COEUR d’ALENE — A powerhouse trio of regional leaders has announced the launch of a new investment group focused on identifying, mentoring, and backing high-growth startups that want to scale in North Idaho.
The group is led by Nick Smoot, a longtime tech founder and investor; Clint Schroeder, an executive that oversees the Hagadone Corporation’s media properties across the Northwest and Hawaii; and Helo Hancock, representing the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, which has a long-standing track record of investment across sectors such as hospitality, healthcare and infrastructure.
Together, they bring a unique combination of operational experience, capital access and strategic reach — and they intend to grow it. This new partnership aims to activate more mentors, mobilize more investors, and accelerate the launch of scalable companies that can shape the future of industries like hospitality, gaming, resorts, journalism and media. The opportunity is especially powerful in a time of rapid AI transformation.
“We’re not just cheering from the sidelines. We’ve built, we’ve invested, and now we’re looking for founders ready to scale right here,” said Smoot, who previously led a local investment group that funded nine startups in the region. “Idaho captured just 0.085% of national venture capital in 2023. That’s a sliver of the pie. We believe there’s enough untapped talent here to multiply that. With this alliance and a growing network of investors, I believe we can see 50 or more new startups launching each year in North Idaho.”
The group’s focus goes beyond capital. They are building a pipeline of support that includes mentorship, storytelling, advisory, talent development and access to markets. Their goal is to help local ideas grow into global ventures without having to leave the region.
“This is about homegrown innovation and creating local pathways to winning,” said Hancock. “We want to back founders who are ready to grow and keep their roots here. The Tribe has always invested in long-term prosperity, and this partnership reflects that vision for both our members and the regional community.”
The public launch will take place at a Pitch Day on May 1 during the Build Summit at the Innovation Den in downtown Coeur d’Alene. Local founders will pitch directly to Smoot, Schroeder, Hancock and the founding CEO of Beats by Dre, who helped scale the audio brand into a $3 billion global company that was eventually acquired by Apple.
“We’re building a platform for big ideas and strategic capital to come together to help this region win,” added Schroeder. “We want to see startups that can lead in storytelling, technology, hospitality and beyond. This is just the beginning.”
Entrepreneurs, investors, and community leaders are invited to get involved by scanning the QR code and filling out a short onboarding form. Those who do will receive invitations to a private reception April 30, the Pitch Day on May 1, and access to a private software platform used to list and track local investment opportunities.