Modern technology is changing what is possible in Montana

Modes of networking, transportation, and other advances bring new possibilities for people, businesses, and our state. Just as the Great Northern Railway changed commerce in the Flathead, new tools and networks are changing what is possible in Montana.  

Modern technology reduces distance, speeds collaboration, and lets local companies connect with national and global customers. Northwest Montana shows what happens when talent, capital, and community connections align. 

A growing number of technology companies operate across the Flathead, and many are members of the Montana High Tech Business Alliance. In Columbia Falls, Lamplight Technology develops SaaS and AI software solutions. In Kalispell, GL Solutions builds software as service tools that support more than 100 government agencies across two dozen states.  

WaterStreet Company, in Kalispell, builds cloud software for property and casualty insurance organizations that need unified systems and better service. Adversis provides cybersecurity consulting to organizations under pressure from customers, boards, and insurers to demonstrate a defensible risk posture.  

Endpoint Technology Partners delivers security services, cloud management, and device help for small to mid-sized businesses. Ten Point Data applies AI to transform complex data into actionable insights. Tourbase connects travelers to activities through a booking platform. Together, these firms show that Montana’s tech economy includes product companies, regulated SaaS, cybersecurity, small business infrastructure, and data intelligence. 

MHTBA converts that diversity into momentum. It convenes employers, shares opportunities, and strengthens the relationships that help companies recruit, partner, and grow. The Montana Jobs Network supports the workforce side by connecting people to tech roles and making career pathways visible to students and career changers. The venture community reinforces this progress by investing in Montana-connected founders and by bringing national networks into the state. These forces create a positive flywheel: companies hire and promote, professionals mentor, students find entry points, and new founders choose Montana because they can access talent, relationships, and capital. 

AccelerateMT enhances the flywheel. Based at the University of Montana and serving communities across Montana, AccelerateMT advances workforce and economic development by connecting employers, entrepreneurs, and workers to training, advising, and partner programs. It highlights practical pathways, including software development training through Montana Code School and other career-focused offerings. That infrastructure matters because technology companies need skilled people, and Montana needs clear paths to help residents move from interest to skill to employment. 

Networking turns these assets into motion. People build careers through relationships, referrals, and repeated contact with professionals who can open doors. When MHTBA, the Montana Jobs Network, AccelerateMT, and university partners convene students, employers, and mentors, they shorten the distance between curiosity and opportunity. A conversation becomes an informational interview, becomes an internship, leading to a job. 

Northwest Montana will not win by copying a coastal model. It will win by compounding its assets: technical work that ships anywhere, community builders who connect people, training that prepares workers, and investors who back teams. The region will continue to grow as companies choose Montana as a competitive advantage. 

Suzanne Tilleman is the Sprunk and Burnham Endowed Dean at the College of Business at the University of Montana.