June 2017

Entrepreneur Uses Boxing and Fitness to Support Community

Minnesota Business
May 25, 2017

Dalton Outlaw came to entrepreneurship just after the 2008 economic recession, when the boxing gyms he had grown up with closed because of poor management or lack of resources. He opened Element Gym in St. Paul's Midway neighborhood with a goal of using boxing and fitness to support his community. Outlaw also rents space to entrepreneurs who need support to get their businesses off the ground. 
 

DID YOU KNOW?

The Twin Cities ranks ninth among major North American cities for corporate innovation and R&D activity, according to Innovation Leader. The magazine cited 3M, General Mills, the metro's strong retail and health care sectors, and the Minnesota Cup startup competition. San Francisco was rated No. 1 for innovation.

PRESS RELEASES

Small Businesses Honored for International Trade Activities

The Minnesota Trade Office last month awarded the 2016 Governor’s International Trade Award to six Minnesota businesses that have been successful exporters. In addition, the Trade Office named five other businesses winners of the Governor’s Foreign Direct Investment Award, which recognizes significant investment in Minnesota by foreign-based companies.

THE INNOVATION ECONOMY

The Twin Cities startup ecosystem is growing, thanks to increasing funding and support from groups like Minnestar, Minnesota Cup and Beta.MN, according to the MinneInno website.

Nels Pederson, co-founder and director of Twin Cities Startup Week, says these groups want to make startups a "normal" part of the business community. Startup support groups are rarely, if ever, in competition with each other, and they frequently collaborate on events like Startup Week, he says.

The DEED website has an extensive list of resources for innovators and entrepreneurs. And if you like reading about successful Minnesota startups, check out #InnovateMN.

SMALL BUSINESS PROFILE

Did you know small businesses employ 1.23 million people in Minnesota, accounting for nearly half of the jobs in the state? You can find that and other details in the Small Business Administration's 2017 Small Business Profile of Minnesota.