Montana High Tech Business Alliance

What Montana High Tech Business Alliance does

The Montana High Tech Business Alliance is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade association founded in 2014 and headquartered in Missoula, Montana. It represents more than 200 high-tech and manufacturing companies across Montana, with Platinum-tier members including Amazon, Applied Materials, Cognizant, Glacier Bank, Two Bear Capital, and Zoot Solutions, and Gold-tier members such as CubCloud AI, Blackfoot Communications, D.A. Davidson, Dorsey & Whitney, NorthWestern Energy, RDO Equipment Co., and ExportMontana. The organization operates local chapters in Missoula, Helena, Kalispell, and Bozeman and is governed by a board chaired by Kelly Schwager (Vice President, Global Communications at Oracle), with Christina Henderson serving as Executive Director.

The Alliance does not develop proprietary technology. Its product surface consists of programmatic member services: annual High Tech Industry Surveys conducted in partnership with the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Montana since 2015; 'Montana Tech Companies to Watch' lists covering 100+ businesses since 2017 (shifted to monthly spotlights in 2025); the 'Great Places for Tech in Montana' community profiling series; CEO roundtables, tech happy hours, and member receptions (including 130-guest events hosted by Governor Gianforte); webinars; and the Montana Jobs Network workforce initiative operated through an affiliated 501(c)(3) foundation. Distribution runs through a Squarespace-hosted website, biweekly and monthly newsletters, social media, and earned media coverage in CBS News, VentureBeat, US News & World Report, and Fast Company.

Revenue mechanics are member-dues based on Platinum and Gold tiers (pricing not publicly disclosed), supplemented by sponsorships of specific events such as the Helena Tech Industry Reception and the Montana Built AI discussion. The organization has a small staff of 1–10 employees including the Executive Director, Communications Coordinator, and predecessor communications personnel. Customers/members span high-tech companies (software, biotech, advanced manufacturing), manufacturers, students and job seekers served through Montana Jobs Network, and Montana economic development organizations, with no single end-customer revenue dependency disclosed.

Name

Montana High Tech Business Alliance

Legal name

Montana High Tech Business Alliance

Website

https://mthightech.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Montana High Tech Business Alliance is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade association founded in 2014 that represents more than 200 high-tech and manufacturing companies across Montana, providing member networking, annual industry surveys, recognition programs, workforce development through the affiliated Montana Jobs Network, and policy advocacy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Missoula

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: The Alliance operates as a nonprofit association funded through membership dues from tech and manufacturing companies. They have Platinum and Gold member tiers with varying levels of engagement and benefits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Montana High Tech Business Alliance is a nonprofit, nonpartisan trade association representing more than 200 high-tech and manufacturing companies in Montana. It provides member networking events (Tech Happy Hours, CEO Roundtables), publishes the annual Montana Tech Companies to Watch lists and High Tech Industry Surveys, and operates the Montana Jobs Network workforce development platform through its affiliated 501(c)(3) foundation.

Product overview

Montana High Tech Business Alliance is a non-profit membership organization (not a product company) that provides networking events, industry research, workforce development programs, and community resources for Montana's high-tech and manufacturing companies. The Alliance publishes annual Montana Tech Companies to Watch lists, conducts High Tech Industry Surveys, operates the Montana Jobs Network, and organizes events including tech happy hours, CEO roundtables, and member receptions across Montana communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Montana Jobs Network: Workforce development initiative operated by the MHTBA Foundation to connect job seekers with tech careers in Montana
• Montana Tech Companies to Watch
• Great Places for Tech in Montana

Products and services

• Platinum Membership
• Gold Membership
• Montana Jobs Network
• Montana Tech Companies to Watch
• Annual Montana High Tech Industry Survey
• Great Places for Tech in Montana
• Member Events and Roundtables

Quantifiable outcome

• 100+ businesses recognized through Companies to Watch lists
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Montana Bioscience Cluster InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the Montana Bioscience Cluster Initiative to present annual Montana Biotech Companies to Watch lists, highlighting companies leading biotech innovation from improving healthcare for underserved populations to using AI for remote health monitoring.
• Montana Department of Commerce - ExportMontanaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold member and partner in helping Montana businesses with market diversification and expansion into international markets.
• Montana Manufacturing Extension Center (MMEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey workforce development partner; experts at MMEC help nominate companies for 'Companies to Watch' lists and support manufacturing companies with consulting services.
• Blackstone LaunchPad (MSU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOn-campus resource for students, faculty, and alumni interested in entrepreneurship at Montana State University; co-nominates companies for 'Companies to Watch' lists.
• Blackstone LaunchPad (UM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOn-campus resource for students, faculty, and alumni interested in entrepreneurship at University of Montana; co-nominates companies for 'Companies to Watch' lists.
• Montana State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner through Blackstone LaunchPad and Jake Jabs College of Business venture competition.
• University of MontanaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner through Blackstone LaunchPad and John Ruffatto Startup Challenge.
• Montana Photonics & Quantum Alliance (MPQA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance focused on positioning Montana as a national leader in advanced manufacturing and innovation in photonics and quantum technologies; co-partners on workforce development and STEM initiatives.
• Montana World Affairs CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to global education and international engagement; co-hosts career exploration events like EconoQuest with MHTBA.
• Montana Afterschool AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide coalition supporting afterschool programs; co-hosts Montana STEM Summit.
• Montana Chamber of Commerce FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation focused on economic development; co-hosts workforce and entrepreneurship programs.
• Blackfoot CommunicationsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold member and sponsor of tech events including Governor's Cup High Tech Happy Hours; provides C2M Beta Accelerator program.
• Accelerate MontanaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExecutive Director Paul Gladen provides startup coaching and pitch competition advice for entrepreneurs.
• Scaling MontanaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnects tech entrepreneurs to training, mentoring, and contacts to grow their companies.
• Early Stage MontanaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-nominates companies for 'Companies to Watch' lists.
• Hellgate Venture NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFacilitates networking among entrepreneurs and advisors in Missoula engaged in building growth businesses.
• Montana High Tech Business Alliance FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner501(c)(3) nonprofit and charitable affiliate founded to promote skilled workforce development in Montana; operates Montana Jobs Network.
• Bureau of Business and Economic Research at University of MontanacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConducts annual survey of Montana tech companies in partnership with the Alliance since 2015.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• CompTIA: National, much larger nonprofit trade association for the global technology ecosystem with broad advocacy, certification and research programs; overlaps with MHTBA's industry-association role at national scope.
• Technology Association of Georgia (TAG): Large statewide nonprofit tech industry association in Georgia running events, awards and policy work for thousands of member companies; comparable to MHTBA in operating model, much larger in scale.

Direct peers

• Idaho Technology Council: Nonprofit industry association serving Idaho's tech employers through events, awards (Idaho Tech Awards) and advocacy — comparable in serving a smaller/rural-state tech ecosystem.
• Colorado Technology Association: Nonprofit trade association representing Colorado tech employers via events, advocacy and research; mirrors MHTBA's role of uniting regional employers under a unified industry voice.
• Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council (MassTLC): State-level nonprofit technology trade association serving Massachusetts tech employers through networking, policy advocacy, workforce programs and research — directly comparable in mission and operating model to MHTBA.
• Arizona Technology Council: Nonprofit trade association representing the state's technology industries with events, advocacy and member programs — directly parallel to MHTBA in role and structure.
• Technology Association of Oregon (TAO): Oregon's statewide nonprofit tech industry association running events, policy advocacy and workforce initiatives for member companies; comparable state-level trade-body model and member composition to MHTBA.
• NC Tech (North Carolina Technology Association): Statewide nonprofit trade association for North Carolina technology companies, offering member events, awards programs and workforce policy work — a structural analog to MHTBA at larger scale.
• Utah Technology Council: Statewide nonprofit representing Utah's technology industry through events, advocacy and CEO roundtables — analogous to MHTBA's community-led, employer-funded operating model.

Regional players

• TechPoint (Indiana): Indiana-based nonprofit tech industry growth initiative running recognition programs (Tech25, TechPoint Mira Awards), industry surveys and talent initiatives — directly comparable programming to MHTBA's Companies-to-Watch and High Tech Survey, in a different state.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/montanahightech
• Facebookfacebook.com/montanahightech
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/montana-high-tech-business-alliance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Montana High Tech Business Alliance