What TechHelp does

TechHelp is Idaho's NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) center, affiliated with Boise State University and headquartered at 1910 University Drive in Boise. Founded in 1996 and operating across four regional Idaho offices (Boise, Post Falls, Twin Falls, Pocatello), the organization delivers consulting and training services to manufacturers, food processors, and entrepreneurs, helping them improve competitiveness through product and process innovation. Service offerings span food manufacturing excellence, operational excellence (Lean Six Sigma, quality management, TWI), advanced manufacturing technology adoption, supplier scouting, AI advisory, and cybersecurity/CMMC assessments, with a sub-brand studio\Blu providing new product development and prototyping services via a student-powered Boise State innovation lab.

The core technical capabilities are built around accreditations and licensing rather than proprietary software: TechHelp is accredited by the International HACCP Alliance, licensed by the SQF Institute, recognized under FSPCA-FSMA Version 2.0 for PCQI credentialing, and authorized for CMMC Level 1 and Level 2 assessments via Boise State University's Cyber Operations and Resilience Program and Institute for Pervasive Cybersecurity. The organization monetizes through training course fees ($150-$900 per participant) and consulting/advisory engagements, supplemented by USDA Rural Business Development subsidies (50% match) and Rural Energy for America Program grants, with a free LaunchPoint Automation Review serving as a top-of-funnel engagement tool.

The business model is structured as a university-affiliated nonprofit MEP service organization rather than a venture-backed technology company. TechHelp generates revenue through professional services and training, with significant revenue likely derived from federal and state appropriations via the NIST MEP network. Distribution is sales-led via four regional offices staffed by named specialists (Janna Hamlett, Luke Fuess, Steve Russ), supported by an Idaho Manufacturing Alliance co-marketing partnership, multiple university venue relationships (University of Idaho, College of Southern Idaho, North Idaho College), and a multi-channel digital presence. Customer segments include food manufacturers, general manufacturers, government contractors seeking CMMC certification, rural/small businesses, and inventors/entrepreneurs, with no named enterprise anchor customers disclosed.

Name

TechHelp

Legal name

TechHelp Idaho

Website

https://techhelp.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

TechHelp is Idaho's NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership center, affiliated with Boise State University, providing consulting, accredited training, and product development services to manufacturers, food processors, and entrepreneurs across Idaho's four regional offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Manufacturing Consulting Services

NAICS

Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Enablement & Adoption Services (Change Management, Adoption, Champions) (BPAEANAC)

Keywords

• Manufacturing consulting services
• Food safety training
• Operational excellence consulting
• New product development
• Cybersecurity compliance services

Headquarters

HQ city

Boise

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Training and Workshop Fees: TechHelp generates revenue through paid training courses and workshops including HACCP certification, SQF systems, Lean Six Sigma, FSPCA Preventive Controls, and other manufacturing-related programs. Course fees range from $150 to $900 per participant with various discounts available.
2. Consulting and Advisory Services: Manufacturing specialists provide consulting services to help Idaho manufacturers improve competitiveness through product and process innovation. Services include operational excellence, food safety, advanced manufacturing, and cybersecurity assessments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

TechHelp is a manufacturing extension partnership that helps Idaho-based manufacturers, food processors, and entrepreneurs improve competitiveness through consulting, training, and advisory services. The organization offers a portfolio spanning food manufacturing excellence, operational excellence, new product development, advanced manufacturing, supply chain scouting, and cybersecurity/CMMC compliance, delivered through regional offices, on-site specialists, and accredited training courses.

Product overview

TechHelp is a manufacturing assistance organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of consulting services and training courses. The core service portfolio includes Food Manufacturing Excellence, Operational Excellence, studio\Blu (new product development), Advanced Manufacturing, Idaho Supplier Scouting, Smart Assessments, AI Tool Kit, and Cyber Security Services. The company provides extensive training courses including HACCP certification, SQF systems, FSPCA Preventive Controls, Lean Six Sigma programs, internal auditing, pathogen environmental monitoring, Toyota Kata, and food product development workshops. Additional offerings include the LaunchPoint Automation Review (free automation assessment), Rural Energy for America Program (energy audits with grants), and Rural Business Development Subsidy Grant (50% subsidy for rural businesses). TechHelp operates as a service-based organization rather than a software product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• studio\Blu: New Product Development, Marketing, Branding, Web & Social Media, Packaging, Funding services under TechHelp's umbrella, operating from Boise State University with student-powered innovation

Products and services

• Food Manufacturing Excellence
• Operational Excellence
• studio\Blu New Product Development
• Advanced Manufacturing
• Idaho Supplier Scouting
• Smart Assessments Idaho
• AI Tool Kit
• CMMC Solutions
• HACCP Training
• Safe Quality Food (SQF) Systems Training
• FSPCA Preventive Controls for Human Food (PCQI) 2.0
• Lean Six Sigma Training
• Idaho Food Business Foundations Series
• LaunchPoint Automation Review
• Rural Energy for America Program
• Rural Business Development Subsidy Grant

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• University of IdahocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Janna Hamlett serves as both Food Processing Specialist at TechHelp and Assistant Professor at University of Idaho Extension. TechHelp courses are held at University of Idaho facilities including the Food Technology Center and Twin Falls Research and Extension Center.
• Boise State University College of Engineering - Cyber Operations and Resilience (CORe) ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification) evaluations and assessments. CORe Program students provide cybersecurity support services to manufacturing clients under faculty mentorship.
• Institute for Pervasive Cybersecurity (IPC) at Boise State UniversitycoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership for CMMC level 1 and level 2 assessments for Defense Industrial Base companies seeking cybersecurity certification.
• Idaho Manufacturing AllianceflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint co-marketing and event partnership. Idaho Manufacturing Alliance and TechHelp co-host events including the Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Course, share member discounts on training, and collaborate on Idaho Manufacturing Tradeshow & Conference. Idaho Manufacturing Alliance is the state's manufacturing trade association.
• Idaho Small Business Development Center (Idaho SBDC)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration on events including the SBDC Nampa Business Accelerator venue for training courses.
• Idaho APEX AcceleratorminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint events for government contracting workshops including Breakfast and Bids: Government Contracting for Beginners.
• Idaho State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), where TechHelp performs energy audits for manufacturers and agricultural businesses statewide, in collaboration with Idaho State University.
• College of Southern IdahominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for events and historically associated with TechHelp staff (Dr. Janna Hamlett previously developed the Food Processing Technology program there).
• Northwest Exit Planning AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint webinar on business exit planning featuring Keith Atneosen from the Northwest Exit Planning Association.
• The Dunham GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint webinar on manufacturing metrics featuring The Dunham Group consulting firm.
• PhysnaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint webinar partnership for unlocking DoD opportunities through smart manufacturing technology and 3D capabilities discovery.
• NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechHelp is part of the NIST MEP national network, representing Idaho in the federal manufacturing extension partnership program. Steve Hatten represented Idaho on the national MEP network and helped shape national strategy.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Catalyst Connection: Pennsylvania's NIST MEP center providing operational excellence, food safety, and workforce training to manufacturers. Sister MEP organization with comparable funding structure and service portfolio.
• MAGNET: Cleveland-based MEP serving Ohio manufacturers with consulting, training, and innovation services. Operates within the NIST MEP network with comparable consulting services, industry focus, and SME target customer base.
• Polaris MEP: Rhode Island's NIST MEP center delivering manufacturing consulting, training, and continuous improvement services under the federal MEP umbrella. Operates under the same NIST MEP network and business model as TechHelp.
• Manufacturer's Edge: Colorado's NIST MEP center, providing consulting, training, and innovation services to manufacturers under the same federal MEP framework as TechHelp. Directly comparable business model, funding structure, and service portfolio (operational excellence, food safety, workforce).
• Impact Washington: Washington state's NIST MEP center offering manufacturing consulting, training, and innovation services. Sister MEP organization with comparable scope, federal affiliation, and service mix.
• Georgia MEP (GaMEP): Georgia Tech-affiliated NIST MEP center serving manufacturers with consulting, training, and technology adoption services. University-anchored MEP model closely mirrors TechHelp's Boise State affiliation and operational structure.
• WMEP (Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership): Wisconsin's NIST MEP center offering operational excellence, food safety, and growth services to manufacturers. Closely comparable scope, federal MEP affiliation, and consulting-plus-training delivery.
• Oregon MEP: Oregon's NIST MEP center providing operational excellence, food safety, and training services to manufacturers. Geographic neighbor with overlapping target market and identical MEP business model.
• TMAC (Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center): Texas-based NIST MEP center delivering operational excellence and food safety services to manufacturers. Operates under the same federal MEP framework with comparable consulting and training services.

Broad incumbents

• Boise State University: Parent institution of TechHelp and host of the studio\Blu innovation lab. While not a peer in the manufacturing advisory space, BSU provides talent pipeline, facilities, and academic partnerships that underpin TechHelp's operating model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/techhelpidaho
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCh1UDHyOdQZXNgsIsmOhguw
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/TechHelp-Idaho/107060776041020
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/techhelp
• Instagraminstagram.com/techhelpidaho/?hl=en

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TechHelp