Montana Bilger never set out to be an entrepreneur. In fact, if you’d asked him a few years ago, the idea of running a business—let alone one at the intersection of AI and space biology—would have seemed far-fetched. Yet today, as the co-founder of a cutting-edge company that’s making waves in the medical research world, Montana’s journey is a testament to the power of curiosity, networking, and being in the right place at the right time.
The Unintentional Start
Unlike many entrepreneurs who have a burning desire to build something from scratch, Montana’s entry into the world of startups was anything but planned. “I wasn’t really ever like, ‘I just want to start an AI company in space.’ That was never my dream or anything,” he laughs. Montana, with a background in physics, data science, and a stint as an army officer, was more at home coding for hours on end than pitching to investors. But life, as it often does, had different plans.
His entrepreneurial journey began serendipitously during a group project for his master’s program at Georgia Tech. “We built this project analyzing space data based on some NASA papers, and it was really cool. We joked about showing it to NASA,” he recalls. Little did they know, that joke would turn into a pivotal moment for their budding business. After cold-emailing a bunch of NASA scientists, they stumbled upon an out-of-office reply containing a Zoom link to a NASA quarterly AI for Life in Space committee meeting. Without an invitation, they joined the call and pitched their project to the top brass at NASA.
To their surprise, NASA was impressed. “They were like, ‘This is incredible. We love it.’ So we ended up working with one of their scientists on a regular basis,” Montana shares. That unexpected pitch to NASA marked the unofficial start of their company, setting them on a path they hadn’t envisioned.
Key Lessons for Entrepreneurs
While Montana’s story might seem like a series of fortunate events, he’s quick to point out that it wasn’t all luck. There are a few key lessons he’s learned along the way that every entrepreneur, accidental or otherwise, should take to heart.
1. Bootstrap Whenever Possible
Montana is a firm believer in the power of bootstrapping. In the early days of his company, before they had secured any significant funding, they had to rely on their wits and resources to keep things moving. “I think it’s more beneficial for entrepreneurs to bootstrap as much as possible, even if you’re eventually going to raise money. It forces you to sell your product, to validate your hypothesis in real-time,” he explains. This scrappy approach not only helped them stay lean but also made them better entrepreneurs.
2. The Power of Networking
As a self-proclaimed technical guy, Montana admits that getting out of his comfort zone to network was challenging, but ultimately invaluable. “I’m a guy that would code for eight hours a day and be totally fine doing it. But getting out there, going to conferences, talking to people—especially those who’ve been there before—has been crucial,” he says. His willingness to engage with others in his field led to the accidental NASA pitch, as well as countless other opportunities that have propelled his business forward.
Montana stresses that networking isn’t just about immediate gains. “You never know what kind of thing can break open that first big deal or opportunity. We’ve had connections where we didn’t talk for months, then suddenly, a year later, something pops up and they’re involved again,” he notes. In the world of startups, where a single connection can change the course of a company, Montana’s emphasis on the long game of networking is advice worth heeding.
3. Building a Strong Founding Team
Montana’s third piece of advice is about the importance of building a founding team that’s not only skilled but also personally compatible. “You’re going to go through some tough stuff, especially in the early stages. It’s hard, but it’s very rewarding when you have people you like and enjoy working with,” he says. For Montana, the right team isn’t just about technical expertise—it’s about finding people you want to spend your days with, people who will stick with you through the inevitable ups and downs.
Revolutionizing Disease Research
Montana’s company, still young but rapidly growing, is focused on a lofty goal: to revolutionize the way we understand and treat diseases. The core of their work lies in combining space data with explainable AI to discover new drug targets and disease pathways. “We utilize space biology research and other critical data sets to help find the most important disease pathways and targets,” he explains.
What sets them apart from the hype-laden world of AI is their commitment to explainability. While many in the field focus on deep learning and neural networks, which can be powerful but opaque, Montana’s team is dedicated to making sure their AI models can be fully understood. “When you’re dealing with biological systems, you need to understand the intricacies. It’s not just about predicting outcomes—it’s about explaining them,” he says.
This approach has resonated with their clients, which include research institutions, hospitals, and pharmaceutical companies. “There’s a lot of AI hesitancy out there, for good reason,” Montana acknowledges. “But when you can explain your findings clearly, you build trust, and that’s crucial in scientific research.”
Challenges and Future Goals
Despite his successes, Montana is candid about the challenges he faces. Fundraising, particularly during turbulent economic times, has been tough. “We spent about six or seven months on a business model that wasn’t working, and we had to pivot back to our original focus,” he admits. If he could do it over again, he says he would stay more consistent and not get sidetracked by the allure of scalable models like SaaS, which didn’t quite fit his niche.
Looking ahead, Montana’s goals are ambitious yet grounded. He aims to secure more research contracts and potentially raise funds based on the success of his ongoing projects. “It’s easier to fundraise when you have the option to say no,” he points out, highlighting the importance of not being cash-constrained. However, he’s clear that success, in his eyes, isn’t just about securing funding—it’s about building a sustainable, impactful business.
One of the most exciting prospects for Montana’s company is his upcoming collaboration with MD Anderson to conduct oncology research in space. If successful, he’ll be sending experiments to space to analyze data in orbit, a milestone that could open new doors for his research.
“If we get that grant, I’ll be flying to wherever that launch site is and watching our experiment go to space,” Montana says with a mix of excitement and disbelief. It’s a far cry from his early days coding alone, but it’s also a clear indication of just how far he’s come on this unexpected entrepreneurial journey.
Final Thoughts
Montana Bilger’s story is a reminder that entrepreneurship doesn’t always start with a grand vision. Sometimes, it’s about being open to opportunities, willing to learn, and ready to pivot when necessary. His journey from a group project to potentially groundbreaking research in space is a testament to the power of curiosity and perseverance.
For aspiring entrepreneurs, Montana’s advice is clear: Bootstrap where you can, network relentlessly, and build a team you genuinely enjoy working with. And above all, be open to the unexpected. You never know where it might lead.
