Launch Minnesota, an initiative to grow Minnesota's startup ecosystem through the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, awarded 26 Minnesota-based startups a total of $673,280 in grants.
The grants are part of Launch Minnesota's Business Operation Innovation grants, awarded to "promising, innovative and scalable technology businesses." The grants provide up to $35,000 to use for operational costs such as research and development, direct business expenses and technical assistance. This year, 16 of the grants were given to startups led by entrepreneurs of color, veterans, women, persons with disabilities or are startups located in greater Minnesota.
“This grant round includes a diverse range of startups – from state-of-the-art medical technology to sustainability innovations to consumer-focused technologies that simplify and improve our daily lives,” said Rob Cimperman, Launch Minnesota Director.
Here are the 2024 Business Operation Innovation Grant recipients in the Twin Cities and surrounding suburbs:
- Anumio Inc., a Plymouth-based veterinary science company that manufactures novel sustained-release drug products to aid in the treatment of diseases with high prevalence in animal health, was awarded $24,500.
- Camperoni Inc., a Minneapolis-based, woman-owned company offering a web-based app that helps parents automate the process of finding and registering kids for camps, sports and activities, was awarded $24,500.
- CorRen Medical Inc., a Minneapolis-based medical device company that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of peripheral artery disease and cardiorenal disease, received $24,500. The company is developing an accurate Ankle-Brachial Index test for early peripheral artery disease diagnosis.
- Daisy Pet Inc., a Saint Paul-based, AI-powered dog health and wellness smartphone app that provides personalized wellness advice, received $24,500.
- Epiblock, a Minneapolis-based medical device company that created a mouth-inserted device to restrict blood flow to the nasal cavity and surrounding area to help stop nosebleeds, received $28,000. The product was developed by three University of St. Thomas students.
- Kommodo Holdings Corp., a Shoreview-based biotechnology company developing therapies for rare diseases that use engineered T cells to secrete therapeutic molecules, received $21,000.
- MarginBio, a Minneapolis-based biologics company that's developing and commercializing an antibody discovery platform to overcome challenges in early-stage drug discovery, received $21,000.
- Mom Badge, a Minnetonka-based smartphone app that allows users to send and receive digital badges acknowledging, supporting and celebrating motherhood achievements, moments and milestones, received $21,000. The woman-owned company’s badges are based on hand-crafted designs and senders have options to attach personal notes and gift cards.
- Sports Vision Inc., a Minneapolis-based developer of an AI-powered sports analytics platform for athlete and team sports performance enhancement and optimization, received $35,000.
- Paxos Medical Inc., a Maple Plain-based medical device company developing an implantable neuromodulation system for pelvic health disorders, received $24,500.
- Riptide Therapeutics, a Minneapolis-based pharmaceuticals company that researches and develops cancer drugs that aim to render tumors more susceptible to existing treatments, received $24,500.
- Swinergy Inc., a Minneapolis-based, veteran-led company’s anaerobic digestion process transforms agricultural manure into renewable natural gas faster than current offerings, received $31,500.
- Trunkdrop, a Minneapolis-based company that created a mobile app functions like a rideshare platform that consumers and small businesses can use for on-demand courier/delivery services, received $21,000.
- Venstramedical US Inc., a medical device company that is developing percutaneous circulatory support systems for temporary use by cardiologists in the treatment of patients requiring cardiac support without surgical intervention, received $21,000.
Greater Minnesota:
- DIY Trees, a Hermantown-based company that's developing an app-based tutorial and user-friendly tree kits that provide personalized tree growing experiences, received $22,280.
- Energy ReLeaf, a solar shingle installer with energy and roofing experience for both traditional roofing and solar array installations, received $21,000.
- Impacks Inc., a St. Cloud-based company that simplifies back-to-school supply shopping for parents, schools and administrators, received $35,000.
- Just Housing SBC, a Duluth company that designs and sells ready-to-build, zero energy-capable house plans, received $24,500.
- Mozrt Inc., an East Gull Lake-based fintech banking startup, received $28,000.
- QoL Devices Inc., a Rochester-based medical device company that created gamified mobile technology solution that functions as a respiratory muscle trainer and symptom tracker for individuals with respiratory conditions, received $31,500.
- Tam Technologies Inc., a Rochester-based information software startup that uses a scan on a smartphone to help shoppers find clothes that fit, received $35,000.
- Tanner Mobile Health, company developing a proprietary enterprise software application aimed at improving rehabilitation services in children, adolescents and young adults, received $21,000.
Since its inception in 2019, Launch Minnesota has awarded $8.2 million in grant funding and 62% has been awarded to targeted founders. Innovation grantees have gone on to raise more than $150 million in additional post-award funding.
