Venture capital firm and accelerator gener8tor and Allianz Life Insurance have chosen two Minneapolis-based startups and three out-of-state startups for the second cohort of their diversity accelerator.
The MSP Equity Accelerator selects five startups founded by Black, brown or women founders to participate in a 12-week program, providing one-on-one coaching, mentorship and networking opportunities as well as a $100,000 investment. This year, the accelerator received more than 312 applicants nationwide. At the end of the MSP Equity Accelerator, the startup founders will pitch their companies at a showcase event on Sept. 18 in partnership with BETA MN at Twin Cities Startup week, which runs Sept. 13 through 20.
The five companies selected to participate this year were chosen based on growth potential, investor readiness and strategic alignment with the Minnesota market to generate economic benefits for the state, according to a statement from gener8tor.
The selected startups are:
- Ambient Intelligence — A Minneapolis-based startup that develops a contactless patient monitoring device
- Gametime Hero — A Minneapolis-based startup that develops a sports event community platform
- CliniSpan Health — A Durham, North Carolina-based startup that develops an AI-driven clinical trial diversity tool
- Mili Llama — A Thornton, Colorado-based startup that develops a college student substitute teaching platform
- Sip Herbals — A Greshan, Oregon-based startup that develops a healthier coffee alternative
Moses Tut, a 2024 Business Journal 40 under 40 honoree, is the managing director for gener8tor's MSP Equity Accelerator and the OnRamp Education & Workforce Innovation Accelerator.
For the MSP Equity Accelerator's inaugural cohort, five Twin Cities-based startups were chosen to participate in the program.
Here's more about this year's local participants:
Ambient Intelligence developed a contactless patient-monitoring system for the elderly population. The device detects movement and monitors for critical events such as falls. Ambient Intelligence is advancing clinical research in collaboration with the University of Minnesota at the Bakken Medical Devices Center, where it has developed a working prototype.
Ambient Intelligence was part of the Beta Group cohort in 2023, received a Launch Minnesota Innovation Grant in 2021 and part of the Diverse Founders Fellowship run by coworking company Fueled Collective in partnership with Google Startups in 2019. Brian Bradley Johnson founded Ambient Intelligence in 2019 while working toward his undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota. Johnson is currently working on a master's in science in medical device innovation.
Gametime Hero streamlines organizing and participating in sports and recreational events. its platform connects players and organizers, helping them find games, manage schedules and engage with local sports communities. Gametime Hero currently has more than 517 active users and is securing partners within the Twin Cities and Seattle areas. The firm was founded by Ray and Brittany Bell in 2021.
