Melissa Kjolsing Lynch has stepped down from her position as managing director of Lunar Startups, a new St. Paul-based startup incubator she co-founded earlier this year, in order to focus her efforts on her own startup, Recovree.
Lynch's last day leading the program was September 12. Lynch told Minne Inno that she shared her decision with the rest of the team in the middle of the summer. Danielle Steer, Lunar's senior program manager, has succeeded Lynch as director of Lunar Startups. Prior to joining Lunar Startups this spring, Steer helped establish Impact Hub MSP, a coworking space for local impact entrepreneurs.
"Danielle's hire was very intentional because we knew she would be a fantastic leader and make Lunar Startups a successful program in our community," Lynch said in an email.
Although she will no longer be leading the program, Lynch and the rest of the Recovree team will work out of the Glen Nelson Center, where Lunar Startups is housed. The center is located within Osborn370 in downtown St. Paul.
"After a successful round of fundraising, Melissa and her brother, co-founder Luke Kjolsing, felt it was important to devote 100 percent of their attention to the success and growth of their company," said Jeff Freeland Nelson, executive director of the Glen Nelson Center.
Powered by a $1 million investment from the Knight Foundation, Lunar was launched earlier this year by American Public Media, the parent company of Minnesota Public Radio. Lunar announced its inaugural incubator class in July. The accelerator focuses on supporting startups with founders from underserved areas or who come from underrepresented backgrounds.
Lynch founded Recovree with her brother, Luke Kjolsing, in 2017. The startup aims to help those struggling with substance use disorders by connecting them to peer support specialists. Recovree offers a workflow management platform that helps these specialists stay in touch with their clients and create more meaningful conversations.
Recovree has grown quickly in 2018. Earlier this summer, the company raised a $325,000 seed round to grow its platform. Recovree also recently received $50,000 after winning a startup competition in North Dakota.
Before joining Lunar Startups, Lynch spent five years leading the Minnesota Cup, the state’s largest startup competition. She stepped down from the position in November 2017. Recovree competed in, and won, the impact ventures division of this year's Minnesota Cup. Recovree beat out nine other startups in the category to claim the top title. The company will be awarded $30,000 for the win and will compete against eight other startups for the Cup's $50,000 grand prize next month.
"This is a big moment for Glen Nelson Center, Lunar Startups and Recovree and early proof of the high potential and trajectory of entrepreneurial ventures in this space," Freeland said in a statement.
