Nominations open for Minne Inno's 2023 Fire Awards, honoring MN companies setting economy ablaze

Nominations for Minne Inno’s annual Fire Awards are now open. Submit your picks here by Friday, May 26.

Now in its sixth year, the Fire Awards are our premier recognition program honoring the startups, growing companies, organizations and people setting the local innovation economy ablaze. Minne Inno accepts nominations from community members for this awards program and reviews our coverage from the past year to determine the Fire list, which is grouped into categories.

The 50 Minnesota-based companies, organizations or people selected for the Fire list are then presented to a panel of judges who select one winner per category (an Inno Blazer) who they feel has made the largest impact to the ecosystem in each category.

The Inno Blazers in each category will be announced at an event this summer. Last year, winners who took home awards included Yardstik, Branch and TurnSignl.

The honorees selected each year for the Fire list may have raised new funding, released an innovative product, filed several patents, emerged from stealth, landed a major partner or client, made a significant hire and more. We also highlight individuals who are leading, supporting or assisting these companies.

Tell us about the companies and people who you see as significant players in solidifying Minnesota as a hub for innovation. You may submit a nomination for someone else or self-nominate. Submit your nominations here.

Awards will be given in some or all of the following categories. Even if a nominee doesn’t fit inside of the categories, we still invite you to submit a nomination. The categories featured each year are shaped, in part, by nominations received.

Those potential categories are:

We will announce the honorees this summer and provide details about the Fire Awards event, where we will name the Inno Blazers, at a later date.

Any questions should be directed for Minne Inno reporter Caitlin Anderson at canderson@bizjournals.com.