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Launch Minnesota Newsletter: June 2023 Edition

Mayo Clinic Seeks Health Solutions

Launch MN is excited to partner with Mayo Clinic to help seek solutions to improve health, enhance health care delivery and promote greater health equity through a social innovation grant opportunity.

Successful grant proposals will impact mental health, substance use and access to care – the three most critical needs identified in the area’s 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment. Launch Minnesota will help connect innovators, nonprofits and small businesses to this new opportunity and help Mayo Clinic address these important issues.

Learn more

Friday Forum: Entrepreneurship Discussion with Mayo Clinic

Launch Minnesota’s Friday Forums are an opportunity to discuss topics in Minnesota’s startup community. This month we’ll be spotlighting entrepreneurship at Mayo Clinic. Join us on June 23 at 9:00 a.m. to hear from these leaders:

Rena Hale, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Scholar
Stefan Madansingh, Department of Business Development at Mayo Clinic Ventures
Maggie McIntee, Director of Clinical Innovation at Mayo Clinic’s Department of Medicine
Anne Schletty, Principal Business Analyst

Join with this link. Passcode: 2022

Regional Startup Competitions Create Pathways to MN Cup

Launch MN worked with regional partners across the state this spring to ensure every region had a pitch competition connected to MN Cup, the state’s largest startup competition. Startup founders in each region applied to participate in their local competition and, if selected, received the opportunity to give a live pitch to judges and community members. Regional winners received cash prizes and automatic entry to the MN Cup semi-final round.

The following startups won their regional competitions and will advance to the semifinalist round of MN Cup:

QoL Devices (Southeast MN): QoL Devices Inc. is the creator of The Alvio® Respiratory Training System, an all-in-one respiratory muscle trainer, Bluetooth game controller, and symptom tracker that lets you Play Your Way to Better Breathing!™.
Fin's Finest Labs (Southwest MN): Creating technology to diagnose illness in animals.
Francisco Hockey (Northeast MN): Offering contact and concussion prevention camps for hockey players of all ages.
HEMO Research (Northwest MN): An original equipment manufacturer providing electronics modules and development tools that accelerate the design and development of product to allow for faster entry to market.
Talknician (West Central MN: Creating pathways for more efficient knowledge transfer within the industrial workforce via augmented reality.

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Welcoming Wednesday - July 12

Launch Minnesota is partnering with coworking spaces and economic development agencies across the state to assist startups and small businesses during Welcoming Wednesdays.

On the second Wednesday of each month, spaces across the state spotlight a range of available business resources in their communities. There will be experts at each location, including business coaches, Launch Minnesota regional leaders and Small Business Development Center consultants.

Our July Welcoming Wednesday hosts will be announced shortly!

If you are interested in becoming a host, email launchminnesota@state.mn.us

Entrepreneurship for Good with Impact Hub

Impact Hub’s Entrepreneurship for Good program is designed for those who are starting or hoping to start a new mission-driven venture. Part graduate course and part online accelerator, Entrepreneurship for Good uses a cohort learning model convening 10-20 people over 8-10 weekly sessions. Participants will leave the course with an understanding of how to launch or expand their specific ventures.

Applications are due June 30.

Learn more