The Minnesota Cup announced the eight division winners of its annual startup competition Friday.
The competition began with 80 teams (10 per category) competing in the Cup’s eight categories for their share of $450,000 in prize money. This is $50K more than last year, and the largest amount the Cup has ever awarded to its winners, according to director Melissa Kjolsing.
Each of the division winners will be awarded $30,000, and second place teams will receive $5,000. Division winners are now qualified to compete for a $50,000 grand prize and $20,000 second prize during Twin Cities Startup Week next month. Startup Week also marks the first time teams compete against startups outside their industry.
The Cup's division finalists were announced last month. The competition has continued largely out of the public eye throughout the summer as participants worked with mentors to prep business plans and polish pitches.
Here is a complete list of each division's first and second place winners:
ENERGY/CLEAN TECH/WATER Winner Sironix Renewables: Develops environmentally-friendly and safe chemicals from plants to be used for industrial consumer products.
Runner-up Future Force LLC: Full Force’s Zero Contact Transmission tech is a magnetic propulsion gearbox which delivers a 35 percent more efficient variable speed drive regardless of size or application.
FOOD/AGRICULTURE/BEVERAGE Winner Autonomous Tractor Corporation: A company developing autonomous farm equipment.
Runner-up Squarrel Cooperage: Makers of square barrels for aging alcohol that use one-third less wood than traditional barrels.
GENERAL Winner Z Flow Pro: A helmet that helps commercial painters avoid skin rashes and irritations that typically come from paint overspray or drywall dust.
Runner-up County Chromatic 3D Materials: Creates 3D printing materials with the durability to meet the requirements for finished manufactured goods.
HIGH TECH Winner Starting 11: A fantasy soccer app.
Runner-up Extempore: Education tech company creating a new way for teachers to distribute and grade assignments.
IMPACT VENTURES Winner Venn Foundation: Creates “program-related investments,” for philanthropic organizations.
Runner-up UR TURN: An education support system that uses decades of research to help students, parents, teachers and advisors stay on track to graduation.
LIFE SCIENCE/HEALTH IT Winner MicroOptx, Inc.: a medical device company creating an implant to assist those suffering from glaucoma.
Runner-up Impleo Medical, Inc.: A company developing an outpatient injection therapy for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.
COLLEGE STUDENT Winner UnderRecruited Preps: Connects student athletes to college coaches and teaches them about the athletic recruiting process.
Runner-up Outdoors Advisor: an online travel agency (much like Expedia or Airbnb) for the outdoor recreational industry.
YOUTH (Under 18) Winner Green Garden Bakery: Sells vegetable-based desserts.
Runner-up Peacebunny Island: An 8.5-acre private island on Lake Minnetonka dedicated to saving bunnies and making the angora fashion industry humane.
