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301 Inc.

Minnesota Startup Accelerators: The Ultimate Guide

It takes a lot of personal drive, grit, and tenacity to start a business, but it’s always good to have a helping hand. That’s what Minnesota Startup Accelerators are all about. 

To make sure anyone who wants to join the Minnesota entrepreneurial system has the resources they need, we’ve paired with Launch Minnesota to compile this Ultimate Guide to Minnesota Startup Accelerators. We think it’s a great starting point for anyone with an entrepreneurial spark.

We also know the Minnesota landscape is ever-changing. That’s why we’ll be regularly updating this Ultimate Guide to Minnesota Startup Accelerators to reflect the current state of the scene as accurately as possible.

If you want your organization to be included, please don’t hesitate to reach out. This guide can’t truly be “ultimate” without you. 

Thanks to Launch Minnesota, our wonderful sponsors, and all of the bright minds that make the Minnesota tech and startup community what it is. 

— The tech.mn Team

Launch Minnesota

Launch Minnesota is a statewide collaborative effort to accelerate the growth of startups and amplify Minnesota as a national leader in innovation.

Created with bipartisan support during the 2019 legislative session, Launch Minnesota – spearheaded by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) – works with an advisory board, private sector stakeholders, support organizations, higher education, and innovative startups statewide.

Check out the highlights of the organization’s first 6 months.

FIND OUT MORE: LaunchMinnesota.org #LaunchMN @LaunchMinnesota

 

Sponsors are denoted by blue underlines and accompanying logos. Interested in becoming a sponsor? Let us know!

Last updated: July 17, 2020

 

301 Inc.

Minnesota Startup Accelerators 301 Inc

Twin Cities Metro

301 INC is focused on partnering with emerging food brands. They strive to support the passion and vision of the entrepreneurs to create breakthrough innovation to enable positive change for the world and enable a successful business.

Location: 1 General Mills Blvd Minneapolis, Minnesota 55426
Year Founded: 2012
Application Season: Fall

Programming + Benefits Offered: Tried and true technical tools to help you take ingredients, products and packaging to the next level. A world-class supply chain crew with a wealth of resources across all product categories and channels. Relationships from across channels worldwide.

LinkedIn         Instagram

 

BETA

Minnesota Startup Accelerators BETA

Twin Cities Metro

The BETA Cohort is a FREE, non-dilutive five-month accelerator where founding teams learn, work, and grow together. The experience includes training around topics that ensure your company is being built upon a firm foundation, while preparing you for the next stage of growth.

Location: 1330 Lagoon Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55408
Year Founded: 2014
Alumni: 162
Program Length: 5 Months
Cohort Size: 14
Application Season: Spring, Fall
Total Funds Raised: $358 Million

Programming + Benefits Offered:

  • A weekly training regime including one after-noon-per-week of two-to-three educational sessions, and an optional workshop to apply what you are learning with your peers. 12-weeks of curriculum to help early stage startups prepare for their first hire, first round of funding, and transition into growth.
  • BETA Showcase: Demo your product or service to 500+ attendees including the media, investors, potential customers, and general tech enthusiasts.
  • BETA Space: Accepted founding teams will e invited to work out of the BETA Space for the duration of the BETA cohort, at no cost.
  • Press: Share your quarterly updates with the BETA team who will work with local reporters to help you share your story via a variety of mediums.
  • Peer-To-Peer Support: Join the bi-weekly check-ins to share learnings and troubleshoot critical issues facing your business.
  • Cohort members have access to discounts from our network of technology services looking to partner with early stage startups.
  • Alumni of the BETA cohort receive priority status for the following programs: BETA Bridge, BETA Backers, and BETA Operators.

Events: Twin Cities Startup Week, BETA Showcase, BETA Bridge, BETA Backers, BETA State of the State

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Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Southwest

The Center’s primary focus is on student entrepreneurs, but it also serves the larger regional community as an connecting point between university resources and community needs specifically in the entrepreneurship area.

Location: 424 N. Riverfront Drive, Suite 209, Mankato, MN 56001
Year Founded: 2017
Alumni: 26 Big Ideas teams in 3 years plus individual mentoring of 30 student entrepreneurs
Program Length: 8 weeks
Cohort Size: 17-20
Application Season: Initial Programming to draw in teams: fall semester. Applications: December/January. Program start: February through mid-April with the Big Ideas event and prize awards (and follow-up with each team after the event).

Total Funds Raised: $165,000

Programming + Benefits Offered:

Companies in the Big Ideas experience receive:

  • Individual mentorship, generally someone from their industry
  • Workshops on market research, finances, business plan writing and pitch creation
  • A free license to LivePlan and tutoring on its use
  • Two rehearsals before Big Ideas with critique given to assist them with their pitch development
  • Invites to weekly 1Million Cups Mankato and monthly Social Media Breakfast events to build a network and possibly to present (another dry-run of their pitch)
  • The Challenge event gives $15,000 in cash prizes to at least 4 teams each year

Events: 1Million Cups Mankato, Social Media Breakfast Mankato, Women Entrepreneurship Week, Global Entrepreneurship Week, Big Ideas Challenge, Entrepreneurship workshops on design thinking, EOS and more

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CO.STARTERS MN

Minnesota Startup Accelerators CO.STARTERS MN

Twin Cities Metro

CO.STARTERS MN is a 10-week program sponsored by the James J. Hill Center, with additional funding by the Knight Foundation and fiscal sponsorship supplied by Forge North. A combined effort to help build the pipeline of entrepreneurs in Minnesota.

Location: 80 West 4th Street, Saint Paul, MN 55102
Program Length: 10 Weeks
Cohort Size: 10-15
Fee: $500 (with scholarships available)

Programming + Benefits Offered: Entrepreneurs meet together one evening a week for three hours, led by a facilitator. CO.STARTER certified facilitators are experienced business owners from the community who guide participants through the program. Facilitators ask critical questions, draw on the knowledge in the room, and use available resources and connections to point participants in the right direction. Guest speakers are brought each week to enrich the conversation.

LinkedIn         Instagram

Enterprise Center

hutchinson-enterprise-center

Southwest

The Hutchinson Enterprise Center is a 20,000 square foot small business incubator emphasizing high-tech manufacturing.  It combines an extremely low-cost environment with lots of business education, coaching and mentoring to help you maximize the potential of your company.  Subject to EDA Board approval, successful graduates of the program can purchase an industrial park lot for $1 to build their own facility.

Location: 1164 Benjamin Avenue SE, Hutchinson, MN 55350
Program Length: Typically three years
Year Founded: 2016
Application Season: Rolling
Total Funds Raised: $2.4 million

Programming + Benefits Offered:

  • Low rent
  • Free business education, coaching, mentoring
  • Small Business Development Center (SBDC) office on-site
  • 4,000 square foot bays (80’ x 50’)
  • 2 loading docks, 3 drive-in doors
  • Utilities separately metered for each bay
  • Free conference room and kitchen
  • Free mailbox
  • Free office workroom
  • Programmable key-card access for security
  • Energy-efficient building (SB 2030 Standard)

Entrepreneurs Organization Accelerator (MN)

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Minnesota Startup Accelerators Entrepreneurs Organization of Minnesota

Entrepreneurs Organization of Minnesota

Twin Cities Metro

The Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) is a global, peer-to-peer network of more than 14,000+ influential business owners with 196 chapters in 62 countries. Founded in 1987, EO is the catalyst that enables leading entrepreneurs to learn and grow, leading to greater success in business and beyond.

Location: 1469 140th Ln NW, Andover, MN 55304
Program Length: Ongoing
Year Founded: 1992
Application Season: Rolling
Cohort Size: Unlimited
Fee: $1,750 per participant (yearly)

Programming + Benefits Offered:

  • Four full day learning events planned one per quarter, facilitated by EO members
  • Monthly Accountability Group meetings focused on goal setting and peer accountability led by an EO Member
  • Use of EO goal setting and tracking tools
  • Access to local and global EO events as shared
  • Structured educational content focused on the​ core areas of first-stage businesses including Strategy, Sales & Marketing, Finance, and People

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Finnovation Fellowship

Minnesota Startup Accelerators Finnovation

Twin Cities Metro

FINNOVATION Lab is an inclusive workspace and community inspiring social change, growth, innovation, and experimentation. From educational programs to unique events, FINN Lab empowers social entrepreneurs to make a positive change in the world through the power of business.

Location: 817 5th Ave S. 4th Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55404
Year Founded: 2018
Alumni: 5
Program Length: Varies
Cohort Size: Varies
Application Season: Spring

Programming  + Benefits Offered:

  • FINNOVATION Fellowship – A nine-month, immersive experience supported by the Bush Foundation develops leadership capacity and builds entrepreneurial skills in early stage founders.
  • $50,000 living stipend
  • $3,000 health care stipend
  • Dedicated workspace at FINN Lab
  • Curriculum designed to help develop leadership skills in a successful social enterprise
  • Access to an ecosystem of advisors and mentors with relevant expertise
  • The support, critical feedback, and fun that comes from working alongside other Fellows!

Events: SEED SPOT Launch Camp, Showcases

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Fueled Collective Diverse Founders Fellowship

Minnesota Startup Accelerators Fueled Collective

Twin Cities Metro

This program provides deserving entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities – such as women, minorities, immigrants, veterans, LGBTQ, and those with disabilities – access to Fueled Collective. The program is made possible by Google for Startups.

Location: 400 S 4th St #401, Minneapolis, MN 55415
Program Length: 6 months
Cohort Size: 5

Programming +Benefits:

  • Free, six-month membership at Fueled Collective
  • Monthly founders event and periodic social events
  • Free access to meeting rooms, including the Content Studio, an audio and video recording studio
  • Business advisors will be brought in by Fueled Collective monthly via our Leaders Club program

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gBETA Greater Minnesota St. Cloud

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Minnesota Startups Accelerators gBeta Greater MN St. Cloud

West Central

gBETA Greater Minnesota St. Cloud

gBETA is a program of nationally ranked startup accelerator gener8tor. gBETA is a free, seven-week accelerator for early-stage companies with local roots. Each program is capped at five teams, and requires no fees and no equity.

Location: 505 West St. Germain Street, Saint Cloud, MN 56301
Alumni: 5
Program Length: 7 Weeks
Cohort Size: 5
Application Season: Spring & Fall

Programming + Benefits Offered:

  • Individualized coaching and mentorship from the gBETA team during weekly, one-on-one meetings
  • One-on-one meetings with 25+ mentors including serial entrepreneurs, subject matter experts and investors
  • Weekly Lunch & Learn series featuring topics relevant to startups including understanding market size, choosing a revenue model, and how to pitch investors. Lunch & Learn events are free and open to the public
  • Exclusive Pitch Night reception during which participating companies have the opportunity to pitch to an audience of entrepreneurs, mentors, investors and community members
  • Opportunity to build relationships within each cohort of five companies, and the community of gener8tor and gBETA alumni
  • $1M + in deals and perks from vendors like IBM Cloud, Rackspace, Amazon, PayPal, Zendesk and Microsoft

Events: Exclusive Pitch Night reception for gBETA cohort

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gBETA Medtech

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Minnesota Startup Accelerators gBETA Medtech

Twin Cities Metro

gBETA Medtech is a program of University Enterprise Laboratories and gener8tor. This program works exclusively with startups focused on healthcare and is sponsored by Boston Scientific and DRIVe Accelerator Network with additional support from Mayo Clinic, the University of Minnesota and Medical Alley Association.

Location: 1330 Lagoon Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55408
Year Founded: 2018
Alumni: 23
Program Length: 7 weeks
Cohort Size: 5
Application Season: Fall

Programming + Benefits Offered:Benefits Offered:

  • Individualized coaching and mentorship from the gBETA team during weekly, one-on-one meetings
  • One-on-one meetings with 25+ mentors including serial entrepreneurs, subject matter experts and investors
  • Weekly Lunch & Learn series featuring topics relevant to startups including understanding market size, choosing a revenue model, and how to pitch investors. Lunch & Learn events are free and open to the public
  • Exclusive Pitch Night reception during which participating companies have the opportunity to pitch to an audience of entrepreneurs, mentors, investors and community members
  • Opportunity to build relationships within each cohort of five companies, and the community of gener8tor and gBETA alumni
  • $1M + in deals and perks from vendors like IBM Cloud, Rackspace, Amazon, PayPal, Zendesk and Microsoft

Events: Midwest COVID-19 Innovation Showcase, Pitch Nights

LinkedIn         Twitter             Facebook

 

gBETA St. Thomas

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Minnesota Startup Accelerators gBETA St. Thomas

Twin Cities Metro

gBETA St. Thomas

gBETA St. Thomas takes place on the University of St. Thomas campus in St. Paul, Minnesota, and is exclusively available to students and alumni of the University of St. Thomas. Companies of any stage, industry, or business model can apply to participate.

Location: Schulze Hall Suite 435, 46 S 11th St #4, Minneapolis MN 55403
Year Founded: 2019
Alumni: 6
Program Length: 7 Weeks
Cohort Size: 5
Application Season: Rolling, with interviews in June

Programming + Benefits Offered:

  • Individualized coaching and mentorship from the gBETA team during weekly, one-on-one meetings
  • One-on-one meetings with 25+ mentors including serial entrepreneurs, subject matter experts and investors
  • Weekly Lunch & Learn series featuring topics relevant to startups including understanding market size, choosing a revenue model, and how to pitch investors. Lunch & Learn events are free and open to the public
  • Exclusive Pitch Night reception during which participating companies have the opportunity to pitch to an audience of entrepreneurs, mentors, investors and community members
  • Opportunity to build relationships within each cohort of five companies, and the community of gener8tor and gBETA alumni
  • $1M + in deals and perks from vendors like IBM Cloud, Rackspace, Amazon, PayPal, Zendesk and Microsoft

Events: Pitch Nights

LinkedIn         Twitter             Facebook

 

gener8tor

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Minnesota Startup Accelerators gener8tor

Twin Cities Metro

gener8tor

gener8tor is a nationally ranked accelerator that invests in high-growth startups. For each cohort, we invest $100K in each of five startups who receive a concierge experience during our 12-week accelerator program.

Location: 1330 Lagoon Avenue Suite 400 Minneapolis, MN 55408
Alumni: 95
Program Length: 12 Weeks
Cohort Size: 5
Total Funds Raised: $300M+

Programming + Benefits Offered:

  • $20,000 cash investment in exchange for 6-7% common stock equity
  • $80,000 of guaranteed follow-on capital from gener8tor (uncapped convertible note)
  • Access to staff interns (development, design, marketing, social media, journalism, business development, sales and more)
  • $1M+ in deals and perks from vendors like IBM Cloud, Rackspace, Amazon, PayPal, Zendesk and Microsoft
  • Support from the gener8tor team and network of alumni and mentors

Events: OnRamp Conference Series, Premier Night

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Lunar Startups

Minnesota Startup Accelerators Lunar Startups

Twin Cities Metro

Lunar Startups is a new model for startup acceleration specializing in growth, connection, and innovation for entrepreneurs who identify as womxn, Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC), and LGBTQ+. We are based in the Osborn370 innovation hub in downtown St. Paul, MN.

Location: 370 Wabasha St N, Suite 500 St. Paul, MN 55102
Alumni: 162
Program Length: 1 Year
Cohort Size: 32
Application Season: November – December
Total Funds Raised: $1.3 Million

Programming + Benefits Offered:

  • This intensive analysis breaks down the operational strengths and weaknesses of each business to determine custom milestones for founders to achieve during their experience
  • Each month, founders meet for a facilitated conversation where they can discuss challenges, workshop ideas, and gather feedback
  • Weekly Programming: Each week, Lunar brings in entrepreneurs, investors, and experts to St. Paul to share their knowledge and experience with founders
  • Lunar Everywhere: Lunar Everywhere is a proprietary online tool that our coaches use to share critical resources, document templates, and facilitate just-in-time founder learning
  • Each participant receives bi-weekly coaching
  • Lunar Expert Network featuring more than 90 Twin Cities leaders with expertise in 16 business areas (including tech, law, finance, tax, and marketing) who are on call for specific needs, questions, and support for cohort companies
  • Each participating company is offered a $5,000 cash grant to use for technology, travel, or marketing. Lunar Startups works with founders to use these investment dollars strategically to facilitate company growth

Events: Fix It Fridays, Undemo Day

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MacStartups

Minnesota Startup Accelerators MacStartups

Twin Cities Metro

MacStartups is a fully-immersive, 10-week intensive program designed to accelerate the development of Macalester student entrepreneurial ideas. Participants will develop the courage to take risks, learn methodologies and equip themselves with a toolkit.

Location: 1600 Grand Ave, St Paul, MN 55105
Year Founded: 2015
Cohort Size: 8
Program Length: 10 Weeks
Application Season: Spring semester

Programming + Benefits Offered: In MacStartups, students work through a 10-week curriculum that helps them develop and explore the skills and mindset of entrepreneurship. The students’ experience of entrepreneurship is bolstered by the shared stories and expertise of entrepreneurs working across fields.

Funding, mentorship, skill building, work space, access to a cohort community, connections to the Twin Cities startup ecosystem, the alumni network and Macalester campus partners

Events: Networking Showcase, Summer Idea Showcase

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MN Cup

Minnesota Startup Accelerators MN Cup

Twin Cities Metro

MN Cup is an annual competition open to all Minnesotans with an innovative idea or new business concept. The only two criteria for entry is that the business needs to be based in Minnesota and earning less than $1 Million in revenue annually. Each spring, hundreds of entrepreneurs apply to one of our nine divisions, and ten per division are selected to move forward to the semifinal round (90 total) to take advantage of free education, mentorship, and compete for prize money. MN Cup is based at the Holmes Center for Entrepreneurship at the Carlson School of Management but is run like a not-for-profit.

MN Cup is powered by the financial contributions of over 50 MN-based corporations and grant-making organizations, and the time and talents of hundreds of skilled volunteers who contribute their expertise as judges and mentors. The generosity of this community allows MN Cup to offer more than $500,000 in seed capital to competition winners taking no equity in exchange. We’re here to support Minnesota’s entrepreneurs and innovators as they change their industries, change our state and change the world.

Location: 2-212 Carlson School of Management, 321 19th Ave. S
Year Founded: 2005
Alumni: 980
Program Length: June – September Annually (Part-Time)
Cohort Size: 90
Application Season: March – April
Total Funds Raised: MN Cup alumni have raised over $500 Million in capital

Programming + Benefits Offered: Workshops and education series range from pitch coaching, how to create financial projections, creating an equitable and inclusive company culture, social media and marketing basics, and more. Roughly 15 different sessions are offered each season, with input taken from competitors about what they’re most interested in learning.

MN Cup Semifinalists receive access to education and programming designed to strengthen their business concepts and accelerate their growth, mentorship from exceptional business leaders and subject matter experts, and the chance to win a share of $500,000 in seed capital. Completely free to compete and no equity taken in exchange for prize money.

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MNSBIR

Twin Cities Metro

The federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, also known as America’s Seed Fund help startups and small businesses transform ideas into marketable products and services. The SBIR/STTR Programs are one of the largest sources of early-stage capital for technology commercialization in the United States.

The Minnesota SBIR/STTR Assistance Office (MNSBIR) is the Governor’s resource to assist startups and existing firms in broad and diverse technology sectors to apply for SBIR/STTR funding. In 2019, MNSBIR launched the SBIR/STTR Accelerator to assist qualified science and technology-based startups and existing firms through education and coaching. The Accelerator offers up to 10 cohorts each year focused on three federal agencies: the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and the Department of Defense to apply and secure funding.

Location: 400 S 4TH ST Suite 416, Minneapolis, MN 55415
Year Founded: 2014
Alumni: 50
Program Length: Varies
Cohort Size: 15-30
Application Season: Varies
Total Funds Raised: $775,000 (Federal, DEED, Meda, MHTA and U of M funding sources)

Programming + Benefits Offered: A blended educational program that includes individualized and customized assistance.  The programming includes many of the aspects of a quality proposal and understanding the federal research and development process.

The benefits of the Accelerator is to provide expert instruction and assistance to help first-time proposers to win funding.  The SBIR/STTR programs are highly competitive with many elements required to prepare and submit a quality research project for consideration.  The Accelerator helps firms navigate through the process from ideation to proposal submission, and ultimately to an award.

The Accelerator is led by Pat Dillon with support from other experts in intellectual property, technology transfer, Lean Startup and  federal cost accounting.

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NEON Food Accelerator

Minnesota Startup Accelerators NEON Food Accelerator

Twin Cities Metro

NEON Food is the only industry-specific incubator designed specifically for food businesses in Minnesota. You’ll work one-on-one with a business advisor who will help you navigate the City’s food regulations and grow your food business intentionally by slowly scaling up.

Location: 1007 W Broadway Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55411
Year Founded: 2006

Programming + Benefits Offered:

  • One-on-one coaching
  • Business assessments
  • Product/menu pricing
  • Marketplace opportunities
  • Licensing consultation
  • Legal services
  • Access to financing and capital
  • Marketing and brand development
  • Kitchen and storage space
  • Quick Books financial/bookkeeping and accounting

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OnRamp Education & Workforce Innovation Accelerator

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Minnesota Startup Accelerators OnRamp Education & Workforce Innovation Accelerator

Twin Cities Metro

OnRamp Education & Workforce Innovation AcceleratorEach year, the OnRamp Education & Workforce Innovation Accelerator, with ECMC Group, invests in five education & workforce innovation startups who participate in a three-month, concierge accelerator program in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Each startup receives a cash investment of $100,000, office space and access to gener8tor’s global network of mentors and investors.

Location: WeWork Uptown, 1330 Lagoon Avenue Suite 400 Minneapolis, MN 55408
Program Length: 12 weeks
Cohort Size: 5

Programming + Benefits Offered:

  • $100,000 cash investment directly into your current round (if raising) or uncapped convertible note (if not currently raising).
  • $1M+ in deals and perks from vendors like IBM Cloud, Rackspace, Amazon, PayPal, Zendesk and Microsoft.
  • Support from the gener8tor team and network of alumni and mentors.
  • Individualized coaching and mentorship from the experienced team at ECMC Group.
  • Showcase event at the annual OnRamp Education & Workforce Innovation Conference.
  • Office space in Minneapolis-St. Paul.

Events: The creation of the OnRamp Education & Workforce Innovation Accelerator builds off the success of gener8tor’s “OnRamp” model designed to efficiently connect startups, corporations and capital. Started in 2020, the OnRamp Education & Workforce Innovation Conference brings together the education industry’s leading corporations, investors and startups. The conference highlights innovations disrupting the education industry, the leaders making such innovations possible and how new technologies and business models will reinvent the industry.

Twitter

 

OnRamp Insurance Accelerator

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Minnesota Startup Accelerators OnRamp Insurance Accelerator

Twin Cities Metro

OnRamp Insurance AcceleratorEach year, the OnRamp Insurance Accelerator, with Allianz Life and Securian Financial, invests in five insurtech startups who participate in a three-month, concierge accelerator program in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Each startup receives a cash investment of $100,000, office space and access to gener8tor’s global network of mentors and investors.

Location: Two offices:
WeWork 1330 Lagoon Ave Suite 400 Minneapolis, MN 55408
Osborn370 370 Wabasha St N Suite 610 St. Paul, MN 55102
Program Length: 12 weeks
Cohort Size: 5

Programming + Benefits Offered:

Benefits offered to accepted companies are:

  • $100,000 cash investment directly into your current round (if raising) or uncapped convertible note (if not currently raising).
  • $1M+ in deals and perks from vendors like IBM Cloud, Rackspace, Amazon, PayPal, Zendesk and Microsoft.
  • Support from the gener8tor team and network of alumni and mentors.
  • Individualized coaching and mentorship from the experienced teams at Allianz Life and Securian Financial.
  • Showcase event at the annual OnRamp Insurance Conference.
  • Office space in Minneapolis-St. Paul.

Events: The OnRamp Insurance Accelerator builds on the success of the annual OnRamp Insurance Conference. Started by gener8tor in 2015, the OnRamp Insurance Conference brings together the insurance industry’s leading corporations, investors and startups. The conference highlights innovations disrupting the insurance industry, the leaders making such innovations possible and how new technologies and business models will reinvent the industry.

Twitter

 

Red Wing Ignite

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Minnesota Startup Accelerators Red Wing Ignite

Southeast

Red Wing Ignite

Red Wing Ignite advances students, entrepreneurs and businesses by bringing together the talent and resources needed to create an innovative ecosystem.  In addition, we manage a co-working space and makerspace. Red Wing Ignite leverages tehe strength of convening and leading stakeholders across public and private sectors in SE MN.

Location: 419 Bush St. Red Wing, MN 55066
Year Founded: 2013
Cohort Size: 15-20
Program Length: 8 Sessions
Application Season: Varies (3x per year)
Total Funds Raised: 1.5 million +

Programming + Benefits Offered:

  • Access to 13 partner organizations/resources across the E1-Entrepreneurs First Collaborative
  • Technical Assistance Fund
  • Co Working Space
  • Private Office Space
  • Meeting Room Space
  • Makerspace
  • Educational Opportunities
  • Intensive hands-on training
  • Opportunity to pitch to Great North Labs and Golden Triangle Funds.

Events: Monthly Red Talks, Monthly E1 Tech Talks, Annual E1 Ignite Cup, ILT Studios Lean Startup Courses, E1 networking and educational opportunities.

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Technology Village Business Accelerator

Minnesota Startup Accelerators Technology Village

Twin Cities Metro

The Technology Village Business Accelerator program supports the growth of emerging technology and professional service businesses with a technology focus, within an entrepreneurial environment that encourages collaboration, fosters job creation and provides connections to local & regional resources.

Location: 4646 Dakota St SE Prior Lake, MN 55372
Year Founded: 2011
Program Length: 3 years
Cohort Size: 8
Application Season: Rolling

Programming + Benefits Offered:

  • Mentorship
  • Roundtable with a Board of Directors
  • Quarterly educational programs
  • Networking opportunities

Events: Annual FAST-TRACK Business Challenge, Participant breakfasts and educational sessions.

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Techstars – Farm to Fork

Twin Cities Metro

With partners Cargill and Ecolab, this program focuses on the future of food and agriculture. This mentorship-driven accelerator works with great founders who are solving problems all across the food value chain: from digital solutions on the farm, to supply chain, manufacturing, restaurant tech and even food waste mitigation.

Location: 370 Wabasha St N floor 8, St. Paul, MN 55102
Year Founded: 2018
Program Length: 13 weeks

Programming + Benefits Offered:

  • All founders get Techstars for life, access to our expansive network, up to $120k in funding
  • Opportunity to develop close relationships with our corporate partners.

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Techstars – UnitedHealthcare

Minnesota Startup Accelerators Techstars UHC

The Minneapolis-based mentorship-driven accelerator is focused on digital health innovation, supported by executive leaders and subject matter experts from UnitedHealthcare along with the Techstars worldwide network.

Location: 729 N Washington Ave Minneapolis, MN 55401
Year Founded: 2019
Program Length: 3 Months
Cohort Size: 10
Application Season: February – May

Programming + Benefits Offered: 

  • Access to Techstars resources for life
  • Acceleration in a 90-day Techstars mentorship-driven accelerator program with personal mentorship and office space
  • Lifetime access to the Techstars worldwide
  • Access to over $400k of cash equivalent hosting, accounting, and legal support—plus other credits and perks worth more than $1M
  • Demo Day exposure and other investor connections
  • Techstars contributes $20,000, which is commonly used as a stipend to support living expenses during the program, and in return receives 6% equity of the company (on a fully diluted basis, issued as common stock) until the company raises a priced equity financing of US $250,000 or more (a “Qualified Financing”)
  • Additionally, upon acceptance to a Techstars mentorship-driven accelerator, every company is offered an optional $100,000 convertible note

Events: Demo Days

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TinySeed

Minnesota Startup Accelerators Tiny Seed

Twin Cities Metro

TinySeed is a year-long, remote accelerator designed for early-stage SaaS founders. The program offers funding as well as guidance, advice, and mentorship from other founders.

Location: 5123 W 98th St., Suite 1084, Minneapolis, MN 55437
Year Founded: 2018
Alumni: 23
Program Length: 1 year
Cohort Size: 10-15
Application Season: Fall

Programming + Benefits Offered:

  • Remote program that runs for a full year
  • Discounts and other perks with TinySeed Partners
  • Structured, remote office hours scheduled with a different mentor every other week, based upon founders’ most pressing needs
  • TinySeed invests $120k for the first founder + $60k per additional founder. Our standard terms are for 10-12% equity

Events: MicroConf

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Twin Ignition Ventures

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Minnesota Startup Accelerators Twin Ignition

Twin Cities Metro

Twin Ignition Minneapolis

Twin Ignition supports a thriving tech startup community in the Twin Cities. The organization aims to to meet the unique needs of each startup it works with.

Location: 1317 Marshall St NE, Minneapolis MN 55413
Year Founded: 2019
Alumni: 7
Program Length: 1-3 years
Cohort Size: Unlimited
Application Season: Rolling

Programming + Benefits Offered: Mentorship, investment, networking and space at the Twin Ignition Startup Garage.

LinkedIn        Facebook

 

University Enterprise Labs

Minnesota Startup Accelerators University Enterprise Labs

Twin Cities Metro

University Enterprise Labs (UEL) is an independent incubator for early-stage companies in life sciences, including biotech, healthcare, food/agriculture, and medical devices. UEL currently hosts 60 early-stage and growth companies, and offers wet labs, office, and conference space to startups.

Location: 1000 Westgate Dr., Saint Paul, MN 55114
Year Founded: 2005
Alumni: >40
Program Length: 7 weeks
Cohort Size: 5
Application Season: Fall and Spring (gBETA Medtech), Rolling applications (early-stage to growth companies)
Total Funds Raised: >$5M to create incubator

Programming + Benefits Offered:

  • Lunch and partner events on entrepreneurship, healthcare economics, and intellectual property
  • Social and networking events for UEL companies
  • Member benefits through GAN (Global Accelerator Network) including up to 1M of credits and discounts
  • Member benefits through UEL’s membership in Medical Alley Association
  • Wet labs and shared equipment for startups
  • Conference rooms and conference space
  • 24/7 secured access to space
  • Community of partners, investors, and startups

Events: Partner and showcase events, Lunch and Learn events, BARDA (Biomedical Research and Development Authority) partner events.

LinkedIn         Twitter           Instagram

 

Venture Center (UMN Technology Commercialization)

Minnesota Startup Accelerators Venture Center

Twin Cities Metro

The Venture Center, part of University of Minnesota Technology Commercialization (TechComm), has helped spin out 167 companies since 2006, including 19 last year. Three-fourths of these companies have been in Minnesota.

Location: 200 Oak St. SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455
Year Founded: 2006
Alumni: 167 companies have been launched, with a survival rate of 75%
Program Length: One year
Cohort Size: 12 startups (Note: Discovery Launchpad does not operate as a “cohort” model, but assists startups one-on-one. 12 startups participated this year.)
Application Season: Rolling
Total Funds Raised: More than $1.16 billion from venture capital, acquisitions, and public offerings

Programming + Benefits Offered: The Venture Center runs Discovery Launchpad, a startup incubator and coaching program begun in 2019 that has helped more than 20 startups to date (only for startups based on University of Minnesota intellectual property).

  • Discovery Capital, a matching seed fund which works to leverage other investors, mainly local, in funding University startups
  • Partnering with other programs throughout the UMN startup ecosystem, numerous startup-oriented open-to-the-public workshops to familiarize researchers with the entrepreneurial process
  • Individualized advising from experienced executives and entrepreneurs
  • Guidance in the creation of business, financial, marketing, sales and regulatory approval plans
  • Guidance in the development of a business pitch
  • Shared office space
  • Access to workshops and many group educations events throughout the year

LinkedIn         Twitter

 

We Work Labs

Minnesota Startup Accelerators WeWork Labs

Twin Cities Metro

WeWork Labs is The We Company’s global platform for early-stage startups and forward-thinking enterprise companies.

Location: 1330 Lagoon Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55403
Year Founded: 2018
Alumni: 980
Program Length: No end date
Cohort Size: 50
Application Season: Always open

Programming + Benefits Offered:

  • Mentorship and networking opportunities with local and international startups
  • Local and international mentorship, office space, and Exclusive services

Events: Pitch nights, networking nights, and weekly brainstorm sessions.

 

Information for this guide was sourced from both direct sources and/or website information. Some content has been lightly edited for clarity or space.

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