KTRV Fox 12 IdaVation 2009 Inspires Boise Entrepreneurs

IdaVation 2009 Inspires Boise Entrepreneurs

Boise, Idaho -- One Boise entrepreneur has a idea that could potentially save lives worldwide, but he needed guidance to get it off the ground. 

Dr. Terry Gilton can't help but get excited about his product.

"We're after improving the distribution of clean water in third world countries everywhere in the world," he said. 

His company Psiflow, would make it easier and less expensive to get good data about water quality.  But he needs investors.

"I think the most difficult thing is that when you first get started, while you think you've really got a good idea and you know what you're doing, you find out fairly quickly there's a lot to learn," he said.

That's why he was at Idavation. It's one day of complete access to many of the Treasure Valley's key entrepreneurs.

"What we're trying to showcase is we have a lot of panelists and speakers that have already been there and done it before. They're showing how they're taking an idea and make it a reality and we're hoping that's going to be contagious," said IdaVation chairman Ben Quintana.

With dozens of people like Gilton now deciding to create their own jobs, already successful industry leaders are trying to help them succeed.

"I think that's really the dynamic that creates a new economy and, if you're not continually creating a new economy, then you're dying," said Bob Lokken, an experienced entrepreneur.

The information is also being made available to everyone in the community, because now days on-line networking is so important attendees gave realtime updates live on Twitter.  People like Gilton believe the event is a priceless resource.

"If we didn't have that opportunity we could just tread water for an awful long time and never really get anywhere," he said.

Idavation 2009 was organized by Kickstand, an group dedicated to helping Idaho's entrepreneurs and innovators network. Anyone who missed the conference but needs business guidance, can attend Kickstand's monthly meetings in Boise.

They're always the second Thursday of the month at 5:30 p.m. at the Water cooler Idea Studio at 14th and Idaho.