Our Minne Inno Madness competition is here. And we've got 32 local startups vying for the coveted title of 2022 Inno Madness champion.
Inno Madness is our friendly, bracket-style challenge where readers vote to advance companies based on one question: Who would you invest in? Whether you believe in one mission or product slightly over the other or would prefer to back a more established company versus an early-stage startup, how you answer that question is entirely up to you. The bracket is designed to shine a spotlight on 32 innovative, fast-growing local businesses.
The bracket is assembled based on reader nominations, as well as editorial input from the Minne Inno team. Seeding was determined randomly. Meet the participants below and read the content rules here.
The goal of Inno Madness is to give a snapshot of some of the most-promising tech companies in Minnesota. It is by no means a complete list of the state's best startups, which is a testament to the size of Minnesota's tech scene. It's also not just a list of the 32 most-funded startups in the region.
Instead, the bracket is meant to represent the full breadth and diversity of the ecosystem. In the end, think of the bracket as just a fun look into tech local companies you need to know in 2022.
RELATED: Here are Minne Inno's 2021 Startups to Watch
First-round voting begins now and continues through March 8. Readers can cast one vote per round. We'll open up voting round by round, ultimately crowning an INNO MADNESS winner on March 25.
Let's get into Round 1...
Meet the Players:
- ComputeNorth is an Eden Prairie-based operator of data centers used to mine cryptocurrency.
- BetterYou is a digital coaching app designed to help users track and take back their free time.
- OurFamilyWizard provides a co-parenting app for divorced and separated parents that allows for easier communication, with tools that track expenses, a shared calendar and secure messaging.
- NextGem is a social app built for trading card enthusiasts. Its app uses AI technology to capture professional-grade images that showcases previously inaccessible card collections.
- Fulcrum is a Minneapolis-based company that builds software for manufacturing companies.
- Nexben is a cloud-based health insurance benefits platform.
- Omnia Fishing is a company that sells fishing tackle to anglers based on the fish, lakes and conditions they're likely to encounter in their area.
- REMastered Sleep produces a water bottle that improves the sleep of snorers by strengthening the muscles in their tongue and throat.
- Telo is designing a rollator walker that shifts the user's center of gravity and improves safety.
- Netzro is working on an upcyling platform that captures and converts industrial food and beverage byproducts into new food ingredients.
- Click360 allows webpages to track what visitors do on their sites, which then drives revenue by identifying behavior.
- Gwoop uses exercises grounded in cognitive science to improve gamers' reaction times, visual memory and speed.
- TurnSignl is an app that gives on-demand legal help to drivers who have been stopped by police.
- iPondr is an ed-tech company innovating diversity, equity and inclusion at workplaces through learning and culture development.
- Proserva is a training tool for teachers that measures their performance in real time, eliminating the inefficiency of workshops and broad training seminars.
- Yardstik is a security and screening startup that provides employee screening and training.
- Marani Health is developing a digital rental and postpartum care platform that will combine a mobile app with a clinical portal.
- Soona is a same-day photo startup that makes content for e-commerce companies.
- SoleSafe is an insurance company used for expensive sneakers.
- Carbon Origins is building a last-mile delivery robot that is controlled by a human using a virtual reality headset.
- Branch is a tech firm that helps employees speed up paydays for workers.
- Inspectorio provides quality- and compliance-management software.
- LeagueOS is a platform for sports and esports leagues to register and operate leagues.
- Prevent Biometrics is a sports-tech startup that creates a concussion-monitoring mouthguard.
- Kidizen is an online resale platform for children's clothing and apparel.
- Lucy is a knowledge management company that uses AI to assist organizations in accessing data.
- Bizzy Coffee is a Brooklyn Center-based manufacturer of cold-brew coffee.
- Suma Brands is in the business of acquiring and growing fulfillment-by-Amazon businesses.
- Duos pairs a trained personal assistant for aging with an older adult. The companions then provide everything from help ordering groceries to arranging safe transportation.
- Black Tech Talent is a job board aimed at bridging the gap between Black people and careers in the technology sector.
- Popup Think Tank turns the community into a resource for startup founders by brainstorming for two hours.
- Lifespark is a St. Louis Park-based senior care company.
Read contest rules here
