Technology impacts every aspect of society, both public and private.
Developing and sustaining a start-up technology company presents challenges, but even in the land of gems, the possibilities are vast and limitless for those with the desire, resources, and know-how.
“We’ve been told over and over again that you can’t start a semiconductor company in Idaho,” said Paul Dlugosh, founder of locally-based Natural Intelligence Systems (NIS). “Please don’t say I can’t do it.”
Such strong sentiments were echoed by local technology experts who attended the recent Homegrown Technology Breakfast panel and discussion hosted by the Idaho Business Review, held Oct. 8 at the Grove Hotel in downtown Boise. It was a general attitude shared by the group.
In addition to Mr. Dolgosh, the following people attended the panel: Aaron Brinton, chief strategy officer at Ventiv, a local company that leverages digital tools to improve business efficiency and drive growth. Jason Stallworthy, director of technology implementation at Idaho National Laboratory (INL). Sherry Bennett is chief operating officer of SWEAR, another local organization whose primary mission is to protect the integrity of digital media.
Panelists emphasized a “Yes We Can” approach and discussed Idaho’s expanding technology industry, the ups and downs of navigating the startup path, the effort required to acquire capital, and the need to find and retain talented workers. I expressed my opinion. , as well as the importance of responding to valuable feedback from customers and investors.
In today’s competitive technology environment, the committee found common ground in the idea that “nothing is easy.”
Along these lines, legendary soccer coach Vince Lombardi famously often told his players, “It’s only in the dictionary that ‘success’ comes before ‘work.'” Natural Intelligence Systems founder Paul Drugosh (center) addresses the audience during a Breakfast Series panel discussion Oct. 8 at The Grove Hotel in downtown Boise. (Photo: Mark Lutz, IBR)
With 30 years of experience in the semiconductor technology industry, Dolgosh certainly knows the relevance of such profound statements.
After nearly two decades at Micron, where he helped oversee the tech giant’s automaton processor program, NIS is now focused on developing processing systems that significantly expand the capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning platforms. is leading.
He said NIS “spun off from Micron seven years ago. …Certainly we can build a company like this. Silicon Valley exudes an elitist attitude.” said. “Everything you need is right here in Idaho.”
In 2017, Mr. Dolgosh took full advantage of a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” and founded NIS with the full support of Micron’s executive staff. In addition to the support his company receives from tech giants, he acknowledged that capital and funding is the lifeblood of “any startup,” especially capital-intensive startups.
“It will probably cost about $100 million to get to the full scale that we intend to do,” he said. “We’re about 10% of the way through that journey.”
With more than 30 years of experience as a technology entrepreneur, Brinton said he is well aware of the complexities of starting a technology company. A former U.S. Navy nuclear engineer, he founded a total of eight companies throughout his career, learning “6 Ways to Disrupt a Business.”
And although he has attempted to escape from the Treasure Valley several times, the Boise native has found his forever home.
“I’m really enjoying coming to Boise to talk about AI and cybersecurity, small business, and the future of technology,” Brinton said. “I’m going to stay and my goal is to make sure things continue to move forward.”
Key lessons learned from both the successes and failures he has endured include listening to customers, not just explaining to investors, but showing them how popular investments can pay off. This includes: Jason Stallworthy, director of technology deployment at Idaho National Laboratory, will speak at the event. (Photo: Mark Lutz, IBR)
“Of course, investors don’t just give us money,” Brinton says. “They want a return on their investment. Those involved in startups are going to struggle to get funding until they know what business leaders want and until they make this kind of transition. It will be.”
Bennett, the panel’s only self-described “non-tech” participant, learned that creating technology is not an easy process by helping run SWEAR and overseeing its efforts to protect digital content. .
“We are a little ahead of our time as a company,” Bennett said. “And if you’re building something new and you go to investors or customers and they don’t understand it on a fundamental level, it’s hard to get people to engage and listen. is.”
Making people aware and “getting it” of the technology being developed is critical to success, she said.
“At SWEAR, we see ourselves as one guardrail that we are trying to put in place on AI,” she said. “We are trying to avoid repeating what happened with social media. While AI develops and benefits society, it remains within its guardrails and can instead harm us in society. You must not do anything that will cause harm.”
At INL, located on the eastern side of the state, Mr. Stallworthy specializes in all matters related to innovation, protection, transfer and commercialization of technologies developed from research.
A registered patent attorney, the main challenge for technology development he cites is to ensure that research efforts remain focused on “what matters to the world.”
“The more we work with our industry partners, the better we understand the market and the better we can do at creating impactful technology,” Stallworthy said.
Like his co-panelists, Stallworthy reiterated that no matter the technology or development, interacting with customers, researchers, and investors remains an art form.
Too often, he says, people “work on something with a solution” thinking it’s the next big thing.
“When they do it and realize they’re wrong, they get valuable information about where to focus their efforts and research,” he says. “It’s much more powerful, but they have to be briefed enough times to finally get to the point where they understand it’s them and not everyone else.”
Sometimes you need to take a step back and make adjustments. Aaron Brinton (right), chief strategy officer at Ventyne, speaks on a panel discussion as Sherry Bennett listens. (Photo: Mark Lutz, IBR)
“Every time we do this, the research gives us some idea of what the problems are in the industry,” Stallworthy said. “After going through this process, they realize they need to redirect their research.
We partner with some industries and work directly on what they care about. ”
Or, as Dlugosch pointed out, “there is no substitute” for attracting customers.
“You can’t figure this out safely behind the walls of your own home,” he said. “You have to go out there and put yourself out there and have people beat you up and sometimes spit on you. But what you learn from that is incredibly valuable.”
According to Brinton, engineers have what he calls a “bad habit” of chasing emerging technologies and leaving customers behind.
“We tend to have a ‘build it and they will come’ attitude,” he says. “You need to go out and talk to your customers. Find out what their roots are, observe and listen.”
But Dolgosh emphasized that when it comes to building new technologies and new companies, the only “giant weapon” Idaho has in the technology development market is simply the state itself. Paula Kruksdal, partner at Holley Troxell, moderated the panel discussion. (Photo: Mark Lutz, IBR)
“This is a real asset in attracting people to come work here,” Dlugosh said. “We need to have a better conversation about that asset, not just with my company, but with all of us who want to grow our businesses in this valley and across the state.”
Bennett said Southwest Idaho, where chambers of commerce, law firms, banks and businesses are fully engaged and collaborative, is a “great community” for current and future technology companies.
“It’s incredibly easy to integrate into this community if you want to,” she said. “That’s something I don’t want the Treasure Valley to lose sight of. That’s really one of our strengths.”
Mr. Stallworthy, who holds degrees in chemistry, biochemistry and chemical engineering, as well as a law degree, strongly agreed with his colleagues and emphasized the important role that higher education plays in the business sector.
“Wherever technology hubs emerge, it’s because we have strong technology-based universities like the ones we have here,” he said. “An environment that creates the next generation is important.”
