Imagine if the startups that were being built in the Twin Cities could only connect and engage with early-stage businesses from their same neighborhood?
St. Paul founders had to network with one another; same with startups in downtown Minneapolis, the Northeast, Dinkytown, and so on and so on. Yes, many entrepreneurs would still succeed – several neighborhoods are certainly robust enough to sustain a mini-ecosystem – but the metro's innovation economy, as a whole, wouldn’t be nearly as strong as it is. A thriving ecosystem shares its collective experience and knowledge, across all industries and all area codes.
And that’s why we’re hosting the Inno U. Challenge, a showcase and networking event for student entrepreneurs from all Twin Cities colleges and universities.
Across all of our markets, we’ve attended a number of events, meetups, and pitch competitions at local universities. And they’re great. But, for the most part, they’re also insular; they’re for the university’s students, featuring their professors and their networks.
So, on October 5th at WeWork Minneapolis (225 South 6th St.), the Inno U. Challenge will bring together student-founded startups – from the University of Minnesota, St. Thomas, Macalester, Hamline, and many, many and more – for a night of networking and collision.
During the next few weeks, we’ll be announcing a handful of startups from each school that will present their businesses and ideas to the audience. (Participants will be selected internally). The pitches will also be followed by a panel featuring several founders that have either recently graduated or are in graduate school and are experiencing exciting growth. (More info on that coming soon).
The Inno U. Challenge, while structured as a friendly pitch competition, is designed to serve as a celebration of the innovation happening at campuses throughout the city, as well as an opportunity for first-time founders to meet new peers.
If you’d like to be considered for the Inno U. Challenge or learn more, please email Will and Maddy at wflanagan@americaninno.com and mkennedy@americaninno.com.
If you're interested in aligning with the Inno U Challenge on a partnership level, email MinneInfo@AmericanInno.com.
Each startup will have three minutes to pitch their company. Attendees will be given “Inno Bucks” at the beginning of the event and, at the end of the presentations, will invest in their favorite startup. The company that funds the most will be crowned the winner and will win tickets to Minne Inno's 50 on Fire event in January and other prizes.
Tickets will be on sale soon; learn more here.
Thank you to our event sponsors!
