UM Offers Startup Workshop to Missoula, Opens Downtown Workspace

By Kyle Spurr, UM News Service

MISSOULA – Kevin McHugh built a career as a physical therapist in Missoula, working in the intensive care unit at St. Patrick’s Hospital during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and then opening his own private practice. 

All the while McHugh – who earned a degree in exercise science from the University of Montana in 2015 and worked as a strength and conditioning coach – dreamed of starting his own fitness program. His idea was to focus on autoregulation, a training approach that adjusts workouts based on a person’s physical readiness rather than a rigid routine. 

Not sure where to start his business, McHugh reached out earlier this year to Erik Guzik, an assistant clinical professor of management and entrepreneurship in UM’s College of Business. Guzik, who created a Startup Studio for UM students to craft their entrepreneurial ventures, was in the process of launching an eight-week workshop series for Missoula community members. 

The timing was incredibly fortunate for McHugh. 

“I knew I needed mentorship and I would have been grateful to get 30 minutes with Erik – let alone to be included in this eight-week workshop,” McHugh said. “I have nothing but gratitude to feel like I have somebody who knows what they are doing and is able to guide and teach me.” 

Since early June, a group of 10 Missoula community members – including some current UM students and recent graduates – have met every Wednesday evening for the VBX Entrepreneurship Workshop Series. The meetings are held in the Missoula office of Blackfoot Communications, the main sponsor of the workshop series. 

The workshops are a way to support entrepreneurship, idea development and problem solving in the Missoula community, Guzik said. The workshops also will identify startups to join the VBX Venture Studio, a year-round venture builder led by Guzik. At each workshop, Guzik covers a different topic such as creating business models, defining customers and building a team. 

“The point of the VBX workshop is to work with entrepreneurs who have these ideas and may not be sure what to do next,” Guzik said. “If you have an idea, a challenge or want to launch a new venture to solve a community problem, that’s what the workshop series is meant to support.” 

Guzik is providing the VBX workshop in association with CoBuild Montana, a new venture he started with Kirstin Miller, an urban planner and executive director of EcoCity Builders, an international nonprofit organization. 

CoBuild Montana plans to become a cooperative that Montana residents can join and support entrepreneurship to help solve community issues like affordable housing, environmental impacts and energy use. 

“This is a different way to approach entrepreneurship and problem solving,” Guzik said. “We can begin to identify challenges and work as teams to try to solve these problems in new ways.” 

CoBuild Montana hosted an internship program for UM students this past spring and will host a Startup World Cup USA Regional event Oct. 21 in UM’s University Center Ballroom to promote entrepreneurship and draw attention to Montana startups. The event will be part of a CoBuild Montana Symposium Oct. 20-22. 

To expand the work of CoBuild Montana and the VBX Venture Studio, Guzik opened a new coworking space in downtown Missoula at 125 1/2 W. Main St. A grand opening will be held Wednesday, Aug. 5, when some VBX workshop participants will pitch their startup ideas. 

The downtown workspace will allow VBX participants to continue honing their business ideas after the workshops end.

McHugh plans to keep developing his fitness program and use the business lessons he’s learned from Guzik. 

“I’ve been able to run my idea through the workshop exercises each week,” McHugh said. “It’s been quite insightful and makes me feel like this is a much more legitimate endeavor.” 

McHugh said working with the other participants in the workshop has been valuable and allowed them collaborate and support one another. 

“We all have our own unique ideas we are working on, but we have shared problems we are facing,” McHugh said. “There is a tremendous benefit in working together.” 

Outside of the workshop, McHugh has met up with fellow participant, David Lewis, a software engineer in Missoula who is creating a nutrition app. 

Together they brainstormed and worked on their business ideas. Lewis was inspired by working with McHugh and the other participants. 

“Everyone has such diverse perspectives and insight,” Lewis said. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to feel the collaboration and support from a community.” 

Lewis, who is combining his expertise in software development with his passion for nutrition, is motivated to keep building his startup idea. The workshop series gave him a chance to start moving his idea forward. 

He encourages other entrepreneurs in Missoula to explore the startup support offered by the University. 

“It’s an incredible opportunity and it’s designed for anyone and everyone who is curious and interested in building something,” Lewis said. 

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Dave Kuntz, UM vice president of Marketing Communications, Experience and Engagement, 406-243-5659, dave.kuntz@umontana.edu