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20 Startups Secure Launch Minnesota Innovation Grants in 2020’s First Round

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Developments (DEED) awarded more than $672,000 in Launch Minnesota Innovation Grants to 20 tech startups across the state. Five individual founders also received a $7,500 housing and childcare grant.

In a release, DEED said the crop of companies represent the “most promising, innovative, and scalable technology businesses in the state.” Each of the grants require a one-to-one match in privately sourced funds, skyrocketing the potential for the investments to reach $1.3 million.

“Launch Minnesota is off to a strong start,” Kevin McKinnon, DEED Deputy Commissioner for Economic Development, said in the release. “We’ve had an overwhelming response to our innovation grants so far. We’re impressed by what we’ve seen from Minnesota’s high-tech entrepreneurs.”

There could be much more to come from the grants. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the total funding amount — $1.6 million — is reached. If you think your startup is promising, innovative, and scalable (and really, who doesn’t?), head over to the Launch MN Grants section of the DEED website to learn more about how you could secure some of that sweet, sweet cash.

The first-round grantees of 2020 are (with descriptions by DEED):

Anatomi Corp, Minneapolis
A life science research tools company that manufactures advanced models of human neurological disease useful for the development of new treatments for conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and chronic pain.

Aurora Concussion Therapy, St. Paul
Medical device company focused on commercializing a non-invasive concussion therapy.

Binary Bridge, Minneapolis
A portable electronic medical records system that can facilitate a full clinic in remote villages.

Char Energy Equipment, Ada
Formed to design, build, and sell its patented horizontal-bake gasifier.

Darcy Solutions, Minneapolis
Provide most energy- and cost-efficient way to provide heating and cooling while also significantly reducing carbon emissions.

Educharacter, Minneapolis
SayKid is a voice technology company that has developed the world’s first screen-less, play-based learning platform.

Farm Vision Technologies , St. Paul
Automation of yield mapping to improve harvesting processes.

General Probiotics , St. Paul
Develops innovative cellbots, antimicrobial probiotics that eliminate harmful pathogens in livestock, enable the production of safe food, and reduce dependency on antibiotics.

GRIP Molecular Technologies, St. Paul
Molecular detection device used at point-of-care to enable the rapid identification of chemical and biological threats.

Guardian Athletics , Mankato
Kato Collar is affordable technology that slows down the head by up to 30% upon impact, reducing forces on the brain that cause injuries.

LEAH Labs , Rochester
LEAH Labs is developing a new curative treatment for canine cancer, starting with a therapy for B cell lymphoma, the most common cancer in dogs.

Live Give Save, Red Wing
Spave, a fintech mobile app that enables anyone to use their everyday purchases to increase their savings as well as give to causes they care about without changing behavior.

Marblehead Medical , Rochester
Acute ischemic stroke care has been revolutionized with multiple trials showing the efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy retrieval devices.

Otrafy , St. Paul
Otrafy helps food processors and manufacturers manage the collection, storage and transfer of certification data across the food chain.

Phenomix Sciences , Rochester
Mayo Clinic startup with a disruptive new technology geared toward obesity management.

Quench Medical , St. Paul
Quench Medical is developing the first inhaled route of delivering an approved chemotherapy medication to treat lung cancer by directly targeting lung tumors and minimizing systemic toxicity.

Remote Insights, Minneapolis
A sow management solution using artificial intelligence, sensors, and other advanced technologies to monitor the animal’s health events.

Sasya , St. Paul
Technology development enterprise that delivers environmentally-responsible solutions targeted to replace petroleum-derived chemicals.

TerraCOH , Minneapolis
Engineering analysis and design of Co2 Geothermal power system to provide dispatchable geothermal electricity generation and grid-scale energy storage.

Virtuwoof , Minneapolis
A technology platform for mobile and web that enables veterinarians to offer virtual care to their existing clients.

Alex Skjong
Alex oversees the content produced for BETA, Twin Cities Startup Week, and tech.mn. When he’s not writing or editing, there’s a good chance he’s enjoying a refreshing brew and explaining the merits of heavy metal (of which there are many).