UMN Supporting State Effort to Bolster Startups, Innovation
Thursday, March 11, 2021
In 2019, The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced the Launch Minnesota initiative to accelerate the growth of the startup ecosystem across Minnesota. Launch Minnesota aims to provide innovators with the resources and education to bring their products to market, as well as help them find funding and professional connections. The Holmes Center was selected as the initial statewide educational partner for 2020, and recently extended for 2021.
Through the MN Venture Builders platform, the Holmes Center and TechComm make available University of Minnesota courses, seminars, and other resources to entrepreneurs across the entire state. This online educational platform launched in April of 2020 to educate hundreds of entrepreneurs in the lean startup process, while inviting them to participate in programs like MN Cup and attend seminars organized by the University.
To date, Launch Minnesota has awarded 118 grants totaling over $2.8 million, supporting countless startups and new technologies. In January, Launch Minnesota was nationally recognized in the Lab-to-Market Competition for its “current efforts to successfully attract and/or support networks of underrepresented communities in the R&D innovation ecosystem."