AmeriCorps VISTA serving with Montana Campus Compact, it’s important to me to bring in the type of diversity World Montana represents,” said Connor Harbison. “At the Blackstone LaunchPad, we know that people from diverse backgrounds bring new ideas to the table and make the team stronger as a result. I am always looking for new opportunities to work with groups like World Montana.”

World Montana, which operates out of Helena, brings groups of international leaders in business and academics to Montana in order to highlight the state’s economic development and programs.  

As part of their campus visit, the visiting entrepreneurs heard from Suzi Berget-White, a representative of Prospera and the Women’s Business Network, who highlighted the role Bozeman women have taken in business.

In addition, two female entrepreneurs – who are also current MSU students – spoke: Kathy Rolin, founder and CEO of Cowboy Cricket Farms, a sustainable food company focusing on edible insects, and Jessie Madeson of Farmented Foods, a business that offers a line of fermented foods in order to reduce food waste on local farms.

Finally, Kregg Aytes, dean of the Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship, spoke about the work of the college in fostering entrepreneurial skills among the student body. The event concluded with members of the MSU community speaking with the visiting entrepreneurs.

"The visit to MSU was one of the most relevant visits in Montana,” said Jasna Trengoska, president and co-founder of Startup Zone in Macedonia. “Some of the key learnings are related to empowering students to start their businesses, and I look forward to further collaboration with Blackstone LaunchPad."

"MSU is one of the best resources for our international exchange programs for professionals,” said Sasha Fendrick, executive director of World Montana. “Blackstone LaunchPad team is a real treasure for MSU and Bozeman. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience with this great group of women entrepreneurs."