Launch Minnesota, a state program that provides grants and mentorship to early-stage entrepreneurs, announced Tuesday it has awarded $673,500 in Launch Minnesota Innovation Grants to 25 local startups.
The grants are designed to reduce risks and assist the most promising and scalable technology companies in the state.
"Putting capital in the hands of founders can make a big difference in their long-term success," said Launch Minnesota Executive Director Neela Mollgaard in a statement. "We have seen firsthand the difference it is making in the ability to grow startups and new technologies."
Launch Minnesota, an arm of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, has $1.5 million each fiscal year through legislative funding. The organization has $826,500 remaining in the year ending June 2022.
Since Launch Minnesota was established in 2019, it's awarded over $3.8 million to more than 115 startups across the state.
Here are the 25 startups that received Launch MN Innovation Grants, with descriptions provided by DEED.
- 2040 Energy, Hennepin County: Developing an air-source heat pump designed to replace gas/oil boilers in homes with radiators
- Allergy Medical, Ramsey County: Developing a small double-dosing epinephrine delivery device
- Ambient Intelligence Inc., Hennepin County: Developing a real-time contactless patient monitoring technology for long term care facilities
- Beatrice Health LLC., Ramsey County: Developing an app for caregivers of vulnerable adults to monitor and locate those suffering from Alzheimer's
- Biovisics Medical Inc., Wright County: Developing a physician-prescribed home-use digital therapy platform to slow or halt the progression of degenerative retinal diseases
- Canomiks Inc., Olmsted County: Developing an AI-based platform to test and certify biological efficacy and safety for the food, beverage and dietary supplement industry
- Fybraworks Foods, Ramsey County: Developing a process to grow real animal meat proteins, free of hormones and antibiotics, in microbes
- Hello Temp Inc., Hennepin County: Developing a labor-matching platform for knowledge workers to allow small and mid-sized businesses to compete with Fortune 500 companies for flexible talent
- ImagoAI Inc., Ramsey County: Developing an AI-enabled imaging system that automates food quality checks for food processing companies
- IntelliU LLC., Carver County: Developing enterprise software that helps med-tech firms reduce product risks using AI-driven requirements analysis
- Kronfeld Motor Co.: Hennepin County, Developing a programmable, highway speed, human assist, electric vehicle
- LegalQ Inc., Hennepin County: Developing an app that connects legal consumers with attorneys
- LifEngine Animal Health Laboratories Inc., Olmsted County: Using gene editing technology to reprogram living cells for use as a cancer therapy in animals
- Monicat Data, Ramsey County: Developing a platform that helps teams simplify business reporting by connecting multiple data platforms
- NETZRO SBC, Hennepin County: Developing an upcycling platform that captures and converts industrial food & beverage byproducts into new sustainable upcycled food ingredients at scale
- Nucleic Sensing Systems LLC, Ramsey County: Developing technology for the autonomous detection and verification of biological organisms
- Proserva Inc., Hennepin County: Developed an integrated platform that provides remote professional learning for teachers
- Radwave Technologies Inc., Ramsey County: Developing electromagnetic tracking solutions for use in minimally invasive and robotic surgeries
- Renew Power Systems Inc., Hennepin County: Developed technology that allows users to stack renewable energy systems to store and use at the point of generation through local community microgrids
- Runerra Technologies Inc., Hennepin County: Developing a platform that connects merchants with local neighborhoods
- SitEat Inc., Hennepin County: Developing a mobile ordering platform for in-venue concession stands
- UnPub Global, Hennepin County: Developing an online program-management platform that transforms analog or in-person education
- UR TURN SBC, Hennepin County: Developing a college/career readiness software solution for middle and high school students
- xDot Medical Inc., Hennepin County: Developing xCinch Access Management System for bloodless access site management for catheter-based therapies to reduce bleeding complications
- Your Path LLC., Mille Lacs County: Developing technology and services that connect people with virtual behavioral health care for substance-related issues
