Technology
Monday, September 7, 2020
TCSW Virtual Career Fair
Homi will be pre-loaded with jobs and mobile career videos from employees explaining why they work at their awesome company. We’ll kick it off the Virtual Career Fair with a one hour workshop on how to use the platform as a candidate and as an employer. During that time we’ll be emphasizing the importance of Diversity and Inclusion in the hiring process, explaining how to be inclusive in the hiring process. We’ll be partnering with professional diversity and economic development organizations to create a non binary talent pool. The platform will be available the entire duration of TCSW.
Tuesday, September 8, 2020
Keeping Sales Connected, Motivated and Closing in Interesting Times
Culture is the key to building and maintaining a winning sales team whose passion is unfazed by today’s uncertainty times. Hear from a panel of diverse sales leaders on how they are using collaboration, training and development programs, advancement opportunities and more to inspire their sales teams in 2020. You’ll receive proven advice and unconventional tips that companies of any size can use.
Minnestar Presents: Lightning Talks
Since the beginning, Minnebar (the nation's largest and longest running tech unconference) has included a rapid-fire Lightning Talks session where local technologists can take the mic for just a few minutes to hype their projects or share quick stories. This year, it will be an online event as part of Twin Cities Startup Week!
Hosted by Brandon Johnson and Daniel Feldman, we'll feature 8-12 short, spontaneous, unscripted presentations. Previous topics have included zany Twitter bots, a machine learning model that makes your voice sound like a celebrity's, and vegan cooking. If you're interested in doing a lightning talk, please email Daniel Feldman at [email protected]
How as a Founder to get your first customers
Join us as we walk through a start to finish revenue model on how Founders can find, land, and expand on their first customers.
Generating Sales Via Your Website: A Beautiful Website Is Not Enough
Is your website increasing your close rate or is it just a fancy brochure?
A website is arguably your most important sales and marketing asset. It works around the clock—nights, weekends, and holidays. But many websites don't pull their weight in the sales process. From lead generation to conversion, learn how your website can be your most powerful sales enablement tool. When built with revenue-generation as the primary goal, you won’t need to hire a huge sales team right away—you can let your website do the heavy lifting. Join 25-year industry veteran, Kitty Hart, for fresh takes on how to build a powerful, sales-focused website that drives growth for your business.
Following this session join the speaker(s) in the Community Lounge for a 15 minute Q&A.
12 Crucial Do's and Don'ts for B2B Influencer Marketing
Influencer marketing can be a powerful and cost-effective strategy for startups to get the word out. However, it's often misunderstood. And done wrong, it can produce disappointing results or even damage the brand. This session will explain six ways to succeed with influencer marketing, as well as six pitfalls to avoid.
Breaking Through in 2020: Using Growth for a Brand Boost
A fundraising round is a pivotal news moment for most startups, and making the most of one requires a thoughtful, strategic communications process that helps boost your profile on a more public stage. This year, the communications pros from Hotwire Global Communications are back with a cohort of founders, investors and media to discuss how to make the most of a new funding round – how fundraising has changed in 2020, getting investor attention amidst economic uncertainty, a pandemic and social unrest, and how to make sure your company’s narrative authentically ties into these broad societal issues.
Following this session join the speaker(s) in the Community Lounge for a 15 minute Q&A.
Harness the Power of AI: Improving Business Outcomes
Artificial intelligence has become a buzz term shrouded in mystery and mystique behind what it's actually being used for. From how it can be helpful to where it can not only improve business outcomes but work alongside job functions and departments. We're taking a peek behind the curtain on where AI is already being implemented and how it can create value within your business.
Social Enterprise Showcase: Panel + Marketplace
Are you trying to grow a social enterprise, or thinking about launching a new venture? Hear from leaders in the Twin Cities ecosystem of mission-driven businesses, discussing strategies for success. Also, meet social entrepreneurs and shop with purpose at the virtual Social Enterprise Showcase marketplace, featuring dozens of local vendors and changemakers.
Intro to Growth Hacking: The Idea Pipeline & ICE metrics
You are an entrepreneur, CEO, CTO, solo dev, maker, shaker, or doer. You have 1,000 things you should be doing this very moment, but what is the right thing to focus on? That is the fundamental question behind growth hacking. Growth hacking is all about prioritizing your activities, measuring results, and taking effective action, which is much easier said than done.
In this fast-paced participatory session, we will cover two critical tools to increase the growth of your business, the Idea Pipeline and ICE metrics. Originally developed by Sean Elis to bring explosive growth to Dropbox, LogMeIn, and many others, the Idea Pipeline and ICE metrics are simple but powerful tools to get your business focused and growing fast. Our speaker Brian Krohn, has implemented these methods for startups, corporations, non-profits, as well as his own businesses and personal projects.
Supercharge Your Growth with a Scalable All-On-One Sales & Marketing System
You’re ready to grow. What’s holding you back? With the right data, tech, and processes delivered by an all-on-one sales & marketing system, you can supercharge your growth. Make the right investment the first time and rest assured that you won’t have to scrap and rebuild your systems as you reach maturity.
In this session, Denamico will show you how you can build a website, marketing, sales, and customer service system that scales alongside your business.
You Will Probably Survive This
Join us for a humor-filled chat about hopes, dreams and sunk costs in an age of crushing dystopia — and learn how our VR dev shop shifted focus to stay focused. After we've bashed on 2020 for a bit, we'll wax poetic on the wonderful future that awaits — and share a few strategies for getting there.
The Art of Tech: Unlocking Creative Possibilities
We’re often lumped into two categories: creative or technical. But we’re here to prove that wrong. With the combination of art and tech, new categories are possible! From making high-quality media accessible to all to helping creatives focus on the essential parts of their roles, we’ll use real examples of how creativity + tech play together at soona. We’ll walk through what’s possible with the combination of these two arts and give you tips on how to incorporate them into your work.
Following this session join the speaker(s) in the Community Lounge for a 15 minute Q&A.
Grow Better: Aligning Data, Tech, and Processes to Drive Digital Transformation
As a business leader, your job is to make tough decisions quickly and accurately. How can you make better, faster, more informed decisions to stay ahead of the competition? By aligning real-time data, scalable technology, and efficient processes.
In this session, we'll discuss the importance of investing in better technology, faster digital alignment, and more informed processes so that you can stay one step ahead of your competitors.
Thursday, September 10, 2020
Experience Money Differently.
"Experience Money Differently." will be a founder presentation followed by a panel event featuring four diverse individuals from our company. This event will focus on storytelling and sharing experiences around money. Money is generally seen as taboo — we don’t talk about it at all, and are never taught about money management in school. This leaves us feeling like other people don’t go through the same things we do when it comes to money, when in reality we as a community share a lot of similarities when it comes to our experiences with money. We’ll talk about these experiences, as well as ways we can all go about practicing getting rich. Changing our financial situations comes form relating to one another and practicing for the real world, not just “learning” financial literacy.
I failed... what now?
Join us to have an engaging, fun and frank conversation that pushes beyond the platitudes and cliched catchphrases and dares to take a look at the honest role that failure plays in our personal and professional growth and development.
The tech.mn Live Podcast Booth
Join us in the tech.mn Live Podcast Booth channel to see some of Minnesota's best podcasters interviewing each other. Moderator, Alex Skjong, will be matching up show hosts to talk all things Minnesota, podcasting, business, and more.
5 Things About 5 Things That Every Startup Should Know
Join us for a fast-paced overview of the necessary legal steps startups should take in order to be successful. Panelists from Fredrikson & Byron will cover the basics, providing attendees with answers to key questions they face when running a startup and answer questions like:
• Does entity choice matter, and why?
• When raising money, what do you need to do to ensure you comply with securities laws??
• What kinds of rights should I give investors?
• How do I decide who will be an employee and who will be a contractor?
• Why do I need to get IP assignments, and when?
Following this session join the speaker(s) in the Community Lounge for a 15 minute Q&A.
Why Every Startup Needs To Think Like A Lobbyist - Even Yours
From startups to Fortune 500 companies -- every business needs to build a leadership team that is public policy literate for both compliance and delivering on their growth strategy. Join Shawntera M. Hardy, Cofounder + Chief Strategy Officer at Civic Eagle, in a discussion about the core principles to building a public policy engagement strategy that empowers businesses to track, analyze and influence the policies that matter most to their bottom line. No matter if it’s people, profit and/or planet.
No-Code Rodeo presented by Graveti and Cloudburst, SBC
The rise of no-code tools like Airtable, Zapier, Webflow, Bubble, Glide and Adalo has made it easier than ever to launch your startup and start generating revenue. This session will feature an overview of the no-code landscape and a behind the scenes look at apps built by presenters Alex Rodriguez (Electrician Path) and Zack Steven (George Floyd Mural Map app). There will also be time for Q&A.
Brought to you by Graveti, a community focused on building businesses, creating wealth and developing the Tech ecosystem for people of color in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul Area, and Cloudburst, SBC a Minneapolis based Startup Studio.
MN-DEED Supports Startups: Funding, Programs, and Resources
John Shoffner
State of Minnesota DEED, Regional Business Development Manager & Foreign-Trade Zone DirectorCharles Schaffer
Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development, Small Business Assistance Office, DirectorMN-DEED Supports Startups: Funding, Programs, and Resources
Following this session join the speaker(s) in the Community Lounge for a 15 minute Q&A.
Scaling Your MVP: What should your tech look like?
So you have a solid MVP. Your customers are thrilled, and you're ready to move to the next level. Now what? While everyone talks about the importance of an MVP, there's not a lot of talk about preparing for the next step. Does your product need a redesign to support more users? What might VCs be looking for beyond your MVP? This talk will help you identify potential bottlenecks from a technical standpoint in preparing to scale your MVP.
Fundraising best practices
Please register in advance for this meeting: Register here
Join us to hear fundraising best practices for early stage startups from an experienced VC sharing some tips and tricks. How to prepare and run your fundraising process? What's the best way to approach investors? How do you secure investment from out-of-town investors? Bring your questions!
The Real Pitch MN
Real companies. Real investors. Real feedback. Minnesota founders will pitch their startups for experienced investors, including Brett Brohl and Mary Grove, from Bread and Butter Ventures. The investors will give feedback and provide insight into what investors are thinking when listening to a pitch.
Join the speaker(s) in the Community Lounge at 4:30 for a 30 minute Q&A.
Creating Small Teams that Kick A$$ and Take Names
Tired of working at a big company? Looking to create your own startup? Managing smaller teams, budgets and timelines are much different than when you had levels of management or a large company behind you. You will need to take a completely different approach when creating your own team.
- Seal Team 6 vs the Fab 5
- Right people, Right role
- Who’s in charge?
- Who is your cheerleader?
- We don’t need a stinking Project Manager (Yes you do)
- Communication is even more important for a smaller team
- You will need a better firing policy than hiring policy
Fundraising During COVID-19
An inside scoop from VCs on what's changed, and how to stand out
Following this session join the speaker(s) in the Community Lounge for a 30 minute Q&A.
Unleashing The Power of YOUR Idea
The ILT Academy delivers extensive educational experiences to cultivate problem solvers, innovators, and entrepreneurs. We empower problem solvers and innovators to rethink and redesign problems, solutions, customers, and context. We equip entrepreneurs with the skills needed to commercialize ideas, develop successful ventures, and create high-growth businesses.
Uplifting Founders: Delegate to Elevate
Learn how career, top-level executive assistants integrate into their principal's lives to free up their time and increase their productivity.
Happy Half Hour
Mix up your favorite cocktail and join the speakers of The Real Pitch MN and Fundraising During COVID-19 for Q&A!
gBETA St. Thomas Virtual Pitch Night
Join us as we take our Pitch Night virtual! The Summer gBETA St. Thomas companies will each present a five-minute pitch followed by Q&A. Come prepared to learn all about these companies' innovative ideas and enter to win a variety of prizes!
Founders Live Minneapolis
Founders Live is an unforgettable happy hour competition where up to five companies pitch their business, but YOU decide who wins.
Five handpicked companies take the hot seat, with only 99 seconds to pitch their company and describe their value proposition in front of an eager audience. After the pitches and audience Q&A, the crowd votes on a winner who will not only receive an award but recognition from the crowd and the opportunity to talk more about their product or service. It's like Shark Tank, but you decide who wins it all!
What's in it for you? Bring your friends, co-workers, grab some food and drinks, get to know your local entrepreneurs, and vote for who you think will be the next big thing in Minneapolis!
What's in it for the companies? We at the Founders Live Minneapolis team are excited to announce ALL presenting companies who are chosen to give their 99-second pitch at a Founders Live event receive $5,000 credit towards their web hosting on Amazon. "Amazon Web Services provides startups with low cost, easy to use infrastructure needed to scale and grow any size business. AWS Activate is a program designed to provide startups with resources they need to get started on AWS." The winner gets an extra $5,000 credits, bringing their total to $10,000!
Pitch Applicants: We are currently accepting innovative pitch applications!
This is an opportunity for your startup to gain more recognition in the Minneapolis startup community. Tell us your story--who you are and what you do. We'll send you more details and you may become one of the finalists who pitch.
Saturday, September 12, 2020
Code Switch
Have you ever had an idea to strengthen your community? Do you have a desire to use your skills or knowledge to solve critical social problems? Code Switch is for you. We are looking for techies AND non-techies — from developers to entrepreneurs, artists, educators, business professionals, concerned citizens, everyday people and more! We believe everyone has a role to play in improving our communities, and Code Switch provides that opportunity. Join us and leverage your knowledge and skills to reduce the gaps that exist in Minnesota.
Code Switch is in its fifth year as a civic hackathon where community members connect to co-create solutions that disrupt inequity. This year, our virtual hackathon will kick off on September 12, the National Day of Civic Hacking. Participants will then have one month to work on projects in teams before our final celebration and sharing of projects in late October.
Monday, September 14, 2020
REM5 Virtual Reality Laboratory VIP Event
Please join us for a social and informative event in a cutting edge virtual platform presented by REM5 Virtual Reality Laboratory. During this event, you will experience first hand how REM5 is leveraging WebXR to revolutionize how organizations can socialize and deliver content in the challenging environment of a pandemic.
The events will include social time, a short presentation by REM5 about how the pandemic is accelerating the adoption of immersive technology, and tours of two of REM5’s virtual spaces currently being deployed; the REM5 classroom for k-12 schools and a virtual exhibition space highlighting racial inequalities through images, video, and data visualization.
This session may be accessed from anywhere only requiring a computer and good internet connection. That said, there will be limited spots available on-site at REM5 to join the session from a VR headset for those that feel comfortable doing so. While it is our goal to make this as accessible as possible, users are required to have some basic comfort in navigating a new computer platform.
Tuesday, September 15, 2020
Equity, Distribution, and Access for All Learners in a COVID-19 Landscape
Understand the challenges facing local school districts and the various strategies that have been used to continue teaching and learning in these unprecedented times. Learn how a panel of district tech leaders have focused on equity and access and how technology needs fluctuate between remote to hybrid instruction. What are districts’ greatest priorities for the upcoming school year, and how can solution providers ease the burden to better ensure equity and access for all families? Listen to their shared advice for vendor partners and solution providers. Ask questions to better grasp the complexities in K12 during these COVID-19 times.
Following this session join the speaker(s) in the Community Lounge for a 15 minute Q&A.
VR and Immersive Technology in Education
Learn about how virtual reality and immersive technology is being used in education today and where the industry is headed in the future. REM5 is enabling thousands of local students to experience VR for the first time and the pandemic has been an opportunity to help educators explore new ways to accelerate their move the virtual learning.
Mentor Morning: Financing Scaling from Traction to IPO!
Minnesota Innovates welcomes the Founders of five companies as they share insights and their experiences funding the growth of nationally and internationally successful companies.
Developing Culturally Relevant Content to Improve Student Engagement
Success Stories: How Interest in Workforce Equity & Record Unemployment Can Narrow the Tech Skills Gap
As the economy works to recover from pandemic conditions and our country reckons with systemic inequality, addressing the tech skills gap especially among unemployed and underemployed Americans is more important than ever. Hear success stories from graduates of technical job training programs created to address these issues head on.
The Empathy Challenge: Practice Identifying your Blindspot
Your goal is to provide value for the people who use your product or service. But it can be hard to recognize our own biases about who users are and what they want — not to mention people indirectly affected by your business. Learn how empathy-driven research and design can help you see past biased thinking, understand diverse viewpoints, and create successful products with a positive impact.
Immigrating Founders - Fly-in VIP Meetup with Jess Girardi
How do you build a brand from the ground up after just moving to Minneapolis? I'll cover the vital connections I made and am still making to ensure my business has a strong support system despite being so new to the area.
Immersive Technology 101
Here at REM5, we are big believers in immersive technology as the next computing platform - like its predecessors PC and mobile - it will change the way we work, play, learn and socialize. And COVID-19 has only accelerated the need and adoption of immersive tech across industries. In this session, we will cover the basic technologies including virtual reality, augmented reality and WebXR, and hopefully make sense of all those confusing XR acronyms. From there we will take a deeper dive into real world case studies for these platforms ranging from k-12 education, social engagement and cultural competence training. Post session, we will offer a social hour in a REM5 virtual space that can be accessed through PC - No VR or experience required.
Personal & Authentic Cultures of Innovation
Join Thomas C. Murray, as he shares how to create personal and authentic cultures of innovation in our organizations, where people are valued and trust is built so that productivity can thrive. Innovation is about people, so we must keep our people at the heart of all processes and decision-making.
Following this session join the speaker(s) in the Community Lounge for a 15 minute Q&A.
Fix It Fireside: Scaling Your Company and Thinking Big with Lunar Startups and The Coven
Congrats - your business has traction and customers are paying you. Now what? How do you build the operational efficiency to match your ambition? Join us for a conversation with startup founders who are disrupting the status quo and thinking big in the Midwest.
This is an event for for entrepreneurs, changemakers, and leaders to get help with a burning question or to listen in to learn from peers. Our panel of experts will share their perspectives on scaling their business, and then we'll take questions from the audience.
Stories from EdTech Founders
Each founder will have a few minutes to showcase their education startup and tell us about their personal background and entrepreneurial journey. Then, we'll talk about adjustments and pivots we've been making in light of COVID-19.
Following this session join the speaker(s) in the Community Lounge for a 15 minute Q&A.
Become a Technovation[MN] Mentor
Each year, Technovation Girls challenges teams of girls to identify a community problem, build a mobile app, develop a business plan, and pitch it to local experts. We’re looking for 200 mentors who can commit to 12 weekly sessions with a team -- a relatively small commitment for a HUGE impact for bringing more girls into STEM fields. Join us during this presentation to meet past mentors and learn more about the program.
The AI-First Mindset: How to Add, Leverage & Optimize AI
Panel on getting started with AI for your organizations and ways to learn what you need to know about AI. How Can AI be your virtual research assistant and help get more accomplished in your team and organization. Learn the differences between humanized and replacement AI. Learn about ML and AI and some of the commonly used "buzz" words that float around. Ask questions of AI/ML engineers that you always wanted answered.
Social Justice in a Digital World
COVID-19 has accelerated the evolution of human interaction and information consumption towards digital platforms. From social media, to video chats, to virtual reality, these digital platforms are now clearly front and center. Now add a global social justice movement. Are digital platforms good for social justice? Are they bad? What challenges do they create? And what opportunities?
Both RFTP and REM5 are rooted in leveraging technology and data to reimagine cultural competence education in the fight for social justice. In this session, we will cover how RFTP is innovating their powerful model to go virtual, how REM5 is using high-end virtual reality to democratize learning experiences, and how the two organizations are collaborating to create cutting-edge, digital learning experiences. Post session, we will offer a social hour in a virtual exhibition space that can be accessed through PC - No VR or experience required.
Managing Global Tech Teams During a Pandemic
Today’s technology teams thrive on collaboration and agile processes to deliver innovative solutions. Managing a mix of on-site and remote professionals was easy, but what happened when everyone suddenly was remote. How did management change? What was easier? And harder? Hear from local technology executives about their highs, lows and learnings during this time and what changes they predict are here to stay. They’ll address how they hired, onboarded, trained, and promoted individuals, as well as how their solutions stayed on course and how they spurred innovation.
What to Expect from a Development Team
As a founder your business will require new technology. Needs range from simple, such as web sites, to complex things like mobile apps, or even new kinds of hardware devices. Staffing a full time engineering organization is expensive. Individual contractors are more affordable. And consulting teams offer a wide range of supporting services. We discuss what to expect from those kinds of relationships. How do you go about communicating what needs to be built? What is “lean methodology” and is it right for your business? How often will you be updated on progress? Who is responsible for making sure the deliverables are met? How are inevitable setbacks communicated and resolved? How long does it take to build various kinds of new technologies? What is the final outcome, and how can you have confidence that the technology will live on and power your business instead of immediately becoming a liability? How does hiring a contract development agency compare with hiring an individual contract developer? What about versus hiring a full-time engineering team?
OnRamp Education & Workforce Innovation Accelerator: Big Plans and Big Expectations
Learn about the new OnRamp Education & Workforce Innovation presented by ECMC Group and gener8tor
Following this session join the speaker(s) in the Community Lounge for a 15 minute Q&A.
Scaling Customer Success Through Growth
When companies are small, customers often receive personal attention support. But what happens as a company grows? How can a business continue to serve and support their customers in a personal, but scalable, manner? Hear from some of today’s leading customer success executives on how their businesses are serving thousands of customers using data analytics, segmentation and specialists to deliver customer value.
Breaking Techs-pectations
Breaking into the tech field can feel like trying every single 4-digit combination you can think of until magically, the large heavy gates suddenly swing open. As a first-generation student of color, it feels more like you entering two-digit combinations until someone finally tells you that it’s actually four. How does a daughter of Vietnamese immigrants break the code and find herself at one of the most innovative startups in Minnesota of all places? With some resilience, an ongoing journey of self-worth, and the magic of vulnerability, anyone can do it.
DRONE RACING & THE UNSTOPPABLE NEW STEM SPORTS
An Immersive STEM program that wildly engages students, adapts to our COVID-19 world, and re-imagines what learning can be today. Featuring a live online demonstration of drone racing and a conversation about the future of competitive STEM.
Marty Wetherall with Anne Dougherty, Dr. Michael Wulf, Dan Atkins, Jen Nowlin, and David Roberts.
Thursday, September 17, 2020
Using Cloud Providers to Achieve HIPAA Compliance
Learn how to Achieve HIPAA Compliance for your Software Company Using Tools Provided by Major Cloud Platforms like AWS, Azure and GCP. We will briefly define the challenges you face to be HIPAA Compliant as well as the tools made available by common cloud providers. This is also relevant if you have other forms of compliance requirements, such as PCI or SOC 2.
Development Stage Strategic Investments with Acquisition Rights
While early stage healthcare companies may seek resources from established healthcare companies, they often want to remain independent while they pursue their healthcare-related vision and build value.
Established healthcare companies expand and enhance existing product portfolios by acquiring early-stage technologies. They also want certainty that, if they help nurture an early-stage company, they will be able to acquire it once it is ready to exit without risk of being outbid by a competitor.
To balance these issues, companies often use a structured acquisition, in which the established healthcare company invests in the early-stage company, often obtains some degree of commercial rights and negotiates an option to acquire the company at a pre-agreed price. Join attorneys from Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. as they explain the rationale for, structure of, and pros and cons of a structured acquisition.
How Youth Entrepreneurs are Building the Hospitals of the Future
Join us for this panel discussion with youth CEO's that are building the future of hospitals, Government and non-profit leadership building the world's fair for 2027 around health, Mayo Hospitals, and AI tech entrepreneur's. They will each share their experiences with how the future of our hospitals and health care systems will be changed through the innovations they are helping bring to the world. Understand through this how youth are engaged to solve problems in new and innovative ways and leveraging design thinking.
Following this session join the speaker(s) in the Community Lounge for a 15 minute Q&A.
The tech.mn Live Podcast Booth
Join us in the tech.mn Live Podcast Booth channel to see some of Minnesota's best podcasters interviewing each other. Moderator, Alex Skjong, will be matching up show hosts to talk all things Minnesota, podcasting, business, and more.
Executive Compensation for Start-ups
We will cover important topics such as entity structure, options and equity compensation, pre-transaction (acquisition or IPO) planning, and more! Whether you are just starting to form your company, looking to optimize equity awards, attract and retain talent, or have your eye on a potential exit, this session is for you!
Kendall Qualls: From Harlem to Healthcare
Kendall Qualls will discuss his early life in poverty and a broken home, career in the healthcare industry, and experience launching a data analytics and artificial intelligence startup to help cancer patients. Kendall will also discuss how we can promote entrepreneurship through our regulatory environment, cultural values, and education system.
Non-Dilutive Federal Research Funding for Technology Commercialization
Taxpayer investments (non-dilutive funding) is critical to startups in the technology commercialization arena! In this two hour session, you will learn the basics of the annual federal $3.7B Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs; two sources of non-dilutive funding to move from the lab to the marketplace. This is an ideal session for scientists, engineers, innovators with novel ideas, concepts, and projects that possess strong commercial or societal potential, domestically, and internationally.
The How and Why of Designing Connectivity into Your Start-up
Designing your new medical device or system is challenging all by itself. In today's rapidly changing world, connecting that device to the larger medical infrastructure may be a critical part of your success. We will discuss the importance of developing and implementing an integrated connectivity strategy as part of your start-up plan.
Founder Friendly Ways to GET STARTED and Get Funded
For many entrepreneurs, independence is more valuable than anything. There are new models emerging that enable founders to get started more efficiently than ever and get funded while preserving options and control. This session will be an overview of some of the new models (indie.vc, Earnest Capital, Tiny Seed), tools (Zapier, Airtable, Glide) and examples of entrepreneurs who are charting a different path.
Bringing Healthcare Home through Connectivity
Digital health solutions enable physicians to monitor chronic conditions remotely, increase patient compliance, and enable us to move healthcare out of the clinic and into the home. A panel of digital health investors and entrepreneurs will gather to discuss the challenges and the opportunities with digital health and what is next for healthcare. Hosted by Nextern.
Food Fights: entrepreneurs fighting COVID with science & nutrition.
While COVID is a biggest issue of today, its death toll pales by comparison to Heart Disease, Diabetes, Cancer and countless diseases caused by food. The entrepreneurs in this session tell the tale of two battles: just being entrepreneurs and fighting the unpopular fight of nutrition in a world with adverse interests to health. Over $3 trillion is spend in “sick care”, caused by unhealthy food. Imagine what we could do with that money and how the affected people would thrive in absence of those diseases. We’ll explore the issues, uncover the dichotomies, tell of trials, tribulations and triumphs, and pose solutions to the gargantuan problems of wellness and wellcare.
How Healthcare is Using Impact Measurement to Promote Equity
The microscope on the structural and systemic issues that have been laid bare and/or exacerbated by the realities of COVID and racial inequity have never been more important in our communities or in our healthcare system. Join us for a panel discussion to hear about strategies, challenges and innovations from policy, payor, provider, and community perspectives. Opportunities for entrepreneurs exist as vendors and service providers, changemakers, and community supporters. Connecting entrepreneurs to the accelerator and investment community will be critical to driving change, increasing equity and expanding opportunity along the way.
Celebrating Minority Owned Businesses in MN
Making the First Hire and Creating a Hiring Process
Are you an early stage startup? Have you started the hiring process but feel like you're going in circles and not attracting the right type of person? Or maybe you know you'll need an additional employee or contractor soon and are looking for how to streamline the hiring process. Then this is the event for you! We will discuss how to create a job description to attract the best candidates, where and how to find candidates, what types of interview questions to ask, and making an offer. After the presentation, we'll open it up to questions and brainstorm together how to apply the techniques to our own businesses.
IP Secrets to Supercharge Your Startup
Victor Hugo, the renowned French writer, famously said: "There Is one thing stronger than all the armies In the world, and that Is an Idea whose time has come.”
This is a rapid fire, engaging session to bring intellectual property (IP) principles out of the legal stratosphere down to the level of the fired up entrepreneur looking to blaze a trail into the future.
We'll explore at least 5 insider secrets about IP law that can fuel greater enthusiasm of your investors, team members, and customers as you build lasting businesses with greater differentiation, profit margins, and exit potential.
Learn how patents actually do encourage innovation from you and your team.
Learn how the classic boy-meets-girl romance can improve your understanding of patent law.
Learn how to go from patent filing to patenthood in 6 months or less.
These and other insights will leave you with a new sense of possibility for leveraging IP to supercharge your business results.
Happy Half Hour
Mix up your favorite cocktail and join the speakers of the FemTech Panel for Q&A!
Let's get active with Cardio Active
Learn about Cardio Active and why we are the new way to work out.
Cardio Active is private, by design. That means no online account creation, none of your workout or fitness data floating around in the cloud, and you're fully in control of your data. In this digital age, we believe everyone should be able to work out with technology without sacrificing their data or privacy. That's why we made Cardio Active.
Check us out on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/cardio-active/id1488124050
Join the conversation on Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/meetup-group-NnliccQn/
Tuesday, September 22, 2020
Growing Engineering: From Startup to Market Leader
In order to get your company off the ground, you have to be agile and make sacrifices. But once you make it to product/market fit and beyond, how do you scale your engineering, product, platform? I've been on this journey and want to share what has worked for us.
- How to scale the team
- How to scale the product
- How to scale the platform
- How to get your tech ready for the next level
How to Profit from a Sustainable, Circular Economy
An inspiring look at 20 companies in 20 minutes that are making a profit in the circular economy. Learn about business model trends that are not only planet-friendly but enhancing the customer experience and increasing Return on Investment.
There will be time at the end for Q&A and discussion with Natasha Gaffer, co-founder of Forever Ware, a Minneapolis tech startup that strives to partner with food vendors around the world to replace single-use food packaging with superior borrow-and-return alternatives that won’t end up in landfill. More information at https://foreverware.app
AI & The Black Experience
Rapidly advancing technologies, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and algorithmic decision-making have proven to be a force for good. These technologies can also amplify forms of inequality, discrimination, and bias.
This conversation will focus on opportunities for more digital inclusion through Data Policy and opportunities via immersive Virtual Reality experiences.
We will discuss creating a more inclusive narrative that addresses racial and social inequalities which bends into the metaverse thus improving AI & The Black Experience.
Following this session join the speaker(s) in the Community Lounge for a 15 minute Q&A.
Founders Panel: Lessons Learned in Growing Your Social Enterprise
Join us for a panel discussion to listen and learn from three social enterprise founders their lessons on bruising shins, empathy and humility, and harnessing the power of outcomes and impact and the value it provides in ops, strategy, and marketing & communications.
Crash Course on Hiring Developers
You need technical help and don't know where to start. What are your options? What's the market like right now? Is it a buyers or sellers market? What salary ranges should you target? Where do you find candidates? What are experienced/junior devs looking for? Why would you hire a dev shop over an individual developer? What's changed due to COVID? We'll answer all of these questions, and more, in this session.
Climate Tech Meet & Greet & Show & Tell
An opportunity for anybody interested in climate technology solutions to meet each other, chat about what we're working on, and get help moving forward with their startup.
We’ll start with a round of introductions, potentially in breakout rooms depending on attendance. Next, we will have a (yet-to-be-named) investor discuss what they are looking for specifically when it comes to funding startups focused on climate tech. We’ll wrap it up with an opportunity for anybody that wants to hold the floor for 3 minutes - to get feedback on their elevator pitch, bring up a specific discussion topic for the group, or anything else constructive.
Let’s start building the Minnesota climate tech community!
Disrupting the Status Quo in Your Organization and Community
Are you trying to move your organization, or even your community, out of the status quo? Are you looking for effective ways to disrupt while keeping your credibility and social capital? If yes, join us for practical strategies on how to successfully move toward more innovation and more modernization. That is, how to disrupt without being disruptive.
Building a B Corp: A Panel Discussion
Are you building a business as a force for good? One that balances purpose and profit? B Corps are driving a global movement of business as a force for good. Join us for a panel discussion with three Minnesota B Corp founders and hear about their journeys becoming B Corps, benefits and challenges, and their recommendations for businesses considering B Corp certification.
Fuckup Nights Twin Cities (FUN)
FuckUp Nights Twin Cities - Twin Cities Startup Week Edition is presented by tech.mn. Glad we got your attention, but we want you to know that we're not just about bad words - we're all about sharing lessons from professional and personal failure.
FuckUp Nights is a global movement born in Mexico in 2012 to share public business failure stories with hundreds of people attending each event around the world. Every few months speakers will be invited to talk about their FuckUp stories; we’ll learn about their biggest mistakes, what they learned, how they moved on- all whilst sharing invaluable advice along the way.
We’re here to break down stigmas, and amplify the message that failure is healthy and essential to learning and growing. Fuckup Nights Twin Cities events feature a safe space, captivating speakers, and a community of people open to embracing failure and the balance it brings to Minnesota. We will have four speakers joining us virtually to share their fuckup stories. *Note: This is not a kid friendly event, headphones are encouraged!
MN Cup Final Award Ceremony
Join the Minnesota startup community as we present live pitches from 18 of the top businesses that emerged from the 2020 MN Cup competition season. They're vying for a share of $500,000 in prize money that will be awarded live during the event. You won't want to miss this!
MN Cup is a startup competition for early-stage companies hailing from anywhere in Minnesota. Thanks to an incredible group of sponsors and the time and talents of our volunteer mentors and judges, we are able to offer all programming and prize money completely free for participants. We take no equity in exchange for the seed capital we award, and are here to connect Minnesota founders to the education, resources and capital they need to build and scale successful companies.
Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-16th-mn-cup-final-award-ceremony-tickets-117138096199?aff=TCSW
Wednesday, September 23, 2020
Smart City - Smart North. Session 1: Getting Back To Better
During this pandemic, we hear the refrain over and over “I can’t wait to get back to normal.” There is an honest and earnest feeling behind that sentiment, however, we have been asking ourselves - is “normal” what we want to get back to? In many ways our past “normal” was not nearly good enough and even exasperated many of the problems we are facing during this pandemic. In this session we’ll outline some of those not-so-good “normals,” how they put us in a worse situation relative to an international crisis and how we have the opportunity to “get back to better” through acknowledging the bad, identify technology and non-technological solutions to address a better tomorrow by making our cities smarter and more responsive to our communities. “Smart North” is a collaboration of people working in and around smart city development thinking deeply around how our cities and communities can better work together and more efficient in building a better normal.
Smart City - Smart North. Session 2: Can 5G Enable Equitable Digital Access for All?
COVID 19 has further exposed the catastrophic
gaps in equity to digital access that in
turn impact access to healthcare, education,
employment among-st many others. In this session
we will explore the role of 5G in making this a reality.
Smart City - Smart North. Session 3: Building Smarter Sustainable Communities and Cities
The Twin Cities have come together to build smart and sustainable collaboration centers to foster entrepreneurial-ism and innovation around energy solutions that deliver resiliency, minimize climate impact and assure healthy sustainable working environments. Join entrepreneurs and sustainability leaders from the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul as they share how their city plans, development and implementation have leveraged smart, sustainable technologies for climate and human livelihood.
Smart City - Smart North. Session 4: Building Smarter Resilient Community in the Midway Corridor
The Midway area of St. Paul has a rich history, combined with the diverse surrounding communities, aging infrastructure, and the busiest intersection in the state (at Snelling & University). Many stakeholders have been working to create a more resilient and vibrant community in Midtown, in addition to heightened near-term demand from 2020 COVID-19 and social justice unrest along University Avenue. Minnesota entrepreneurs bring a wealth of offerings to the equation, leveraging connected technology and data to help (re)build a better community.
Thursday, September 24, 2020
The Power of Rural Innovation through Collaboration
How can collaboration strengthen the potential for impact in our communities? The E1 of SE Minnesota is a collaboration made possible by a LaunchMN DEED grant. We are elevating entrepreneurs by leveraging the strengths of our 14 partner organizations. Be part of the discussion on how we are making this happen!
Spilling the early-VC tea: the secret to getting your first check
Ever wonder how to get funding for your startup before you have launched a product? While crowd-funding works for some businesses, it’s not a one-size-fits all solution. If you have a software product or you are building a platform business, you will likely need to access capital before you launch. In this session, you’ll learn how to put together a plan and a pitch to attract early capital.
The tech.mn Live Podcast Booth
Join us in the tech.mn Live Podcast Booth channel to see some of Minnesota's best podcasters interviewing each other. Moderator, Alex Skjong, will be matching up show hosts to talk all things Minnesota, podcasting, business, and more.
Too Good To Waste
Have your beer and eat it too. Find out about food upcycling and how it helps food & beverage manufacturers can eliminate food waste and feed the world.
Bitcoin, not Blockchain
Understanding Bitcoin, debunking "blockchain" hype, and exploring the separation of money and state. No technical experience required.
Legal FAQ for Start-ups
Come learn about some of the top legal and compliance concerns facing early stage start-ups. Find out when is the right time to bring on the first in house legal hire. Ask a start-up attorney some of those questions you have been wanting to ask but perhaps don't quite have the extra funds yet to invest.
How Students Add Value to Venture Capital: Atland Ventures
Learn about how we leverage our positions as students to make investment decisions and add value for our portfolio companies, as well as how we navigate the modern VC world.
??25 Digital leaders interviewed in 25 minutes??
In the crazy world that is 2020, we thought it would be fun to take a new spin on the traditional digital/tech interview and instead focus more on the human side of digital/tech leaders.
In this fast paced event, we will chat with 25 tech leaders that are leading teams of all different shapes and sizes.
Some questions will be about tech. Some will not . . . Tune in to this event to learn about what drives local tech leaders, what makes them tick, and what they love.
Answers to 10 of the Biggest Employment Law Questions Facing Startups and Emerging Companies
A complex patchwork of federal, state and even local employment laws applies to startups and emerging companies. While early stage companies are focused on growing revenue and visibility, increasing headcounts, and securing funding and new investors, they are not immune from these laws. In fact, non-compliance exposes even the smallest employers to serious consequences such as audits, litigation, and investor trepidation, and can delay or derail acquisitions or other critical transactions.