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Ascentis

Twenty Minutes: August 20, 2021

A Big Branch Series B, a very healthy acquisition, the search is on for the next gBETA Medtech cohort, and more. This is the news in Minnesota tech and startup for the week of Friday, August 20.

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Featured Interviews:

Companies of the gBETA St. Thomas 2021 cohort:

SimBull
SimBull Sports Exchange helps sports fans profit from their knowledge by trading virtual shares that represent professional and collegiate teams. Users buy and sell shares in virtual sports teams that mirror objective results, interact with other fans in SimBull’s sports community, and monetize their sports content. SimBull has over 1,500 active members and a market cap of $350,000.

Kenneth Giles, Co-Founder and CEO | kenneth.giles@simbull.app | simbull.app

Willa’s
Willa’s creates deliciously creamy plant milks using whole, organic ingredients for the dairy-free foodie. Willa’s Plant Milks are revolutionary in their nutrition-packed simplicity, delicious consistency, and no-waste process, making them the healthiest and most sustainable options available. Willa’s is a consistent top-seller on Amazon and recently added Foxtrot and Erewhon as retail partners.

Christina Dorr Drake, Co-Founder and CEO | Christina@willaskitchen.com | willaskitchen.com

ZeSa
ZeSa manufactures patented instability training devices for training, rehab and prehab protocols. ZeSa’s devices, the Activator Training Platforms®, combine instability and rotation with five progressive levels of difficulty to help trainees achieve optimal strength, balance and flexibility. ZeSa Fitness has sold $129k in Activators, including to 25 professional sports teams (MLB, NBA, WNBA, NFL).
Cindy Vavra, Co-Founder and CEO | cindy@zesafitness.com | zesafitness.com

Seraph 7 Studios
Seraph 7 Studios develops console video games (PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo) that create change for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities all over the world. Seraph 7 distributes through online marketplaces for instant purchase-to-play. Seraph 7 provides science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics work-study for local high school students. Seraph 7 Studios is a Minnesota Public Benefit Corporation and will release its first game in Q1 2022.

Jules Porter, Founder | jules@seraph7studios.com | seraph7studios.com

Headlines:

HR Software Company Ascentis Acquires Cincinnati Time Systems

Branch Secures $48 Million Series B, Closes on $500 Million Credit Facility

Check out the Minnesota Companies That Made the 2021 Inc. 5000 List

New York Tech Company Unite Us Acquires Carrot Health

gBETA Medtech is Seeking Black Founders for Fall 2021 Cohort

Inspectorio Joins Apple Impact Accelerator Cohort

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This week’s episode of Constant Variables:

“Think globally. Act locally. Infrastructure Engineer, Solomon Anderson, joins the show to chat about how data operates, the art over science of balancing new features with supporting existing infrastructure, and the vast environmental impact of something as miniscule as open browser tabs on our laptops.”

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).