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Launch Minnesota Newsletter: February 2023 Edition

Launch MN Partners With MN Cup

Feeder Competitions

We collaborated with partners across the state to help create regional pitch competitions connected to MN Cup, the state’s largest startup competition. Winners of the regional events will receive automatic entry into MN Cup’s semi-finalist round.

Follow the links for information about the hosts in each region:

Northwest
- Host: NoW Innovators
- Competition: NORTH STARtup
- Date: April 22. Applications open March 1.
Southeast
- Host: E1 Collaborative
- Competition: E1 Ignite Cup
- Date: March 30
Southwest
- Host: Launch Minnesota Southwest
- Competition: Big Ideas Challenge
- Date: April 12
West Central
- Host: Fastlane 94
- Date: April 20. Applications open March 1.

(Northeast – already completed )

Applications for MN Cup 2023 open March 13. Visit this page to learn more.

Friday Forum: MN Cup - Feb. 24

Launch Minnesota’s Friday Forums are an opportunity to discuss topics affecting Minnesota’s startup community. This month’s topic is MN Cup. Join us to learn how your startup could benefit from entering the state’s largest startup competition.

Here are our featured speakers:

Kailin Oliver, Associate Director, MN Cup
John Stavig, Managing Director, Holmes Center for Entrepreneurship
Ian Butcher, Chairman, BKB Floral Foam
Morgan Kerfeld, Founder and Head of Strategies and Operations, Telo Design
Chris Lukenbill, Co-Founder and CEO, Shrpa

Learn more

Welcoming Wednesdays - March 8

Launch Minnesota is partnering with coworking spaces and economic development agencies across the state to welcome startups and small businesses to make connections and get answers through a new initiative called Welcoming Wednesdays.

On the second Wednesday of each month, spaces across the state will spotlight the range of business resources available in their communities. There will be experts at each location, including business coaches, Launch Minnesota regional leaders, support organizations, and consultants from Small Business Development Centers. All sessions are free with no registration required.

Here are some of the spaces and organizations participating in our next Welcoming Wednesday on March 8:

Be sure to check Launch MN's calendar for details and additional locations!

MN Ventures Pitch Event - Feb. 24

Launch Minnesota is partnering with the University of Minnesota, the Medical Alley Association and MNSBIR Inc. to host another MN Ventures event. These events attract investors from across the country to hear pitches from Minnesota-based startups. In 2022, 32 pitches were delivered to 275 registered investors at three events.

If you are an investor and would like to attend this invite-only event, email launchminnesota@state.mn.us

Here are the startups that will be featured this month:

Learn more about MN Ventures

MN Entrepreneur Kickoff

Organizers of the Minnesota Entrepreneur Kickoff have released details about this year's conference. It’s scheduled for March 12 at the Schulze Hall on St. Thomas’ campus and will feature leaders from around the ecosystem. Topics include marketing, sales, research, growth and tech disruptions around cybersecurity, robotics, artificial intelligence and more.

Launch Minnesota newsletter subscribers can receive a discount on their tickets to the 12^th annual Entrepreneur Kickoff with the code COHOST.

Learn more

Hy-Vee OpportUNITY Summit

Launch Minnesota was proud to participate at the Hy-Vee OpportUNITY Summit at U.S. Bank on February 9. This event was focused on advancing local minority- and women-owned companies through networking, an expo and a pitch competition.

Congratulations to the four winners! (*denotes Launch MN innovation grant awardees)

Grand Prize: Momease Solutions *
Food Division Winner: All Clean Food*
Tech Division Winner: TurnSignl*
Fashion and Wellness Winner: Dress Up to Calm Down

SciTech Interns Available for Startups

Funding for wage matches is available to small companies that hire STEM college interns through the SciTech Internship Program. SciTech doubles as a free resource for both employers and students. Minnesota small businesses (250 employees or fewer worldwide) get help finding talent and funding internships with a wage reimbursement covering up to $2,500 per intern. In turn, college students pursuing a STEM degree can use SciTech to find paid internships and gain valuable hands-on industry experience.

Learn more