Sprints Propel Businesses Off the Starting Block

Arrowhead Center at New Mexico State University is accepting applications for several upcoming business sprint programs. BizSprint Roswell, a 6-week business acceleration program for startups and existing businesses located in the city of Roswell, is accepting applications until the end of the day on February 6, 2023. AgSprint, another 6-week business acceleration program — this one for existing or aspiring agricultural businesses located anywhere in the state — is accepting applications until February 15. And Feb. 27 is the deadline for San Miguel County businesses to apply to join the BizSprint San Miguel cohort.

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Summit Aims to Propel Innovations

The New Mexico SBIR/STTR Innovation Summit will be held virtually on December 14, 2022, from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM MST. The Summit brings together small businesses, federal program managers, defense representatives, experts, and local organizations vested in driving innovation through the SBIR and STTR programs. The event offers opportunities for entrepreneurs to discuss their innovations with experts in one-on-one meetings.

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WE Mean Business Coming to a Device Near You

Arrowhead Center at New Mexico State University and WESST want women entrepreneurs (WE) to have the support they need to start and build their businesses. The two business development organizations have teamed up to offer WE Mean Business, a women’s entrepreneurship conference that will be held virtually from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm on November 17.

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BizSprints: Targeted Business Acceleration

BizSprints are free accelerator programs that offer one-on-one consulting sessions, expert speakers, and supportive advisors that guide participants through exploring potential new markets. Some Sprints also offer guidance to expand digital footprints and obtain capital funding.

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Propel Your Innovation

The New Mexico SBIR/STTR Innovation Summit will be held virtually on December 15, 2021, from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM MDT. The Summit brings together small businesses, federal program managers, defense representatives, experts, and local organizations vested in driving innovation through the SBIR and STTR programs. The event offers opportunities for entrepreneurs to discuss their innovations with experts in one-on-one meetings.

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NM FAST Program Propels Anti-Counterfeit Entrepreneur

Roy Montibon worked with the New Mexico FAST program. Article by Jason Gibbs.

Heritage. Honesty. Respect for tradition.

These are keys to Roy Montibon’s work as CEO of Montibon Provenance International Inc. His mission to ensure the authenticity of Native American art has drawn support from New Mexico State University’s Arrowhead Center, the Small Business Administration, and the respect of collectors and artists alike.

In 2017, Montibon tapped into resources offered by the New Mexico Federal and State Technology Partnership (NM FAST) program to develop a system to prevent counterfeit merchandise from polluting the Native American art market. Shoddy knock-off merchandise not only devalues the market, but it devalues the work that honest artists produce and harms the overall market, he said.

“The financial impact is three-fold,” said Montibon. “Collectors are ripped off. Native artists are deprived of revenue from sales of work that is falsely attributed to them. And, because the fake work is of poor quality compared to authentic work, the perceived value of the artist’s work is diminished in the marketplace, which also has a detrimental effect on future generations who may be considering a career in the arts.” Continue reading