Finnovation Lab, a startup accelerator for social impact businesses created by the founder of Finnegans Brew Co., has selected nine founders for its second cohort.
The selected fellows will receive a grant of $50,000 to cover living expenses for the duration of the nine-month program. They will also be given a health insurance stipend, dedicated workspace, mentorship and business planning resources.
Finnovation Lab launched in 2018 and is the brainchild of Finnegans Founder Jacquie Berglund. The first cohort supported five entrepreneurs and wrapped up earlier this summer.
"Our first cohort exceeded all expectations. We saw a group of early-stage entrepreneurs, each building incredibly diverse businesses and accomplishing goals to build something meaningful," Connie Rutledge, Finnovation Lab managing director, said in a statement. "What we didn't fully anticipate was the camaraderie and the team spirit within the group. When selecting our second cohort, we chose individuals with a wide range of skills and experiences, knowing they'd all bring something unique to the table."
Here are the fellows and projects in the second cohort, with descriptions provided by Finnovation Lab:
- Lyndsey Calvin: Ascension Medical Devices aims to revolutionize post-operative care for transgender women who undergo gender-affirming vaginoplasty procedures through a newly developed vaginal stent.
- Nestor Gomez Jimenez: Litty Solar brings blockchain to solar panel installation, aiming to speed up the adoption of renewable energy while creating accessible employment opportunities in underserved communities.
- La’Shante Grigsby: Ju+Co Café, a social enterprise café, connects, employs, and inspires women of color through youth development, personalized coaching and economic opportunities.
- Judd Grutman: Vonzella aims to provide mission-driven insurance products to underserved and uninsured communities, starting with bail insurance for defendants navigating the bail process.
- Shannon TL Kearns: Uprising Theatre Company partners with local organizations working on social justice issues to turn emotional engagement into concrete action.
- Mohamed Malim: Epimonia supports the education and advancement of refugees by creating employment opportunities and donating 50 percent of profits to non-profit partners.
- Katie Myhre: RED Market is an online marketplace connecting sustainable farmers with wholesalers, helping farmers deliver local products and build interdependent relationships with buyers.
- Jules Porter: Seraph 7 Studios develops console video games with diverse heroes and storylines and offers an applied STEAM work-study program and summer camp.
- Alysha Price: The Price Dynamic uses empowerment, motivational techniques, and meditation practices to support co-parenting for those working to restructure their families.
Finnovation Lab was originally launched in partnership with Impact Hub, a coworking company, but the two businesses ended their collaboration earlier this summer. Impact Hub moved out of its space above Finnegans' taproom in downtown Minneapolis and relocated to a new office in Stadium Village. At the time, representatives from both companies cited differing business models as a reason for the split.
"We are both committed to serving the social impact community and believe we can do better separately,” Rutledge and Impact Hub Board Chair Katie Kalkman said in a statement to Minne Inno.
Finnovation Lab fellows still work out of the space above Finnegans' taproom.
