Thursday, June 12, 2025 Dear ITC Members and Newsletter Subscribers,
Summer is heating up, and so is the energy around Idaho’s tech community! We’re excited to share what’s coming up this month at the Idaho Technology Council and invite you to get involved in the opportunities ahead.
? Spark Series: Cybersecurity & Risk Management
As digital threats continue to evolve, staying informed is key. Our next Spark Series session will dive into current cybersecurity challenges, frameworks, and solutions to help businesses and individuals stay protected. Join us to hear from leading experts in the field.
? 2025 Hall of Fame & Idavation Awards – Nominations Now Open
This year’s theme, Uncharted Brilliance, honors the bold thinkers shaping the future of tech in Idaho. From emerging founders to industry veterans, we’re looking for the pioneers redefining innovation and leadership. Know someone whose brilliance is worth celebrating? Nominate them today. ? High Tech Connect – June 24
Take a break from the screen and come connect in person! Our monthly networking event, hosted by Tech Hub, is your chance to meet other professionals in a relaxed setting with great conversation, appetizers, and drinks. Whether you’re new to tech or a seasoned pro, this is a space for everyone in the industry. ? Verizon Small Business Digital Ready – Grant Applications Open
We’re proud to partner with Verizon to support small businesses through the Digital Ready program. Applications for the current $10,000 grant round are now open—don’t miss the chance to access funding, expert resources, and digital tools to help your business thrive.
We hope to see you at one (or all!) of these events. As always, thanks for being part of the ITC community.
"We love it when our friends become friends." Warm regards, Diane Bevan, President & CEO Betsy Davies, Operations Manager |
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ITC is Partnered with Verizon to Promote the 'SMALL BUSINESS DIGITAL READY' Program and Grant Application |
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Empowering Rural Entrepreneurs: ITC CEO, Diane Bevan, at Punchbowl News' Small Business Summit |
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May 13, 2025 Washington, D.C.
This morning, Washington, D.C. buzzed with energy as Punchbowl News hosted The Summit: Investing in Small Businesses, a dynamic event spotlighting the pivotal role of small enterprises in bolstering the U.S. economy. Among the distinguished speakers was Diane Bevan, President and CEO of the Idaho Technology Council, who delivered compelling insights on fostering entrepreneurship in rural communities. Championing Rural Innovation
In a panel discussion moderated by Punchbowl News' senior congressional reporter Andrew Desiderio, Bevan emphasized the necessity of advocating for policies that nurture entrepreneurship beyond urban centers. Drawing from her extensive experience, she highlighted the unique challenges rural entrepreneurs face and the importance of tailored support systems to ensure their success. The Verizon Digital Ready Advantage
Bevan also shed light on the transformative impact of Verizon's Small Business Digital Ready program. This free, online platform offers over 50 self-paced courses, one-on-one coaching, and networking opportunities, equipping small business owners with the tools and confidence needed to navigate the multifaceted world of entrepreneurship. Bevan noted how such resources are invaluable in leveling the. . .
READ MORE
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Nominations for 2025 Hall of Fame & Ideation Awards are Now Open! |
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In an era defined by rapid transformation and relentless innovation, Uncharted Brilliance honors the pioneers lighting the way forward. This year’s theme celebrates the daring visionaries, bold technologists, and creative problem-solvers navigating new frontiers in technology—with clarity, courage, and brilliance. From emerging startups to industry-defining breakthroughs, Idaho’s tech ecosystem is expanding with purpose. As we step into the unknown, we shine a spotlight on those whose brilliance doesn’t just respond to change—it shapes it. Join us as we honor the spirit of exploration, celebrate excellence in leadership and innovation, and recognize the extraordinary impact of those charting tomorrow’s course today. . .
Nominations are open until July 31st SUBMIT ONE TODAY! |
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A Successful High-Tech Connect at BSU! |
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2025's Women of the Year Honorees Have Just Been Announced! |
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We are excited to celebrate these honorees -- which includes ITC's very own Betsy Davies, along with a few other ITC members. Read about it HERE.
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INTRODUCING
Nathan Jack, Department Chair of Computer Science and Engineering, Brigham Young University Idaho DESCRIBE THE BUSINESS/ORGANIZATION YOU WORK FOR:
Brigham Young University-Idaho is a private four-year university owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. BYU-Idaho offers 2- and 4-year degrees in a broad variety of disciplines. Many of the technology-specific degrees offered are housed in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. Degree options within this department include Computer Science, Software Engineering, Web Design and Development, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Cybersecurity, and Cloud Computing.
WHAT SETS THIS BUSINESS APART FROM OTHERS IN THE INDUSTRY?
I enjoy working for BYU-Idaho because of the teaching-centric focus of the university. The faculty truly care about each and every student; they are 100% focused on teaching and mentoring students. Nearly all faculty have significant industry experience, resulting in a very practical and hands-on experience for our students. Our graduates are hard-working individuals equipped with the knowledge and skill sets needed for. . . READ MORE
CONNECT WITH NATHAN |
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Boise State University Ph.D. candidate Attila Rektor has been named the Best Student winner at the Technical Conference at IPC APEX EXPO 2025 |
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This award is in recognition of Attila's research presented in the paper, “Flexible Hybrid Electronics Created from a Multicomponent System of Electroless Copper on Laser-Induced Graphene.” IPC APEX EXPO is recognized as North America’s most comprehensive exposition and conference dedicated to the advancement of the electronics industry. Rektor was honored at the Expo in Anaheim, California, and received a $1,000 honorarium. READ MORE HERE
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ITC Board Member, Marsha McDaniel, a speaker at the opening plenary of the Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space Conference (NETS2025) |
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Ribbon cutting of Technology Credit Union as They Officially Expanded into Idaho |
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This event brought together members of the Boise Metro Chamber, Meridian Chamber, and the Idaho Technology Council for a first look at Tech CU’s impressive new location. It was a fantastic afternoon of networking, celebration, and delicious catered refreshments as we welcomed this innovative credit union to our growing business community. . .
READ MORE |
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UPCOMING EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES |
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We are excited to announce the next panel of ITC's SPARK SERIES! |
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This is an educational initiative designed to strengthen Idaho’s tech ecosystem through monthly, expert-led online sessions.
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 June 19th, at 12pm MT |
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High-Tech Connect Networking! |
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Join us on June 24th, at 5 pm MT |
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Demystifying Tech - Hosted by QTex AI |
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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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SAWTOOTH STEM EDUCATOR'S AWARD |
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The Sawtooth STEM Educator Award recognizes outstanding Idaho educators who go above and beyond to inspire students and advance excellence in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This year, three educators will be selected—one from each of the following categories: - K–6 STEM Educator
- 7–12 STEM Educator
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Higher Education STEM Educator (college, university, or other post-secondary setting)
LEARN MORE AND MAKE A NOMINATION TODAY |
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HOMELAND SECURITY STARTUP |
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On behalf of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), you’re invited to attend Homeland Security Startup Studio (HSSS) Converge 2025! Join us for a unique partnering opportunity for industry to meet cutting-edge startups on June 17, at 1 p.m. ET in Arlington, VA.
The finalist teams from the HSSS 2025 cohort will pitch their companies formed around breakthrough technologies that they have worked to advance over the past 18 weeks. In partnership with FedTech, HSSS brings together entrepreneurs, mentors, and inventors to accelerate and commercialize innovative technologies that support homeland security needs. Register here for Converge!
Keynote remarks will kick off the Pitch Showcase portion of the event’s program. But first! This year, we're offering a new, exclusive networking session with the 2025 teams, from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. ET. Attendees located in the DMV area who are interested in meeting with the cohort teams can apply to attend in-person in Arlington, VA, during registration. Converge 2025 is otherwise a hybrid event that will be conducted simultaneously online via Zoom. The main event (hybrid), which features the Pitch Showcase, will begin at 2:00 p.m. ET.
Join us to discover new technology startups in the homeland security space and network with HSSS entrepreneurs! For more information about the program, please visit the HSSS program webpage or email SandT.Innovation@hq.dhs.gov.
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Every Tuesday from 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm EST, SOFWERX provides a platform for Industry and Academia to showcase their innovative capabilities.
Participants have the opportunity to present their solutions in 30-minute time slots to USSOCOM and other interested government partners, fostering collaboration and potential partnerships. Don't miss this chance to share your expertise and connect with key decision-makers!
SIGN UP HERE |
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FedTech Startup Studio – Seeking Aspiring and Experienced Entrepreneurs |
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FedTech's Startup Studio connects breakthrough technologies from federal and university labs with driven entrepreneurs ready to bring them to market. Through an immersive, months-long program, participants are guided through the lean startup model while navigating the unique challenges of commercializing federally funded innovations. REGISTRATION INFORMATION HERE |
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Check out our new jobs page for ITC Members!
We would love to work with your recruiter to keep our tech talent in Idaho. |
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AI Is Rewriting the Rules of Brand Management By John P. Mello Jr. // May 13, 2025 TechNewsWorld Although building trust through a carefully crafted brand message is still important, artificial intelligence may be undermining its traditional influence.
“AI isn’t just helping businesses create content or automate tasks; it’s empowering individuals to become instant digital detectives,” Mike Allton, chief storyteller at Agorapulse, a social media management platform for businesses, wrote Monday on LinkedIn.
What that means, he explained, is a company’s entire digital history — reviews, articles, social media sentiment, even employee feedback — is now more transparent and instantly “queryable” than ever before. “The carefully crafted brand message? It’s still important, but AI can now cross-reference it with raw, aggregated public data in seconds,” he noted.
The upside to AI brand management is enormous, maintained Scott Rupp, public relations manager for Marchex, a maker of a conversation intelligence platform headquartered in Seattle. “Companies that integrate AI into their feedback loops can detect early warning signs of brand erosion before they become crises,” he told TechNewsWorld.
“They can spot emerging customer needs, fine-tune messaging based on sentiment shifts, and even. . .
FULL ARTICLE HERE
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| Slant 3D Expands On-Demand 3D Printing Service with New Funding and Factory Plans
By Kerry Stevenson // April 29, 2025 Fabbaloo The Boise-based company is a growing 3D print service, able to receive requests and produce polymer parts on demand. Currently, they have at least two print farms, located in Boise and Texas. Their most recent — and most popular — product is called “Teleport”. It’s a software integration between their 3D print factories and customer parts systems or even online stores. The idea is to trigger part production right from the source.
Teleport enables anyone marketing physical products to have them 3D printed for customers at the time of order, and then have them shipped by Slant 3D. This capability could greatly simplify operations for many online sellers, and evidently has proven quite popular. Slant 3D explains:
“The primary product from Slant 3D is its free Teleport Software. Teleport allows any user to connect their e-commerce store directly into a Slant 3D Factory. So when the store gets an order, Slant 3D will print out the object and ship it directly to the end user. Nothing exists until it is ordered. And there are no costs until an item is sold.” The popularity of Teleport has attracted investment, with Slant 3D now receiving US$1.5M from unidentified investors.
FULL ARTICLE HERE
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| Microsoft offers to boost European governments' cybersecurity for free
By Supantha Mukherjee // June 4, 2025
Reuters
Microsoft (MSFT.O), opens new tab is offering free of charge to European governments a cybersecurity programme, launched on Wednesday, to bolster their defences against cyber threats, including those enhanced by artificial intelligence, it said.
After a surge in cyberattacks in Europe, many linked to state-sponsored actors from China, Iran, North Korea and Russia, the programme aims to boost intelligence-sharing on AI-based threats and help to prevent and disrupt attacks. "If we can bring more to Europe of what we have developed in the United States, that will strengthen cybersecurity protection for more European institutions," Microsoft President Brad Smith told Reuters in an interview. "You're going to see other things we are doing later in the month."
Increasingly, attackers employ generative AI to amplify the scale and impact of their operations that range from disrupting critical infrastructure to spreading disinformation.
Although malicious actors have weaponised AI, Smith said AI also offered defensive tools. . .
FULL ARTICLE HERE |
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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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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.
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ADVERTISE IN ITC's TECHWIRE NEWSLETTER |
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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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2025 ITC 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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