Thursday, March 13, 2025 Dear ITC Members and Newsletter Subscribers,
If you can believe it, we are already halfway through March! However, there are still many more things on the horizon this month, and we’re excited to share all the incredible opportunities and events coming your way. You may have noticed this newsletter is arriving a week earlier than usual — that’s because we’re thrilled to officially announce the launch of ITC’s Spark Series, a brand-new educational initiative designed to strengthen Idaho’s tech ecosystem. Starting this month, join us every third Thursday at noon for expert-led online sessions covering everything from cybersecurity and AI to biotech, innovation, and securing capital. These sessions are designed to foster curiosity, collaboration, and practical learning — whether you’re a tech professional, entrepreneur, or investor, there’s something for you!
Speaking of opportunities to connect, we’re just one week away from our highly anticipated Tech Expo in Idaho Falls! This Expo is your chance to explore cutting-edge innovations, meet industry leaders, and get a first-hand look at the breakthroughs shaping Idaho’s future. We look forward to seeing so many of you there and can’t wait to celebrate Idaho’s thriving tech community together.
We’re also excited to introduce another new program: ITC Talks — Conversations with Idaho’s Tech Leaders. This monthly fireside chat series offers candid conversations with innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders shaping Idaho’s tech landscape. Each session will dive into the personal journeys, challenges, and insights of those driving progress in our state’s technology sector. Grab your lunch, tune in, and gain valuable, firsthand perspectives from the visionaries building Idaho’s tech future.
From new programs to in-person events, there’s no shortage of ways to get involved this month. Thank you for your continued support as we work together to foster innovation, collaboration, and growth across Idaho’s tech ecosystem. We can’t wait to see you in Idaho Falls and online for our exciting new programs!
"We love it when our friends become friends." Warm regards,
Diane Bevan, President & CEO Betsy Davies, Operations Manager
CLICK HERE FOR THE 2025 OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGAGEMENT GUIDE
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Nokia’s Cellular Network Ready for Moon as Intuitive Machines Completes Final Lunar Lander Installation January 7, 2025 Intuitive Machines
HOUSTON, Jan. 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today Intuitive Machines, Inc. (Nasdaq: LUNR, LUNRW) (“Intuitive Machines”) and Nokia (NYSE: NOK, Euronext: NOKIA) announced the successful final integration of Nokia’s Lunar Surface Communication System (“LSCS”) into the IM-2 mission lander, named Athena. Athena and the LSCS will voyage to the lunar south pole region in the upcoming IM-2 mission, where Nokia and Intuitive Machines intend to deploy the first cellular network on the Moon.
After months of testing and validation with Nokia Bell Labs, Intuitive Machines engineers installed the LSCS “network in a box” to one of Athena’s upper carbon-composite panels. Multiple precautions were taken during the installation to help ensure that the network will safely make the 239,000-mile journey to the Moon, survive the stresses of take-off and landing, and operate optimally on the lunar surface. Each of the 14 mounting points is thermally isolated to keep the network insulated from the extremely low temperatures of deep space. Intuitive Machines also integrated the network into Athena’s Thermal Protection System. This system will expel heat when the network is operating, and it will supply heat to protect the network when it is idle.
Two device modules make up additional components of Nokia’s LSCS, and they have been installed in two lunar mobility vehicles: Intuitive Machines’ Micro-Nova Hopper and Lunar Outpost’s Mobile Autonomous Prospecting Platform (MAPP) rover. Upon landing on the Moon. . .
FULL ARTICLE HERE
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| A new Microsoft chip could lead to more stable quantum computers By Rachel Courtland // February 19, 2025
MIT Technology Review
Microsoft announced today that it has made significant progress in its 20-year quest to make topological quantum bits, or qubits—a special approach to building quantum computers that could make them more stable and easier to scale up.
Researchers and companies have been working for years to build quantum computers, which could unlock dramatic new abilities to simulate complex materials and discover new ones, among many other possible applications.
To achieve that potential, though, we must build big enough systems that are stable enough to perform computations. Many of the technologies being explored today, such as the superconducting qubits pursued by Google and IBM, are so delicate that the resulting systems need to have many extra qubits to correct errors.
Microsoft has long been working on an alternative that could cut down on the overhead by using components that are far more stable. These components, called Majorana quasiparticles, are not real particles. Instead, they are special patterns of behavior that may arise inside certain physical systems and under certain conditions.
The pursuit has not been without setbacks, including. . .
FULL ARTICLE HERE
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| National lab, South Carolina company partner to build coolant system for microreactor demonstration
February 13, 2025
Idaho National Laboratory
(IDAHO FALLS, Idaho) — The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) crossed another milestone in developing the MARVEL microreactor this month when Battelle Energy Alliance launched the effort to fabricate the reactor’s primary coolant system.
A team from INL and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy recently visited Carolina Fabricators Inc. (CFI) to kick off the fabrication process. BEA, which manages INL for DOE, awarded the contract to CFI last month. The Microreactor Applications Research Validation and Evaluation Project, or MARVEL, is a sodium-potassium-cooled reactor that will generate 85 kilowatts of thermal energy. It will be one of the lab’s first new reactors in nearly 50 years. This latest contract follows an earlier contract between INL and CFI to fabricate the guard vessel for the MARVEL microreactor core.
“This contract continues a collaboration with Carolina Fabricators that not only helps MARVEL maintain schedule but also helps set the stage for potential fabrication support of commercial microreactor concepts,” said John Jackson, DOE-NE Microreactor Program national technical director.
MARVEL will help developers demonstrate microreactor applications and evaluate systems for new microreactor technologies. The primary coolant system manages. . .
FULL ARTICLE HERE
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INTRODUCING Gabe Linehan, Director of Partnerships, Qdeck, Imagine Venture Partners, (SELTZi & Golfview RE Dev)
DESCRIBE THE BUSINESS/ORGANIZATION YOU WORK FOR
I work closely with my mentor, Jagdeesh "Jag" Prakasam, in all of his endeavors through his Venture Company. My main work, and where I started first working with Jag, is with an AI-Driven financial technology/wealth management platform, called Qdeck. My title here is "director of partnerships" - beyond partnership curation, I have also been wearing many other hats, like that of sales, BD, fundraising & product design. we are in the start up phase but fully invested into building this company up to its highest potential, just got our AI/technology patent confirmed on 2/14/25 . I have also been working closely with our other portfolio companies, SELTZi, a craft brewed cocktail company, and the Gold View Apartment development inn Mountain home, which happened to be the first multi-family housing complex to be built in Mountain Home since 2008. For those last two, I have been doing fundraising and business development.
INSPIRATION TO START YOUR OWN BUSINESS
I met Jag and got introduced to Qdeck back in 11/2024. at that point, I recognized how special the technology was that the team had built . . .
READ MORE
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TELEO Capital Announces Acquisition of SOFTRAX
By Ashley Tolfo // Feb 27, 2025 // SOFTRAX Blog |
TELEO Capital Management, LLC announced the acquisition of SOFTRAX, an industry leader in revenue management software solutions, from TELUS Corporation (“TELUS”). TELEO’s strategic investment will strengthen SOFTRAX’s foundation and equip it with the tools and resources to grow faster and smarter. . .
READ MORE |
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Mark DeBry of Shadowscape, presented at the
CUI-CON cybersecurity conference in Tampa, FL |
Mark DeBry presented alongside Koren Wise at the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) conference, CUI-CON, held in Tampa, Florida the first weekend in March.
As a Lead Assessor for the DoD’s CMMC program, Mark shared practical guidance with an audience of over 250 DoD contractors on how to properly scope and define their CMMC assessment boundary. He also offered actionable tips to help organizations achieve Level 2 certification and become more competitive when bidding on DoD contracts. |
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SWEAR: An SXSW INNOVATION AWARD WINNER!
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SWEAR Wins SXSW Innovation Award for ‘What the Future,’ Recognizing Its Role in Protecting Truth in the Digital Age
BOISE Idaho – March 12, 2025 – SWEAR, a leader in digital content authenticity, was honored with the 2025 SXSW Innovation Award in the "What the Future" category for its groundbreaking work in making digital content verifiable, tamper-proof, and trustworthy. During SXSW, SWEAR showcased its digital authentication platform, earning top recognition from the Finalist Judges.
The ability to trust what we see and hear is slipping away. Deepfakes, AI-generated misinformation, and digital manipulation are making it harder than ever to separate fact from fiction. At SXSW 2025, an event known for spotlighting the technologies that will shape the future of our world, SWEAR’s selection as an Innovation Award winner demonstrates the importance of its work in making digital content verifiable, tamper-proof, and trustworthy. SWEAR was selected for tackling one of the biggest problems of our time: the collapse of trust in digital media. Rather than chasing fakes after they spread, SWEAR locks in authenticity at the moment of creation — authenticating content as it’s created so its integrity is never in question.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE SXSW WINNERS
Here’s how it works: Real-time fingerprinting: Every frame, every pixel, and every sound is mapped with a cryptographic signature the moment it’s recorded. Tamper-proof authentication: Content is backed by an immutable blockchain ledger, ensuring that any attempt to alter it is instantly detectable. Platform-agnostic security: SWEAR integrates with everything from body cams and security footage to livestreams and social platforms. SWEAR provides a permanent record of truth.
“Right now, we’re watching trust in digital content disappear,” said Jason Crawforth, CEO, SWEAR. “When people can fabricate reality with a few clicks, it’s not just a technology problem — it’s a credibility problem. This recognition from SXSW is a sign that the world knows we can’t afford to ignore this any longer.” Industry Recognition: A Growing Consensus on Digital Integrity The 2025 SXSW Innovation Award is one of a growing number of recent honors recognizing SWEAR’s work in protecting digital truth:
2025 CES Innovation Award: Honoree in Human Security for All 2025 Edison Award: Finalist in Specialized Software for Critical Industries 2024 SIA NPS Award: Judges’ Choice for Security Technology Innovation
Across industries—from security to journalism to government—leaders are aligning around the need for a better way to verify digital content. What’s Next for SWEAR?
SWEAR’s mission is to protect the truth from every camera lens in the world. It is working with technology companies, security agencies, legal institutions, and government organizations to integrate SWEAR Digital DNA into critical systems where content authenticity is non-negotiable. As AI and synthetic media grow more advanced, the question isn’t whether we can detect fakes—it’s whether we have proof of what’s real. |
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INTRODUCING Chris Morgan, CIO, Bastian Solutions
As of today I am an innovator and process whisperer. I spend my time making the impossible possible as well as rehabilitating processes and training people to be successful using them. My goal is to stay humble, continue innovating, continue learning and continue to make success stories with amazing people along the way.
**My newest project is working closely with a team of core experts to build a full spectrum R&D Lab with focus on Innovating Emerging Technologies that influence the product manufacturing and logistics sectors. I started my business unit as employee number one and as of today (year 3) I am up two locations with 19 projects in our current R&D pipeline. As a team we have developed a strong global influence as innovators and thought leaders for Toyota Industries.
CONNECT WITH CHRIS
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UPCOMING EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES |
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We are excited to announce the start of
ITC's SPARK SERIES!
This is an educational initiative designed to strengthen Idaho’s tech ecosystem through monthly, expert-led online sessions. Covering a wide range of topics—including cybersecurity, AI, biotech, innovation, and securing business capital—this series provides valuable insights from industry leaders. Each session features engaging presentations in an open environment that fosters curiosity, collaboration, and practical learning.
Whether you're a tech professional, entrepreneur, or investor, the Spark Series offers the knowledge and connections needed to navigate and grow within Idaho’s evolving tech landscape. |
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Join us on March 20th, at 12pm MT |
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Launching Student Entrepreneurs in Idaho
As part of Boise State's College of Innovation and Design, Venture College cultivates and supports entrepreneurship to economically empower the campus community and beyond. The Idaho Entrepreneur Challenge (IEC) is a statewide university competition dedicated to student entrepreneurs with promising ventures and small businesses.
Donate Today to Support Student Teams with Proven Traction Your support provides funding to help teams with proven traction achieve their milestones and accelerate their entrepreneurial journeys.
LINK TO DONATE
LINK TO IEC SPONSORSHIP PACKET
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This event is a great opportunity and we want to get the COMMUNITY INVOLVED There is no shortage of roles or opportunities to be part of this event. Whether it's becoming:
a SPONSOR, a PANELIST,
a company that SHOWCASES their product, or a VOLUNTEER.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS EVENT AND HOW TO GET INVOLVED
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2025 PUBLIC POLICY PRIORITIES |
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ITC Board APPROVES 2025 Public Policy Priorities and urges Idaho elected officials to approve making Digital Literacy a HS graduation requirement.
Visit our page to see more about our public policies. |
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NEW MEMBER ADVANTAGE PROGRAM (ITC MAP)! |
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What is the ITC MAP Our MAP program provides members of the ITC with discounts and member services for all your business needs! BIO Services Program
The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) is the first organization to contribute to this program. For no fee, ITC members can participate in the BIO Services Program. This is an amazing opportunity for those in the BioTech space or just looking for a cost-savings program to join! Interested in Contributing
Think you have a program that could benefit ITC members? If you are interested in contributing to the MAP program, please reach out to Diane Bevan at diane@idahotechcouncil.org for more information. Please note: you must be a member to participate or create a discount.
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TECHBRIDGE MENTORSHIP PROGRAM |
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Dear Tech Leaders, We’re excited to introduce TechBridge, a new mentorship initiative by the Idaho Technology Council (ITC) in partnership with NATCAST. Our goal is simple: to connect Idaho’s tech students with experienced professionals like you, bridging the gap through mentorship, resources, and financial assistance.
Through TechBridge, you’ll have the opportunity to guide aspiring tech talent—especially students from underrepresented, at-risk, and in-need backgrounds—by providing industry insights, professional connections, and access to essential financial resources. Why Become a TechBridge Mentor?
Idaho’s tech industry is growing fast, but many students face barriers to entering the field. We would love to have you as part of this program! Thank you for considering this opportunity to mentor and advocate for Idaho’s tech community. Your leadership will make a lasting impact! Best, ITC Team |
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GET INVOLVED WITH THE ITC |
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Interested in becoming more involved? Please consider joining the newly formed Idaho Technology Ambassador Committee, where you will have the opportunity to assist in planning and execution of events, meet new and existing members, and become the welcoming arm of the ITC. Sign up by CLICKING HERE
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ADVERTISE IN ITC's TECHWIRE NEWSLETTER |
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