Montana BioScience Alliance

We’re thrilled to announce Claire Smith, Partner at SpringTide Ventures, as a featured speaker at the Innovator's Bootcamp: Legal, Funding & Founder Essentials for Startups.

Claire brings a wealth of experience at the intersection of healthcare, life sciences, and business. Her career spans investing in seed-stage health tech at Meridian Street Capital, launching animal health startups at Anterra Capital, and serving as Chief of Staff at Crestovo, a microbiome therapeutics startup acquired by Finch Therapeutics. She began her journey advising pharma and biotech clients at ClearView Healthcare Partners.

Claire holds dual bachelor’s degrees in biological engineering and management science from MIT, and currently serves on the board of Leash Labs, as well as a board observer at IgniteData and Paterna Biosciences.

At the Bootcamp, Claire will share practical insights on approaching your fundraising journey—covering how to prepare for capital, navigate investor expectations, and build momentum for growth.

Don’t miss the chance to learn from Claire and connect with Montana’s innovation community!

📅 Tuesday, May 5 | EngineWorks, Bozeman, MT

Register now to secure your spot!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/innovators-bootcamp-legal-funding-founder-essentials-for-startups-tickets-1982922325053?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true

What’s next for Montana’s innovation economy? Find out in Billings on March 26th at the first-ever Montana Innovation Exchange: Yellowstone County.

We are proud to co-host this brand-new quarterly event series alongside the Montana High Tech Business Alliance, Montana Photonics & Quantum Alliance, and the Defense Innovation OnRamp Hub: Montana, powered by Big Sky Economic Development and Rock31.

Join us for a short panel discussion and dedicated networking session to connect with the people driving growth across our state's emerging industries—from bioscience to quantum tech.

📅 When: March 26th | 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
📍 Where: Zoot Training & Event Space (201 N. Broadway, Billings, MT)
🔗 Reserve your spot: https://nyx02.share.hsforms.com/2u_NTIeK5TDu1jsn_lvYdgg

Join us for conversation, connection, and collaboration.

We’re resharing a recent episode from the Frontier Institute featuring Antonio, who breaks down why prescription drug pricing feels so broken, and how layers of intermediaries, rebates, and well-intended government programs have replaced anything resembling a normal market transaction.

The conversation explores:

• How PBMs and insurance structures shape pricing
• Why programs like 340B can create unintended incentives
• How competition can turn into an “arms race” instead of lowering costs
• Why transparency and simplicity may be the real path forward

The episode also highlights a Montana example, Bear Grass Drug, as a model for clear, upfront pharmacy pricing.

If you’re following healthcare policy, drug pricing reform, or market-based solutions, this is a thoughtful discussion worth listening to.

🎧 Give it a listen below.

Frontier Briefing: The Hidden Economics of Drug Pricing This month’s Frontier Briefing features a conversation with Antonio Ciaccia, CEO of 46brooklyn Research and President of 3Axis Advisors, on the hidden econom...

Members of the Montana BioScience Alliance are encouraged to explore the Montana Rural Health Initiative—a significant statewide investment focused on rural care delivery, workforce development, telehealth, and applied clinical innovation.

This program offers Alliance companies and research partners a rare chance to access non-dilutive funding, pilot technologies in real clinical settings, and build direct partnerships with Montana healthcare systems and community stakeholders. Just as importantly, it creates a pathway to demonstrate impact while advancing commercialization inside Montana.

Backed by the administration of Greg Gianforte, the initiative aligns capital, customers, and policy, making it one of the most practical opportunities this year to move Montana-born science and medtech into real-world rural healthcare.

Alliance members are encouraged to review eligibility and consider collaborative proposals that showcase Montana innovation while strengthening care access across the state.

Rural Health Transformation Program DPHHS is offering one-time incentive payments to recruit employees at Montana’s state-run health care facilities. For more information go to Work4DPHHS.com