ABOUT MICHAEL
I didn’t build True Penny because I wanted to work in finance.
I didn’t build True Penny because I wanted to work in finance.
I built it because I watched too many good Montana businesses struggle to find the capital they needed to grow, while ordinary Montanans had almost no opportunity to invest in the places they know, use, and care about. That didn’t make sense to me.
I built it because I watched too many good Montana businesses struggle to find the capital they needed to grow, while ordinary Montanans had almost no opportunity to invest in the places they know, use, and care about. That didn’t make sense to me.
01 / MONTANA ROOTS
I come from a Montana family.
I come from a Montana family.
My grandpa owned a plumbing and electrical shop on Main St in Scobey for almost 50 years. I learned how to swim and ride a bike in Sidney. My mom graduated from nursing school in Miles City. I spent years living and working across the state, including running a small goat farm in Arlee while also serving as Chief Operating Officer of the Montana Food Bank Network. During six years at the Food Bank I helped grow annual food distribution from roughly one million pounds to more than eight million pounds. I traveled to communities across Montana helping establish mobile food pantries and working alongside local organizations that know their neighbors better than anyone else. Those years taught me something important: Montana works differently. Relationships matter. Reputation matters. Communities solve problems together.
My grandpa owned a plumbing and electrical shop on Main St in Scobey for almost 50 years. I learned how to swim and ride a bike in Sidney. My mom graduated from nursing school in Miles City. I spent years living and working across the state, including running a small goat farm in Arlee while also serving as Chief Operating Officer of the Montana Food Bank Network. During six years at the Food Bank I helped grow annual food distribution from roughly one million pounds to more than eight million pounds. I traveled to communities across Montana helping establish mobile food pantries and working alongside local organizations that know their neighbors better than anyone else. Those years taught me something important: Montana works differently. Relationships matter. Reputation matters. Communities solve problems together.
02 / BUILDING BUSINESSES
After leaving the nonprofit world, I spent more than fifteen years helping entrepreneurs build businesses.
After leaving the nonprofit world, I spent more than fifteen years helping entrepreneurs build businesses.
I helped grow digital media companies alongside Hank Green, worked with some of the largest creator businesses in the world, built operations, negotiated partnerships, launched new ventures, and helped scale companies that were eventually acquired. No matter the industry, I kept seeing the same pattern. Good businesses don’t usually fail because they run out of ideas. They fail because finding capital is complicated, expensive, and often depends more on who you know than what you’ve built.
I helped grow digital media companies alongside Hank Green, worked with some of the largest creator businesses in the world, built operations, negotiated partnerships, launched new ventures, and helped scale companies that were eventually acquired. No matter the industry, I kept seeing the same pattern. Good businesses don’t usually fail because they run out of ideas. They fail because finding capital is complicated, expensive, and often depends more on who you know than what you’ve built.
03 / THE TURNING POINT
That became personal when I tried to buy Holland Lake Lodge.
That became personal when I tried to buy Holland Lake Lodge.
I assumed there would be a straightforward way for Montanans who believed in the project to invest alongside me. There wasn’t. Instead, I found a maze of legal complexity, expensive professionals, and endless conversations with wealthy investors. The process consumed time and money before a single dollar could be invested. Afterward, other business owners began asking me the same question: “How do I raise money?” I realized they were running into the exact same wall.
I assumed there would be a straightforward way for Montanans who believed in the project to invest alongside me. There wasn’t. Instead, I found a maze of legal complexity, expensive professionals, and endless conversations with wealthy investors. The process consumed time and money before a single dollar could be invested. Afterward, other business owners began asking me the same question: “How do I raise money?” I realized they were running into the exact same wall.
04 / WHY TRUE PENNY
That’s why I created True Penny.
That’s why I created True Penny.
Not to pick winners. Not to manage people’s money. To build the infrastructure that should have existed all along. A place where Montana businesses can raise capital from Montana residents, and where ordinary Montanans can become owners in the future they’re already helping create. Because I believe Montana should own more of Montana. That’s what True Penny is here to do.
Not to pick winners. Not to manage people’s money. To build the infrastructure that should have existed all along. A place where Montana businesses can raise capital from Montana residents, and where ordinary Montanans can become owners in the future they’re already helping create. Because I believe Montana should own more of Montana. That’s what True Penny is here to do.
Be there when the doors open.
Be there when the doors open.
The first milestone isn't dollars.
It's 500 Montanans owning part of a homegrown business.
Be one of them with us.
Enter your email below to join the interest list.
The first milestone isn’t dollars.
It’s 500 Montanans owning part of a homegrown business.
Be one of them with us.
Enter your email below to join the interest list.