he Minnesota Cup, the annual startup competition hosted by the University of Minnesota, has announced 27 finalists in nine categories.
The finalists will now prepare a 12-minute pitch to present to division judges live in early September. Division winners will all receive a $25,000 cash prize, and move forward to compete for a $50,000 grand prize.
The overall winner will be announced during Twin Cities Startup Week at a live event on Monday, Sept. 20 .
The Minnesota Cup is the state's largest startup competition. Participants have gone on to raise over $400 million in venture capital. Past winners include companies like 75F Inc., which last month announced an investment from Siemens AG.
The finalists for the 2021 Minnesota Cup are:
Education & Training:
- Career Authority — concierge career planner that also offers leadership training and HR consultation.
- Homeschool Boss — offers online testing in science, math and reading for homeschooled students.
- Proserva — training tool for K-12 teachers.
Energy/Clean Tech/Water:
- 2040 Energy — makes a cold-climate heat pump for homes with radiators.
- CNC Concrete
- Vessyll — building a stackable battery that can be linked to solar panels and other technology.
Food/Ag/Beverage:
- All Clean Food — sells organic, allergen-free meal kits.
- Canomiks — technology to test ingredients and formulations of dietary supplements.
- Clean Chickens and Co. — a mobile processing plant for people who raise their own chickens.
General:
- Ahh — makes an instant cooling wet towel.
- BoundaryCare (Beatrice Health) — uses an Apple Watch to monitor the location of people suffering from dementia.
- Bryce Canyon Design (Python Plunger) — unclogs toilets and drains by combining a plunger, toilet snake and drain cleaner into one device.
High Tech:
- ProsperStack — builds cancellation forms that persuades customers to stay subscribed to services.
- Shrpa — tailors activities to help people find entertainment such as day trips, or family gatherings.
- VoiceIt — uses cloud-based biometrics that allows developers to verify users using their face and voice.
Impact Ventures:
- Black Tech Talent — a curated job board to provide resources that increases the talent pool of Black technologists.
- GenEQTY — is a financial tool for business owners.
- YardHomes MN — builds small, pre-fabricated buildings that can be used as studios or accessory dwelling units.
LifeScience/Health IT:
- Chanl Health — offers low-cost cardiac rehabilitation.
- CoraVie Medical — developing a blood pressure monitor for people with uncontrolled hypertension.
- MarPam Pharma — is developing a cellular treatment to treat HIV.
Student:
- Hearing Glasses — Eyeglass frame technology that transcribes spoken words for the hard of hearing.
- Nanodropper — reduces the size of eye drops so the medication isn't wasted.
- Telo, reimagined the rollator walker to function more safely and efficiently.
Youth:
- Byt — texts users coupons to local restaurants based on what food they're craving.
- CASP Technologies — uses an app to relieve pre-surgery anxiety for pediatric patients
- ShowCase Waves — makes a hair pomade made of natural materials.
