EMPOWERING ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE TETONS
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MONTHLY CHANCE MEETINGS
MAY 4 - 5-6 pm Via Zoom (log in below)
Sometimes all you need is the right connection and a little inspiration. Well, what are you waiting for? Come find both at our free monthly networking event. You never know...
Theme: Government Support for Businesses in a Shifting Landscape
It's anything but business as usual. As we navigate these uncertain times, Silicon Couloir invites you to a virtual panel discussion on how Wyoming, Idaho, and local county agencies and representatives are helping to support entrepreneurs and small businesses during the COVID-19 crisis. Learn about initiatives designed to provide direct funding, education, and guidance to the business community.
Panelist will include:
Michael Yin, Wyoming House Representative
Natalia Macker, Teton County Commissioner
Mark Newcomb, Teton County Commissioner
Sarah Hamlin, Wyoming Small Business Development Center
Elaina Zempel, Wyoming Business Council
Brian McDermott, Teton Regional Economic Coalition
We will explore questions such as:
How has your agency pivoted to address the COVID-19 crisis?
What are the biggest changes you are focusing on now rather than on Jan 1st?
How is your agency helping entrepreneurs and small businesses pivot to different strategies?
What sorts of tools are you using for scenario analysis as communities consider reopening?
What programs do you want businesses and entrepreneurs to be aware of right now?
Please join us next Monday and bring your own questions!
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86759620508
Meeting ID: 867 5962 0508
By phone:
+1 669 900 6833
Meeting ID: 867 5962 0508
NEWS AND NOTES
Where is Jackson's Economy Headed?
A Conversation with Jonathan Schechter on May 6th
Results are in for Jonathan Schechter's community survey of the direction for Jackson's economy over the next year. Please join us on Wednesday, May 6th from 4:00-4:30 for a special conversation with Jonathan of Charture Institute via Zoom as we discuss the results and implications of COVID-19 for local businesses.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86086832043?pwd=a2YzdjJLbGRQa1ZKRjhGN0JBUnZLdz09
Meeting ID: 860 8683 2043
By phone:
+1 669 900 6833
Meeting ID: 860 8683 2043
Silicon Couloir Presents Our First 60 Second Connect Video!
Silicon Couloir is proud to share our first 60 Second Connect video with you. We aim to bring you good news about businesses in our community as well as our weekly "Business Byte" — a useful tip or strategy designed to assist in these difficult times. We hope you enjoy it and share it with your friends.
Business Crisis Coaching Now Available To All in
Wydaho Region
In response to COVID-19, Silicon Couloir has created a new Business Crisis Coaching program. Free, confidential one-hour sessions with one of Silicon Couloir's volunteer business crisis coaches are now available to all businesses in the Wydaho region. Coaches offer expertise in a range of areas that include finance, strategy, communications/marketing, executive coaching, operations, management, and human resources. Business owners requesting coaching are paired with a local coach experienced in their designated area of need.
Nitrome Bioscience Raises $38 Million
Nitrome Biosciences, the 2018 Pitch Day Audience Award winner, just successfully raised $38M in Series A funding! Nitrome Biosciences is a biopharmaceutical company targeting Parkinson’s disease and other age-related disorders. Sofinnova Partners and AbbVie Ventures led the round, and were joined by investors including Dementia Discovery Fund, Mission Bay Capital, and Alexandria Venture Investments. We spoke with founder and CEO Irene Griswold-Prenner about the raise.
Q: How did you go about making the raise happen?
A: As soon as we knew we had accomplished the goals for our Seed Round, we made the rounds into many of the best biotech focused venture firms. It was very helpful that we became very acquainted with AbbVie Ventures over the prior year due to interactions with them after winning their Golden Ticket that provided free lab space at MBC Biolabs. AbbVie Ventures was the first major investor on board and they and others helped us pull in the other firms. It was a grueling 10-month process but the end result couldn't have worked out any better. Our Series A syndicate are some of the most experienced and influential strategic and institutional ventures firms in the biotech investment world.
Q: How do you plan on using your funds?
A: We will use these funds to advance our Parkinson's disease program up to clinical trials. We will, furthermore, expand into our platform to advance multiple additional drug candidates for additional disease indications.
Q: How do you feel Pitch Day helped you in your journey?
A: Pitch Day helped for several perspectives. First, the money we won from receiving the audience choice award provided extra support at a time when every penny counted. Second, working with the Silicon Couloir volunteers, who coached me on the pitch, helped me learn how to adapt Nitrome's message to the relevant audience, whether layman or seasoned biotech professionals. Thank you so much to Silicon Couloir for all your support!
Enrollment Open for Entrepreneurship Essentials:
An Online Intensive
Enrollment is now open for Entrepreneurship Essentials, a 4 week online intensive for emerging entrepreneurs offered In conjunction with CWC and the University of Wyoming. Modeled on the highly successful Start-Up Intensive course, Entrepreneurship Essentials will provide the needed tools and framework to move from business idea to market implementation, or to grow an existing business. Special pricing is now available for WY residents and Western Undergraduate Exchange state students.
If you or anyone you know is ready to embark on their own entrepreneurial journey, please contact Liza Millet for more details.
Thank You Past Board Members
Silicon Couloir gives a heartfelt THANK YOU to outgoing volunteer board members Nathan Adams, Gordon Finnegan, Scott Fitzgerald, and Bill Watkins for their many years of hard work, service, and dedication to the entrepreneurial community.
Says Executive Director Gary Trauner, "Serving as a Board Member for a nonprofit organization is always a gift. Serving on the board of a “start-up” nonprofit, without full-time staff, is truly a labor of love. Silicon Couloir was blessed to have several extraordinary individuals who shepherded our organization from inception through its initial growing pains. I want to thank Nathan Adams, Gordon Finnegan, Bill Watkins and Scott Fitzgerald for their selfless service and dedication to both Silicon Couloir and our community. Words don’t do justice. Thank you for your service, and best of luck in your future endeavors!"
Community Foundation Workshop: Financial Planning & Operational Tools for Nonprofits
On April 9th, our very own Gary Trauner hosted a free Jackson Hole Community Foundation COVID-19 response workshop entitled Financial Planning & Operational Tools for Nonprofits. Gary discussed topics ranging from strategic planning to accessing stimulus funds to an engaged audience of nonprofit leaders. Although the audience was nonprofit leaders, there are tips and tools in this workshop applicable for any entrepreneur or small business.
The recording is available here on our COVID-19 Resource and Assistance web page.
Chamber Economic Recovery Task Force
The Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with the Teton County Emergency Management Plan, has launched an Economic Recovery Task Force in response to COVID-19. We are pleased that Silicon Couloir has a seat at the table, and we look forward to collaborating with other local leaders to help accelerate recovery and mitigate losses from the COVID crisis.
HAVE NEWS TO SHARE?
As always, please feel free to send news of your company's press, events, successes, and milestones to Gary@siliconcouloir.com and we'll do our best to feature them in our newsletters!
ARE YOU A COMMUNITY CARETAKER?
Silicon Couloir strengthens our Teton regional community by empowering the entrepreneurial ecosystem. More than just business development, we believe in enriching our community character and enhancing our mountain town culture. Help us support business pioneers in the Tetons by becoming a community caretaker!
To offer your time or talent, please email us at Gary@siliconcouloir.com.