Montana State offers 10-week incubator program partnered with startup experts to help entrepreneurs develop business ideas

BOZEMAN — Montana State University is offering a free program to help entrepreneurs take their business ideas to the next level. 

The Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship’s 406 Labs is accepting applications for its spring 2024 incubator. The 10-week program aims to help those who have developed business concepts or researched a potential new business to create solid business plans and identify the steps needed to clarify their approach to markets, customers, strategy, financials and more.  

Montana residents and MSU students, faculty, staff and alumni are eligible to apply for the program. MSU faculty and graduate students with research projects working toward commercialization of a technology are especially encouraged to apply. Details and the application can be found at montana.edu/business/entrepreneurship/406labs.html. The deadline to apply is Friday, Feb. 20. The program is free to all participants. 

Ron June, a professor in MSU's Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering in the Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering, participated in the 406 Labs incubator program in 2023 with a venture idea called OpenBioWorks with co-founder Priyanka Brahmachary, a research associate in the engineering college. 

"406 Labs was an incredibly valuable experience for our new startup,” June said. “We gained valuable tools and key metrics to help move our company forward.  I'm confident that these tools and lessons have improved our position compared to where we'd be without them, and I strongly recommend this for any academic entrepreneurs at MSU.” 

Pat LaPointe, managing director of Frontier Angels and the founder of Early Stage MT, is the facilitator for the spring group. 

406 Labs is also looking for established entrepreneurs and subject matter experts to mentor those accepted to the incubator. The mentor application can be found on the program website. 406 Labs is hosted by MSU’s Blackstone LaunchPad, an arm of the business college that supports the MSU community in entrepreneurial endeavors. 

For questions about 406 Labs and the incubator program, call 406-994-4383 or email info@msulaunchpad.org.