“When Bjorn Stansvik immigrated to Minnesota from Sweden in 1999, he had big ideas about using software to optimize learning. After turning those plans into reality just a few years later, he’s now on a fast track toward growth, and expanding his company’s capabilities as a result.”

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Initially slated to close last month, the move suggests a more patient approach based off learning experiences from the first class, which ran from August through October of last year.

“We’re going downstream to earlier stage companies this time,” Allen explained. “…we have a more precise idea of what kind of companies we’re looking for.  And in the quest for that that, we’re extending the opportunity to ensure the best fit and right culture,” Allen said.

Project Skyway is modeled after the global ‘incubation’ trend of providing emerging entrepreneurs with the cash, mentorship, and visibility necessary to expedite the process of bringing new products to market.  Startups that participate currently receive $6,000 per founder (max $18,000)  in exchange for 9% equity.

Companies can now apply through 11:59pm on February 13th; the new class will be commencing on March 1st and running through May 31st before a demo day finale in late May.

“A Twin Cities man has become the latest consumer to sue Apple, AT&T and California software firm Carrier IQ for allegedly spying on his iPhone via secret monitoring software. About 60 similar lawsuits have been filed against cellphone companies nationwide.

The lawsuit, filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis by consumer George Howell, says the alleged spying violates federal privacy, wiretap and fraud laws.”

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“Local IT companies seem to always be in need of more professionals for development work, and now they have new resource that could fill their IT departments in the future.

The IT-Ready Apprentice Program is launching in Minneapolis and St. Paul, with an eye toward other cities in the future. The non-profit program covers the cost of recruitment, training, and certification for employees taking on help-desk, call-center, and technical duties.”

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Luca Zullo is the founder of VerdeNero LLC, a biomass and biofuels consulting firm.  He formerly was Project Lead at Cargill Environmental Finance, developing second generation biofuels and bio-energy projects, especially “waste” to energy projects.  Luca has also worked at Cray Research in the US and Shell Research in The Netherlands.

“The creation of a trading platform like the Minneapolis Biomass Exchange tackles complexity head on by providing sellers and buyers a forum for direct contact that maximizes market efficiency,” said Zullo.

David Kurzman is Co-Portfolio Manager for the Leuthold Global Clean Technology Fund. Prior to joining the Leuthold team, David was Managing Partner of Kurzman CleanTech Research, a private research and investment firm which managed a pool of private capital for high-net worth investors.  Prior to that, David worked for Panel Intelligence, LLC, Needham & Co., H.C. Wainwright & Co., Value Line Inc. and the Weitz Funds.

“I invest in great managers, and Kevin Triemstra’s vision of the biomass market is a step ahead of the marketplace. He sees not the opaque biomass marketplace we suffer through today, but the efficient forum for transactions that it will become in the future,” said Kurzman.

MBioEX is estimated to have raised between $50-$100k in seed capital since July 2009 inception and is pursuing “a patient go to market approach,” according to CEO Kevin Triemstra. The business received early validation when Doug Cameron and Rajesh Aggarwal joined the board of directors in August, 2010.

“Luca and David are tremendous additions to the MBioEX team.  In just a short time, Luca’s biomass-to-energy and logistics knowledge and David’s cleantech and transactional system knowledge have been invaluable to our team.  Both are enthusiastic about the company’s prospects and we’re thrilled to have them on board,” Triemstra said of the milestone.

“Compellent co-founder and CEO Phil Soran has announced he is retiring on 31 March, the integration of Compellent into Dell having been more or less completed.

The announcement was made at Dell’s Storage Forum in London today. Soran stayed on for a year after the acquisition by Dell to bed the acquisition down, and he feels things are now in good shape. Co-founders Larry Aszmann and John Guider left quite quickly after the acquisition.”

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“ST. CLOUD, Minn. — January 10, 2012 — Predictive analytics firm eBureau today announced it is spinning off its online advertising targeting business into a new company called TruSignal.

Effective immediately, the move highlights the growing importance of eBureau’s ad targeting business line, and creates a formal corporate entity, with an experienced management team and dedicated  resources, that can concentrate on accelerating revenue in one of the hottest marketing channels of the past two decades.”

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“MINNEAPOLIS, Jan 09, 2012 — Rimage Corporation (NASDAQ: RIMG) today announced that it has named Robert Olson (55) to its Board of Directors, effective immediately. Mr. Olson is the Chairman and primary investor in Swift Knowledge, LLC, a business analytics software company focused on the banking and finance markets.

He was also the founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Stellent, Inc., a publicly traded enterprise content management software company that was sold to Oracle Corporation in 2006.”

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“…UnitedHealth Group has announced strategic partnerships with three health technology companies that offer mobile products and services designed to help improve consumers’ health and well-being.

UnitedHealth Group’s new business partners — CareSpeak Communications (NJ), Lose It! (MA) and Fitbit (CA) — help simplify the consumer health care experience by making relevant, practical information easier to access by using consumer-friendly technology devices such as smartphones and other mobile devices.”

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After spinning the company out of Braun Intertec in mid-2011 to commercialize software applications and other IP previously developed in house, Agile’s President Mike Anders led the new company in the search for qualified local advisory and found it in MESA.

“Their mission and our needs were aligned…and the services they offered were precisely what we were seeking,” said Anders. “I have found Jim Moar’s mentorship insights to our needs and anticipation of challenges spot on, and his recommendations concise, actionable, and effective thus far.”

Agile Frameworks currently counts 17 employees and is projecting $2m rev next year. “Agile Frameworks fits well with the MESA vision for mentor companies: a unique value proposition in its target market, a solid starting foundation, and strong aspirations for growth,” mentor Jim Moar said speaking to the engagement.

MESA was launched last summer by a group of seasoned tech executives on a mission to “spark a movement to make Minnesota’s software economy rank among the most vibrant and respected in the nation.” The group provides primary and secondary mentors for  12 – 24 months to select  start-up and emerging software companies.

Emergingsoft and RAI Stone Group were two original MESA portfolio companies, with startups riteSOFT and ActiFi also recently joining the fold.

“I respect MESA’s contribution to our state and industry, and hope to someday join the mentor ranks,” Anders said of MESA’s initiative.