One of the best ways to support local startups is by buying their stuff. And what better time of year to buy stuff than the holidays?
To give you some gift-giving inspiration, Minne Inno has compiled a list of Minnesota-made products from local startups and entrepreneurs that offer a range of different gift ideas, from socks to matching outfits for dogs and their humans.
Hippy Feet ($14 and up)
Hippy Feet is a public benefit corporation that employs homeless youth to create high-end socks and sweaters from eco-friendly materials. The company was founded in 2016 with a "buy one, give one model," and has since donated thousands of pairs of socks to local homeless shelters.
HabitAware's Keen Bracelet ($149)
Do you know someone who's trying to break a bad habit like nail biting? Maybe HabitAware can help. The company offers a smart awareness tracker called Keen to stop behaviors like hair pulling, nail biting and skin picking. Keen was named by TIME Magazine as one of the Top Inventions of 2018.
Love Your Melon ($30 and up)
Minneapolis-based Love Your Melon sells a variety of knit products but is known for its beanies. For each purchase, the company donates 50% of its net profit to support charitable missions for children and families battling cancer. Since 2012, Love Your Melon has given more than $6.2 million dollars to fighting pediatric cancer and over 180,000 hats to children battling cancer.
Swannies ($25 and up)
Swannies, a member of the earliest gener8tor Minnesota cohort, offers golf apparel for the sports Millennial and Gen Z fans.
Circadian Optics ($45 and up)
Founded in 2016, Minneapolis-based Circadian Optics offers a line of light therapy lamps that mimic the brightness and color of sunlight to help maintain healthy circadian rhythms during winter. The company claims that its bright LED lights can help regulate sleep, boost energy levels and improve a person’s mood. Circadian recently scored $750,000 during an appearance on "Shark Tank."
HiBAR ($14 and up)
HiBAR was created by a group of four friends hoping to cut back on single-use plastics in the bathroom. Together they created a collection of solid shampoos and conditioners that skip the need for plastic packaging.
Dog Threads ($24 and up)
Dog Threads offers flannels, sweaters and even Hawaiian shirts for its fashionable dog-loving fan base. Items range from $24 to $42 for dogs and up to $78 for humans. A portion of Dog Threads’ profits is donated to nonprofit animal rescue missions, and any scrap fabric generated during production is used to make donated dog beds. The company raised $250,000 on "Shark Tank" this fall.
Voyager Campervans ($116 per night)
Based in Minneapolis, Voyager provides eco-friendly campervan rentals to travelers in six U.S. cities. The vans come equipped with full-size beds, water source and food storage, linens, cookware and more. Voyager won the Minnesota Cup's General division this year.
SHOPPING PLATFORMS
Omnia Fishing: An e-commerce store that recommends tackle based on the lake anglers plan to fish.
Giftbomb: A mobile gift card app that allows users to send each other certificates to local small businesses
