Gary S. Holmes Center for Entrepreneurship
The Holmes Center is the hub of entrepreneurship and innovation at the University of Minnesota that inspires, educates and connects the next generation of Minnesota's entrepreneurs. We mobilize the community and provide support for emerging entrepreneurs, both within and outside the University, through experiential courses and engaging outreach programs.
Congratulations to the 2026 MN Cup semifinalists pushing innovation forward across Minnesota! After receiving 1,262 applications from entrepreneurs across the state, we’re excited to celebrate the ventures advancing to the next round. Explore this year’s semifinalists and help us recognize Minnesota’s next generation of founders. Want to hear who the winners are? Join us for the MN Cup Grand Finale on September 14th!
Regardless of your entrepreneurial stage, Minnesota offers abundant resources. Whether you're starting
with an idea or have an established business:
Explore Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Seeking to connect and collaborate with fellow entrepreneurial spirits? Join us at the Toaster Innovation Hub to ignite innovation, spark creativity, and launch your ideas to the next level. The Holmes Center has partnered with the Libraries to crank up the volume in Walter Library by inviting students to make some noise and collaborate in the Toaster.
MN Cup
MN Cup is the largest statewide startup competition in the country, supporting emerging entrepreneurs through events, education, mentoring and an annual competition.
MN Cup 2026 Grand Finale on September 14th
MIN-Corps
MIN-Corps develops talent and catalyzes technology commercialization across the University of Minnesota through a series of courses, workshops and bootcamps.
MIN-Corps is a partnership of the Holmes Center, College of Science & Engineering and TechComm.
Naturally Minnesota
Naturally Minnesota, formerly known as Grow North is a resource and connection hub serving Minnesota's food and agriculture entrepreneur ecosystem.
WE
WE* is focused on supporting scalable, women-led startups in Minnesota through a series of conferences and events.
MN Cup Turns 20: An Oral History
The story of how an idea in the middle of the night became the largest statewide entrepreneurship competition in the nation and a rite of passage for Minnesota’s entrepreneurial community.
Every year, more than a thousand entrepreneurs compete in MN Cup — the largest statewide startup contest in the country. Organized by the Holmes Center, the competition fuels job creation by connecting entrepreneurs with the resources to move their ideas forward. In 2024, the MN Cup program celebrated its 20th season. This story highlights how the program came to be and the impact it has had on Minnesota's startups since 2005.
