In the News
 Outside of Chicago, the Twin Cities is often ranked as the best entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Midwest. And the region is just getting started, as evidenced by the 40 percent increase in startup investments between 2016 and 2017.
Brett Brohl, managing director of the Techstars Farm to Fork accelerator in Minneapolis, writes about what makes the local scene special and why entrepreneurs are succeeding here.
|
 Helping entrepreneurs achieve their dreams is what makes the Small Business Administration (SBA) loans program special. But the name can be deceiving, because technically there is no such thing as an SBA loan.
John Thwing, a senior SBA business lending officer in the Twin Cities, examines this and other common myths about the agency.
|
Meda, the growing counselor and lender to small minority-owned businesses, is launching a $1 million Shark Tank-style competition. Meda (Metropolitan Economic Development Association) will host a national business-plan competition modeled on the popular business TV show.
The event will occur during Twin Cities Startup Week, Oct. 8-14, an entrepreneur-laden week that includes the finals of the Minnesota Cup sweepstakes.
Recent Press Releases
DEED is accepting loan applications through a new program designed to help early-stage businesses that are developing high-tech products or services in Minnesota. Minnesota Innovation Loans for Entrepreneurs (MILE) is a pilot program that will provide interest-free loans ranging from $20,000 to $50,000. Businesses approved for loans under the program must have a 1-to-1 match from another funder and repay the loan within four years, with no payments required in the first year.
The Minnesota Trade Office is opening of seven international representative locations that will provide export promotion and assistance to Minnesota companies selling goods and services globally and work to attract foreign investment from companies looking to do business in Minnesota. The seven offices are located in Canada, Mexico, Japan, European Union, United Kingdom, Australia and Southeast Asia.
Meet the MN Cup Finalists
 MN Cup recently named the top 90 teams of Minnesota-based entrepreneurs, inventors and innovators that are advancing to the semifinal round of the 2018 competition.
In total, 1,661 teams entered this year’s MN Cup – a record number and 22 percent increase over last year. The diversity of this year’s participants also broke records, with 45 percent of teams including women, 27 percent including people of color and 8 percent including military veterans.
See the complete list of finalists here. They will be competing for $500,000 in prize money.
|
|
