Are you ready for Twin Cities Startup Week 2021? With tons and tons and tons and tons (…and tons) of entrepreneurial focused events featuring a huge range of founders, thought leaders, ecosystem builders, and more, TCSW 2021 is shaping up to be an amazing week.
We’ve already shared our lineup of Ultimate Guides to TCSW 2021 for:
- Startup Founders
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Students
- Investors
- Corporate Teams
But if you’re looking for a quick overview of the big week, look no further. Here’s TCSW 2021 in a nutshell (that you can then crack open and pick apart the delicious nutty goodness within… ok, we kind of lost the metaphor there).
Don’t forget to register!
A special thanks to Target Accelerators for helping make the virtual portions of TCSW 2021 possible!
TCSW 2021 Opening Party
Kick off TCSW 2021 with us! Grab a drink, network with the community, and enjoy the views of the skyline from the Budweiser Deck at Target Field.
There will be music, local entertainment, food, and more. We’ll also be celebrating our addition of tech.mn to the BETA family — don’t miss out!
Local Pop Up Shops
Aeterna Media, in partnership with Shop Local MSP is excited to bring the first Shop Local Business Showcase to TCSW 2021! During the opening weekend of Startup Week, as part of the Arts and Culture Track, we will be hosting a pop up where local entrepreneurs can come and showcase their products and services. The pop up will be open to all local businesses, as well as food and beverage vendors who are based in the greater Minneapolis and St. Paul area.
Future of Our Cities Track
The Future of Our Cities Track of Twin Cities Startup Week is being hosted by Smart North and sponsored by MnDOT. Prepare to be inspired as we discuss the future of Livability, Mobility, Sustainability, and Workability and all the opportunities that exist for disruptors in the space. Food and beverage will be provided during the event.
Attend this track in person or participate from the comfort of your home or office through Hopin.
SCHEDULE
- 7:50 AM – Opening Remarks
- 8 AM – Opportunities in the Post-Pandemic World
- 9 AM – Transforming Livability and Equity Through Technology
- 10 AM – Digital Equity – The Next Great Equalizer
- 11 AM – Future of Mobility Tech & Research Showcase
- 12:30 PM – Shark Tank Reverse Pitch Competition
- 2 PM – The Re-emergence of Place-based Entrepreneurship
- 3 PM – Investing in Our Collective Futures!
- 4:45 PM – What’s your Blueprint for becoming Future Ready?
Sales & Marketing Track
TCSW is proud to present the Twin Cities Startup Week Sales & Marketing Track. Hear from innovative entrepreneurs, dynamic business leaders, and game-changing experts as they share insights on how the future of Sales & Marketing is being shaped.
Attend this track in person or participate from the comfort of your home or office through Hopin.
SCHEDULE
- 9:00 AM – Opening Remarks
- 9:15 AM – Coffee & Closers: Sell Like a Nerd
- 10:20 AM – Twin Cities Podcast Hosts UNPLUGGED – Part 1
- 11:35 AM – Twin Cities Podcast Hosts UNPLUGGED – Part 2
- 1:20 PM – Your Marketing Should Pay for Itself: Optimizing for Conversion
- 2:25 PM – “Stop Guessing, Start Asking: Using Research to Drive Growth”
- 3:40 PM – Lola Red Presentation
***Full schedule to be announced
GETTING THERE: The Machine Shop has limited parking in its parking lot, but is a very short walk from bus routes 6, 250, 261, 264, 270, 288.
Limited street parking is available.
MOTHER’S ROOM: The Machine Shop offers a beautiful mother’s room for attendees. Please check in at the front desk when you arrive and we’ll direct you to the room.
Emergent Africa Forum (EAF)
Theme: Illuminating Africa And The Diaspora.
The EMERGENT AFRICA FORUM is the signature event of the Africa Chamber of Digital Commerce (ACOFDC Inc.). A non-profit organization headquartered in Minnesota and serves as a gateway to the Africans in diaspora community and the continent of Africa. The EAF is a Digital confluence of elevated ideas and mindset. A solution focused event that seeks to illuminate and accelerate tech Investments in Africa and Diaspora community in strategic and impactful ways. The EAF seeks to bring together professionals, founders, investors and the public sector from Africa and the diaspora nations to showcase innovations, celebrate accomplishments, seal deals and foster a private-public partnership ecosystem.
Founder Track
TCSW is proud to present the Twin Cities Startup Week Founder Track. Please join us as we explore the entrepreneurial journey from how to start your own startup to funding options to how to grow and scale. We’ll hear from seasoned entrepreneurs, local investors, and other community leaders that want to ensure the next Fortune 500s are started in our own backyard. If you’re a founder or interested in starting a company – this track is for you!
Attend this track in person or participate from the comfort of your home or office through Hopin.
SCHEDULE
- 9:00 AM – Opening Remarks
- 9:15 AM – Lessons from Black Tech Leaders
- 10:20AM – If You Build It Will They Come? How To Hire and Retain Your First Employees
- 11:25AM – Come Meditate! A Mindfulness Break.
- 12:10 PM – Growing Your Business: Do I Raise Money to Fund my Startup? – A Lunch Discussion Presented by Traction Capital
- 1:15 PM – Sezzle Presentation
- 2:05 PM – Understanding your startup funding options
- 2:55 PM – Your Strategic Playbook for Growth & Execution
- 4:00 PM – Rethinking Best Practices
- 6:00 PM – Fall 2021 BETA Showcase powered by JPMorgan Chase & Co.
***Full schedule to be announced
BETA Showcase
BETA Showcase is a science fair for startups, where tech enthusiasts, reporters, investors, and the general public meet with founders from a dozen of the top emerging companies.
For the first time, the event will feature startups from our past THREE cohorts that were forced to showcase virtually due to COVID, along with the Fall 2021 BETA Cohort teams. Get excited for the biggest and best Showcase yet!
Education & Training Track (Presented by AWS)
AWS is proud to present the Twin Cities Startup Week Education and Training Track in partnership with EdNorth. Prepare to be inspired as we discuss the future of Education & Training and all the opportunities that exist for disruptors in the space.
Attend this track in person or participate from the comfort of your home or office through Hopin.
SCHEDULE
- 8 AM – Doors open / breakfast
- 8:30 AM – Opening Remarks
- 8:40 AM – Be the Change: Youth Workforce Development through Social Entrepreneurship
- 9:30 AM – Do Well by Doing Good: Making a Positive Impact in EdTech
- 10:30 AM – Too Many Children Left Behind: Improving Equity in Education through Innovation
- 11:30 AM – OnRamp Education & Workforce Innovation Accelerator Premiere (virtual event / lunch)
- 12:30 PM – Getting Technical About the Challenges of Ensuring Everyone Has Access to STEM Programming
- 1:25 PM – Designing for equitable solutions: The rise of social emotional learning, and using AI/ML to improve equity and access
- 2:30 PM – Preparing Your Startup For Fundraising
- 3:25 PM – Early EdTech Founders Panel
- 4:15 PM – Managing Fast-paced Growth for Emerging EdTech Companies
- 5 PM – Closing Remarks
Food & Agriculture Track
TCSW is proud to present the Twin Cities Startup Week Food & Agriculture Track. Prepare to be inspired as we discuss the future of Food & Ag and all the opportunities that exist for disruptors in the space.
Attend this track in person or participate from the comfort of your home or office through Hopin.
SCHEDULE
- 8:00 AM – Reimagining Supplier Diversity – Invite Only Breakfast
- 10:00 AM – Opening Remarks
- 10:05 AM – How to Build a CPG Brand
- 12:45 PM – Customer Obsession Creates Restaurant Resiliency
- 1:50 PM – State of Startup + Enterprise Partnerships in MSP
- 4:00 PM – The Real Pitch MN
***Full schedule to be announced
Minnesota Startup Awards
Join us as we celebrate those making a difference in the Minnesota innovation scene!
At the Minnesota Startup Awards Ceremony at 6:00pm on September 24, we’ll be honoring the top makers, inventors, innovators, and entrepreneurs that make the Minnesota startup ecosystem thrive.
Stick around after for the TCSW 2021 Closing Party at 7 PM!
Minnesota Startup Awards presented by: ILT Academy — Digital River — Flagship Bank — SureSwift Capital — Drip — Dispatch
Attend this track in person or participate from the comfort of your home or office through Hopin.
TCSW 2021 Closing Party
Close out a wonderful week with us at the TCSW 2021 Closing Party.
Grab a drink, celebrate with the community, and see who won a Minnesota Startup Award!
