Great Places for Tech in Montana: Bozeman
Rooted in the Gallatin Valley, Bozeman is home to a vigorous high-tech ecosystem, the Montana State Bobcats, and outdoor recreational opportunities galore.
Updated January 6, 2025
By Christina Henderson, Melissa Paulsen, Emily Simonson, and Katy Spence
Launched in 2019, the Alliance’s Great Cities for Tech series aims to help people find the right community when they’re looking at taking a job, starting a company, or locating a home or office in Montana. Our communications team is updating these articles regularly. Send questions or feedback to communications[at]mthightech.org.
Bozeman’s tech industry has grown at nationally-recognized rates since 2012 and is Montana’s largest tech-hub. Photo via City of Bozeman.
An energetic college town with a Western flare, Bozeman was named one of 2023’s World’s Greatest Places by Time Magazine. Locals praise the area’s excellent quality of life and the abundance of recreational activities that allow them to enjoy Montana’s gorgeous scenery all year round.
Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast, an entrepreneur with an idea for the next big start-up, or a family looking for a change of pace, everyone can enjoy the opportunities and adventures that await in Bozeman.
Doing Business in Bozeman
Montana’s Largest Tech Hub
As Montana’s largest tech hub, over one-third of Montana High Tech Business Alliance members reside in the Bozeman area. The city’s Cannery District includes secondary offices for innovative tech companies like onX, which produces powerful mapping software, and Figure, a FinTech company leveraging blockchain.
Many fast-growing Bozeman-based startups have been featured on the Alliance’s annual Companies to Watch lists, including Resilient Computing, a spin-off from MSU that builds ultra-reliable computers that are malware-resistant and can withstand space radiation.
In 2012, Workiva, a Montana Top Tech Employer, opened its first Montana office in downtown Bozeman. The Iowa-based SaaS company is the world’s leading reporting and compliance platform and employs over 1900 people nationally.
Ephie Risho, a former senior UX designer for Workvia said Bozeman has a bit of everything: gorgeous views, interesting festivals, and cutting-edge tech companies in a small-town feel.
“Bozeman offers a lot of world-class amenities, and with a university here, there are many opportunities to grow as a person and in your career,” Risho said.
Additionally, Bozeman boasts several home-grown tech companies that have been in business for decades.
For over 30 years, Bozeman’s Pine Cove Consulting has tackled real-world challenges like protecting vital information, ensuring effective communication, and maximizing IT efficiency. Committed to community improvement, Pine Cove Consulting actively engages in local causes and supports students through scholarships to help them pursue technology-related careers.
FinTech firm and a Montana Top Tech Employer, Zoot Enterprises was founded in 1990 by Chris Nelson and employs more than 150 people in Bozeman. Zoot’s clientele includes five of the ten largest financial institutions on the planet.
Headquartered in Bozeman, Zoot Enterprises is a FinTech firm providing cutting-edge technology and tools to the world’s largest banks, digital payment processors, healthcare organizations, and retailers.
When Nelson built Zoot’s sprawling campus and the nearby subdivision in 2000, the area was surrounded by empty farmland. Today, Four Corners is filling in and growing fast, including neighboring businesses that benefit from Zoot’s on-site childcare center.
Burgeoning Biotech Industry
In addition to its significance as a high-tech hub, Bozeman is also an important contributor to Montana’s robust biotech industry. In 2024, five of the six companies on the Alliance’s Montana Biotech Companies to Watch list were based in Bozeman with two originating as spin-offs from MSU.
Bozeman’s Golden Helix delivers industry-leading bioinformatics solutions to facilitate genomic research. Golden Helix has earned several notable awards and achievements over the years:
Secured CE mark approval to expand product offerings to the European market (2024)
Global Health and Pharma Award (2020 Biotechnology Awards)
Mesa Laboratories, a large biotech and medical equipment manufacturer, is located 20 minutes outside of Bozeman in Four Corners. The company employs over 700 people nationally for roles like machine operators, laboratory analysts, and lab technicians.
Discover Montana’s extensive history of biotech innovation and find resources for launching a biotech firm in Montana with the Alliance’s biotech industry resource guide.
Photonics Hot Spot
In July 2024, Montana received $41 million in funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration for its Headwaters Tech Hub. The Headwaters Tech Hub will pave the way for rapid commercialization of photonics technology into sectors crucial to the state’s economy. Read the Alliance’s special report 10 Hot Montana Photonics Jobs for 2024 to find emerging, high-paying photonics jobs in Montana.
With over 40 photonics companies specializing in lasers, optics, and related technologies, Bozeman has one of the highest densities of photonics companies in the country. Key photonics support organizations include:
The Montana Photonics and Quantum Alliance (MPQA): A hub for Montana’s optics, photonics, and quantum companies, entrepreneurs, laboratories, and universities to commercialize, grow, and create high-quality jobs and economic opportunities in Montana.
The eidotech project: Regional innovation cluster of the Small Business Administration (operated by Shadow Ridge Analytics) helping Montana companies in the quantum, photonics, and smart sensing space grow their ideas from concept to end product.
MSU Innovation Campus: Commercial development organization offering opportunities for partners to invest and build in a highly creative and entrepreneurial environment.
MSU Optical Technology Center (OpTeC): Multidisciplinary center promoting collaboration with Bozeman’s local optical industry and MSU students/faculty.
MSU Spectrum Lab: Laboratory advancing the opto-electronic technologies emerging from the research laboratories of MSU.
Gallatin College also hosts an annual PHOTONIC-CON expo at the Gallatin Valley Fairgrounds. The event introduces K-12 students to the exciting world of photonics and manufacturing through hands-on experiences and demonstrations.
To learn more about Montana’s rapidly growing photonics industry, check out the Alliance’s photonics sector resource guide.
High-tech Engineering & Manufacturing
Bozeman boasts a vibrant engineering and manufacturing sector fueled by a strong pipeline of talent from Montana State University’s Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering.
Advanced Electronic Designs (AED) is a professional engineering firm and electronic product developer headquartered in Bozeman. Photo via AED.
Driven by its motto, “Serious Fun, Serious Engineering," Advanced Electronic Designs (AED) is an electronics product development company and professional engineering firm that solves complex technology problems for clients. AED is also a Montana Top Tech Employer.
Other renowned design and engineering firms with Bozeman offices include Cushing Terrell, Jackson Contractor Group, and WGM Group.
Industry groups like the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center (MMEC) play a significant role in strengthening the state’s manufacturing economy.
The MMEC helps Montana manufacturers assess and improve their operations, provides training and workforce development, and leverages research and technological developments at MSU to keep manufacturing competitive in the state.
In Belgrade, just ten miles north of Bozeman, Montana’s aerospace manufacturing scene flourishes with companies like Bridger Aerospace.
Founded in 2014, Bridger Aerospace is a leader in fighting wildfires, specializing in aerial fire-mapping operations, air attack, aerial fire suppression, and wildland firefighter technologies. Bridger Aerospace has a history of strong revenue growth and has gone from operating a single plane to commanding a significant “Air Attack” fleet out of Montana.
Robust Support Networks for Entrepreneurs
Bozeman’s dynamic entrepreneurial support network includes tight university connections:
Montana State University (MSU)’s TechLink Center facilitates technology transfer activities and licensing for the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Entrepreneurs can apply for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants through the Montana Innovation Partnership (MTIP).
The MSU Blackstone LaunchPad’s annual entrepreneurship programs help students, faculty, and alumni bring their ideas to life through the MSU $100K Venture Capital Pitch Competition and Big Idea Challenge, hosted in conjunction with the MSU Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship.
The City of Bozeman website offers business licensing, economic development guides, and several resources to help entrepreneurs launch or move their businesses to the Gallatin Valley.
Scaling Montana, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, works to accelerate the growth of Montana’s tech ecosystem by providing local founders access to entrepreneurial thinking and support. Programs include the Scaling Montana Speaker Series and the Scaling Montana Summit.
In 2024, Bozeman hosted the inaugural Montana Festival. The annual event gathers entrepreneurs, creators, and community builders to connect and advance Made in Montana ideas, projects, start-ups, and policy solutions.
The first Montana Festival was held in Bozeman from May 31 - June 1, 2024. From left to right: Renee Reijo Pera, McLaughlin Research Institute; Mark Sharpe, Montana State University Innovation Campus; Suzanne Tilleman, The University of Montana College of Business; Les Craig, Next Frontier Capital; Padden Guy Murphy, Last Best Future; Liz Marchi, Two Bear Capital; Brit Fontenot, City of Bozeman; and Philip Brittan, Chairman Scaling Montana (former VP Google). Photo by Christina Henderson, MHTBA executive director.
Bozeman is also home to several venture capital firms and investors, including Frontier Angels, Next Frontier Capital, and Virga Capital to help business owners develop and scale their products/services in Montana and beyond.
Education & Workforce
Founded in 1893, Montana State University offers over 60 baccalaureate and master’s degree programs, 28 doctoral options, and several certificates. Photo via Montana State University.
At the heart of Bozeman is Montana State University (MSU), Montana’s largest university. In 1893, the university was established as the state's land-grant college, then known as the “Agricultural College of the State of Montana” before simplifying its name to “Montana State University” in 1965.
MSU offers baccalaureate degrees, masters, and PhDs in 60 fields through schools like the Gianforte School of Computing (the new Gianforte Hall is expected to open Fall 2026), Jake Jabs College of Business & Entrepreneurship, and Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering.
For those looking to kick-start a tech career, Gallatin College offers numerous one-to-two-year workforce programs for high-demand fields in Montana. See our Education & Training Resource Guide for specific training programs at Gallatin College and throughout Montana.
Transportation
The Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport offers over 20 direct flights—the most of any airport in Montana—to popular destinations like Dallas, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
For an easy way to get around town, check out Bozeman’s free transit and paratransit bus service, Streamline. Streamline offers a weekday service line to both Livingston and Belgrade for those living outside of Bozeman or who are looking to explore the Gallatin Valley further.
Bozeman is also a bike-friendly city with several trails and bike paths running through town. Popular biking routes include the flat “Gallagator Trail” that connects MSU to downtown Bozeman, as well as the 2.6-mile paved trail from Story Mill Park to the base of the “M trail” on the MSU campus.
The Gallagator Trail is a flat gravel route that connects downtown Bozeman to Montana State University. Photo via Gallatin Land Valley Trust.
Amenities and Fun
History
Bozeman has an intricate connection to Montana’s gold rush of the 1860s. Named after frontiersman and pioneer John Bozeman, the city was founded as a result of the “Bozeman Trail.”
Created by John Bozeman and his partner, John Jacob, the Bozeman Trail branched off the Oregon Trail and was a direct route to the prosperous mining town of Virginia City, Montana—if miners were willing to pay the hefty fee.
Winding through the Gallatin Valley, the 500-mile-long corridor had been used by Indigenous Americans for centuries and saw many skirmishes between frontiersmen and the Lakota, Arapaho, and Northern Cheyenne tribes who resisted encroachment onto their lands. In 1864, John Bozeman founded the eponymous city after settling at the gate of the Gallatin Valley.
Landmarks
The historic Baxter Hotel and Kimpton Armory Hotel are significant contributors to Bozeman’s lively downtown district. Both buildings were designed by acclaimed Bozeman architect Fred Fielding Wilson, who was famous for using Art Deco style in his work.
Located in downtown Bozeman, the historical Baxter Hotel is a beloved community hub with modified residential spaces. Photo via Wikipedia.
Built in 1929, the historic landmark of The Baxter Hotel, also known as “The Baxter,” opened its doors to the public with a vow to make Bozeman, Montana “the best town in America in which to live.”
The Baxter’s legacy lives on as a flourishing economic and entertainment hub of the Bozeman community. The sophisticated building is a prime venue for weddings and special events. Additionally, the Baxter houses several commercial spaces and residential condominiums offering stunning views and modern amenities.
Less than a block away from The Baxter is the tallest building in downtown Bozeman: the Kimpton Armory Hotel.
In 1941, the Kimpton Armory was constructed to house the Bozeman National Guard as one of six Montana armories during the World War II era and featured a rifle range, soundproof music room, offices, lounges, and space to accommodate military trucks. Today, 98% of the original Bozeman Armory remains intact.
World-class Skiing
Big Sky Resort has an average snowfall of more than 400 inches. Photo via CoolWorks.
While Bozeman’s summer activities include notable fishing in the Gallatin River and plenty of opportunities for hiking in the nearby Bridger Mountains, it’s the proximity to world-class skiing that sets Bozeman apart.
Bridger Bowl Ski Area, located 30 minutes outside of the city, is a popular destination for skiers and snowboarders of all ages. With 2,500 acres of terrain, 8 chair lifts, 2,500 vertical feet, and 4 lodges, Bridger Bowl attracts skiers and snowboarders from around the world.
Another popular destination for year-round recreation is Big Sky Resort, located an hour south of Bozeman. Big Sky Resort boasts 5,850 skiable acres, 4,350 vertical feet, 320 runs, and infinite possibilities for adventure.
Outdoor Recreation for All Interests
Besides being an extraordinary mountain skiing destination, Big Sky Resort has plenty of amenities guests can indulge in year-round:
Several shopping and spa experiences that the whole family can enjoy.
The Big Sky Golf Course is an 18-hole par 72 golf course offering longer drives and spectacular views.
The Big Sky Resort bike park features trails for riders of all levels.
Other great spots for mountain biking in the Gallatin Valley include Levrich Canyon and the Bozeman Creek Trailhead.
In addition to skiing, mountain biking, and the Big Sky Resort, Bozeman offers several other convenient recreational excursions:
Bozeman has 42 public parks, 52 miles of trails and associated sports fields, and plenty of open space within the city limits to bike around with friends and family.
The Bozeman Hot Springs, Chico Hot Springs, and Mammoth Hot Springs (near Yellowstone) make excellent day trips or weekend destinations for kicking back and relaxing.
Yellowstone National Park’s North Entrance is only a 90-minute drive from Bozeman.
Risho said Bozemanites are often happy to share tips with newcomers.
“If anyone is new here, I'd suggest finding people with similar interests and asking them for some inside tips,” he said. “You'll be amazed at the fantastic off-the-beaten trail activities, hikes, secret hunting spots, and perfect summer activities out here!”
Family-friendly Activities
The Museum of the Rockies features one of the largest collections of North American dinosaurs in the world. Photo via Museum of the Rockies.
Bozeman also offers a variety of museums that appeal to all interests:
The American Computer and Robotics Museum for the technology enthusiasts.
The Emerson Center of the Arts and Culture for the creatively minded.
The Museum of the Rockies for the dinosaur buffs.
The Museum of the Rockies, a division of MSU and a Smithsonian Affiliate, is recognized as one of the world's finest research and natural history museums.
Nonprofit Tinworks Art connects artists and the Bozeman community through inclusive art experiences in non-traditional spaces designed to welcome everyone. Popular exhibits include Agnes Denes’s Wheatfield – An Inspiration. The seed is in the ground. In 2024, Denes invited the Bozeman community to participate in the artwork by planting wheat in any available land, creating a city-wide wheatfield in solidarity with Wheatfield – An Inspiration.
As a university town, there’s no shortage of exciting college sports to enjoy as part of the Big Sky Conference. Purchase tickets for MSU home games from Bobcat Ticket Central to be part of Bozeman’s passionate sports scene.
Cultural Events & Festivals
Bozeman hosts events all year long like the Bozeman Symphony, Opera Montana, and the Rockin’ the Rivers music festival.
One of Bozeman’s biggest events of the year is the Sweet Pea Festival. Held in early August, the Sweet Pea Festival is where art and community collide. The three-day festival includes live music, art, performances by theatre and dance troupes, a beer and wine garden, and culinary delights.
The Summer Slam Festival showcases the amazing talent Montana has to offer. This family-friendly event features an artists' market, artist demonstrations, live music and performances, a food court, a Montana-made libations garden, and a silent auction.
Don’t miss a weekend trip to the Gallatin Valley Farmer’s Market (GVFM). The GVFM has served the Bozeman community for over 50 years and supports nearly 120 vendors at any given market. Every Saturday morning, from June through September, locals and tourists alike can enjoy fresh produce, hand-made crafts, and delicious treats at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds.
Ready to start planning your trip to Bozeman? Check out the Visit Bozeman website to see all the incredible amenities and outdoor thrills The Bozone has to offer.
About the Publisher: Launched in 2014, the Montana High Tech Business Alliance is a nonpartisan nonprofit association of more than 200 high tech and manufacturing companies and affiliates creating high-paying jobs in Montana. For more information, visit MTHighTech.org or subscribe to our newsletter.
About the Authors:
Christina Henderson has served as executive director of the Montana High Tech Business Alliance since its launch in April 2014. She holds an English/Education degree from the University of Iowa and an MBA from the University of Montana.
Melissa Paulsen is the communications coordinator for the Montana High Tech Business Alliance. She graduated from the University of Montana in 2022 with a BFA in creative writing and a minor in history.
Emily Simonson was the staff writer and content creator for the Montana High Tech Business Alliance in 2020. Originally from Havre, Emily graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in English.
Katy Spence was the former communications director for the Montana High Tech Business Alliance. She worked previously with the Missoula Current and Treesource, and has an Environmental Journalism Master’s Degree from the University of Montana.
