2026 MN Cup Semifinalists

Monday, May 18, 2026

May 18, 2026 — MN Cup is proud to announce the 92 companies moving forward to our Semifinal Round, the top finishers from each of our nine divisions. We had an incredible number of applications and participants in the first round of our process, with 1,262 applications from across the state. We are excited to see continued growth in engagement and entrepreneurial spirit in Minnesota. 

MN Cup continues to make targeted efforts and progress in reaching underrepresented groups.

  • 45% identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color
  • 44% of our participants identify as Women
  • 26% of applicants are from Greater Minnesota

Read more about MN Cup 2026 participants.

The following companies will move forward to create a pitch deck, a summary business plan, and a one-minute video while accessing free mentorship, education, and publicity through July. Ultimately, they’ll compete for a share of more than $400,000 in cash prizes and gain the opportunity to accelerate their businesses with no equity taken in exchange. 

During this exciting 22nd season of MN Cup, we’re also proud of the impact of the competition on the high-growth startups and innovation of our state. Capital raised by MN Cup alumni exceeds $1.1 Billion. To stay up to date on the progress of our companies, follow @MinnesotaCup on Instagram and LinkedIn, and sign up for our newsletter here.

 

The 2026 MN Cup Semifinalists are: 

 

Education & Training

Energy/Cleantech/Water

Food/Ag/Beverage

General

High Tech

Impact Ventures

LifeScience/Health IT

Student

Youth

MN Cup is a community-led, public-private partnership that brings together corporations, investors, foundations, government, and skilled volunteers to support Minnesota’s entrepreneurs. The core of our programming is an annual competition that reaches emerging entrepreneurs from across the state and connects them with education, mentorship, and resources to launch and accelerate the development of their new ventures. The competition inspires entrepreneurs to begin their startup journey, supports them as they develop a solid business plan, provides exposure for their ideas, and offers numerous opportunities to expand their networks. Since 2005, MN Cup has given away $6.2 Million in seed capital, taking no equity in exchange. Our alumni companies have gone on to raise over $1.1 Billion. MN Cup is a program of the Holmes Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management. To learn more about our process and register for an info session or office hours, visit MN Cup.