Brett Brohl, managing director for the Techstars Farm to Fork Accelerator, speaks at a past demo day event.
Techstars Farm to Fork Accelerator
As the new year begins, several Minnesota organizations have started seeking startups and entrepreneurs to take part in their accelerator and incubator programs.
With a growing startup and venture capital ecosystem in the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota, founders and emerging companies have access to programs that can help them boost their reach — whether through mentorships, connections to investors or funding opportunities.
While this list may not be exhaustive of all options available, here is a snapshot of some local programs that currently have open applications (and will be closing them soon):
- Mayo Clinic Platform’s Accelerate – a 20-week program designed to provide health-tech, AI-focused startups with an immersive experience in the industry (for the third cohort, apply by Jan. 31)
- Grid Catalyst’s PowerNorth Incubator – a seven-week program matching deep-tech, energy startups to corporate mentors to develop their product approaches and value propositions (for the first cohort, apply by Jan. 31)
- The Lunar Accelerator – a six-month program by Lunar Startups that is focused on founders who are LGBTQ, women, non-binary and people of color (for the sixth cohort, apply by Jan. 31)
- ILT Academy – 10-week programs for entrepreneurs or soon-to-be entrepreneurs in areas of Greater Minnesota, includes Fastlane 94, Innovate 218 and NOW Network programs (for all three, apply by Jan. 31)
- Target Accelerators – Minneapolis-based Target Corp. offers two programs for consumer-packaged goods brands, the Target Forward Founders for early-stage companies, and Target Takeoff for more mature companies that are ready to scale (for 2023 programs, apply by Feb. 3)
- BETA Cohort – a free, non-dilutive accelerator program based in Minnesota, running for four months (for spring 2023, apply by Feb. 10)
- Gener8tor’s gBETA Medtech Accelerator – a Minneapolis-based, no-equity program for med- and health-tech companies that is led by Boston Scientific Corp., St. Paul-based University Enterprise Labs and an initiative of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (for spring 2023, apply before March 27)
- Techstars Farm to Fork – an accelerator program centering on the future of food and agriculture, partnered with St. Paul-based Ecolab Inc. (for 2023 class, apply by April 5)
- Gener8tor's OnRamp Insurance Accelerator – A three-month program, led in partnership with Allianz Life and Securian Financial, for insurance- and finance-tech startups (apply by April 10)
- Gener8tor’s gBETA St. Thomas Accelerator – a St. Paul-based, seven-week program for companies with at least one founder who was a graduate of the University of St. Thomas (for summer 2023, apply before May 22)
