Jill TopSky is passionate about bridging the financial gap that women and BIPOC entrepreneurs face; and providing indigenous representation within the business world.
Accelerate Montana’s Rural Innovation Initiative is always on the lookout to build connections with community minded people who are passionate about business; especially small business in Montana.
In 2020, AMRII launched the Rural and Indigenous Project Support Program alongside our partners at Accelerate MT. This unique program connects UM students with entrepreneurs across the state of Montana through an internship. Students gain real world experience and college credit working with a local business owner, and entrepreneurs receive free and specialized support they need to run their business.
In Spring 2021, we had the pleasure to work with some amazing, insightful UM students through the program. Recently, we caught up with one of our past interns, Jillian Top Sky, to see what she was up to now.
Jillian is a senior at UM majoring in Native American Studies and Sociology. She is passionate about using her experiences to help not only guide others to turn their dreams into tangible business opportunities, but to also provide representation within the indigenous community. She especially focuses on her home community on the Rocky Boy Reservation, the seat of the Chippewa Cree tribe.
As an Accelerate Montana Project Support Intern, Jill gained valuable experience and insight on small business in Montana. She is passionate about business, finance, and how she can utilize her experience to help people not only within her community, but also within Montana as a whole. Small business, as Jillian says, “drives the economy and economic growth”. Supporting our small businesses owners, particularly in rural and indigenous communities helps to not only create economic opportunities in these often times underserved communities, but also helps create representation for the community members in these areas.
Jill discusses her experience as a Project Support Intern working with Thyme Management.
Jillian currently works as a Venture Fellow for Spring Hill Ventures, a venture capital business located out of Austin, Texas. The company works to bridge the financial gaps that women and BIPOC business owners often face, as a result of the lack of venture capital that is accessible to these minority groups. Jill’s work is rooted in helping to close these gaps and increase gender and racial diversity within the realm of the business, and venture capitalism.
Jill discusses the mission behind Spring Hill Ventures, where she currently serves as a Venture Fellow.
AMRII strives to elevate creators, innovators, and small business owners in rural and indigenous Montana by providing them with the support, training, and resources to expand their networks. We believe that many of the issues facing Montanans can be solved by rural and indigenous problem-solvers whose ideas re-imagine the future of their communities. Learn more about us on our website.
