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– 2021 MN Entrepreneur Kick-off Agenda –

9:00            Convene – Host – Bruce Strong – SBDC

Sponsor – Skol Marketing

9:10             Emerging Technologies: Implications & Opportunities Concurrent Session

Cognitive & Quantum Computing 

Host – MinneAnalytics
Sponsor – Secured2 Corporation
Presenting: Matthew Versaggi, Dan Atkins

Applying AI In New and Remarkable Ways

Artificial Intelligence is a disruptive technology that is changing the way that entire industries operate. From Farmers to Medical Professionals and Economists alike, there are new and unique tools, applications, and services being launched every day. Join Justin Grammens as he leads a panel with 3 local leaders as we discuss not only how AI is being adopted, but the tools, applications, and use cases where this technology is augmenting humans and providing better and more scalable services today and into the future.

Host – Emerging Tech North
Sponsor – Infinity Robotics
Presenting:  Tyler Nigon, Senthil Kumaran, Yaniv Ben-Ami, Justin Grammens

Technology Convergence – Security & Quantum Considerations

Host – Minnesota Technology Association – Jeff Tollefson
Sponsor – Lab651
PresentingDaren Klum, Bonnie Holub, Nick Powley

Blockchain & Technology Trend Analysis 

Host – Minnesota Innovates
Presenting:  David Perrill, Patrick Ryan

Virtual Reality – the Continuum, the Uses and the Future

Host – Entrepreneurs Organization – Christopher Carey
Presenting: Thong Nguyen, Amir Berejian, Chuck Olsen

9:40           Networking – Featuring – College of Saint Benedict/St. John’s University

Meet Presenters & Featured Entrepreneurs

10:00          Navigating Your Startup with MN Entrepreneur Ecosystem Support – Part I

Ag, Food & Beverage Startup Ecosystem 

Featuring – AURI, Grow North

Education Founders Hub 

Featuring – Three EdTech co-founders who recently combined their companies: Matt Hardy (Kidblog), Eric Nelson (Fanschool), and Ben Pedersen (Insert Learning).  These co-founders will be interviewed by EdNorth Co-Organizers (Steve Wellvang and Adam Gordon)

Entrepreneurship on Campus 

Featuring – Gustavus, College of St. Benedicts/St. John’s University, St. Mary’s University, Southwest Minnesota State University, University of St. Thomas, St. Olaf, Winona State University, Holmes Entrepreneurship Center, University of MN Crookston
Sponsor – Innovator Mindset

Research, Healthcare & Technology Startup Support 

Featuring – U of M Technology Commercialization Venture Center, Min-CORPS, Mayo Clinic Office of Entrepreneurship, Minnesota SBIR/STTR Accelerator

Innovator and Inventor Guidance 

Featuring – LegalCORPS, Inventors’ Network, MN Innovates

Financing for Scale – Options & Pathways

Featuring Gopher Angels, AngelPolleNation, Hill Capital, Brimacomb Capital, IRR

Impact Entrepreneurship

Featuring – Impact Hub, Venn Foundation, Finnovation Lab, Meda

10:30          Networking Featuring – Inventors’ Network

Meet Presenters & Featured Entrepreneurs

10:50          Navigating Your Startup with MN Entrepreneur Ecosystem Support – Part II

Regional Entrepreneurship Initiatives

Featuring – St. Mary’s University, Collider, Red Wing Ignite – E1 (Entrepreneurs First) Collaborative, West Central Initiative Foundation – Live Wide Open & The Initiators Fellowship, Minnesota Innovates – MNwest Entrepreneur Summit, Department of Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation,

Advantages of Associating, Local, State and Federal Business Development

Featuring – MN C of C/Grow Minnesota, Willmar Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Development Centers/Small Business Administration

Financing Resources

Featuring – Women Venture, Northwest Initiative Foundation, Southwest Initiative Foundation, West Central Initiative Foundation, Entrepreneur Fund/Women’s Business Alliance

Digital K-12 Ecosystem  –

Featuring – CoCreateX
Presenting: Code Savvy, Technovation [MN], High Tech Kids, AI Racing League, and Hydra FPV

Startup Accelerators

Featuring – gener8tor Minnesota, Techstars-Farm to Fork, ImpactSKU, gBETA St. Thomas, gBETA Greater MN St. Cloud, gBETA  Medtech, On Ramp Insurance Accelerator, On Ramp Education Workforce Innovation

Competitions & Showcases –

Featuring – AngelPolleNation
Highlighting – Walleye Tank, MN Cup, Idea Competition, Tekne Awards, GSEA, E1 Ignite Cup, Assistive Tech Challenge, Minnedemo

The Minnesota Startup Ecosystem – Its Alignment & Connected Variety

Featuring – Forge North, Club E, Minnestar, Women’s Business Alliance/Soar, One Million Cups, Launch MN, ILT Academy

11:20          Networking – Featuring – Finnovation Lab

Meet the Accelerator & Competition Coordinators and Featured Startups

11:40          Embracing an Entrepreneurial Mindset in the Community and the Classroom

Featuring – Southwest MN CEO (Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities) and St. Paul Public Schools Business Career Pathways Academy

12:00          Special Announcements

Featuring – Hill Capital Corporation
Announcements by: Venn Foundation, SMSU, Collider     

12:25          Lifter Award

Presented By – Lois Josefson

12:35          Dorm Room Start-ups Showcase

Featuring – University of St. Thomas – Schulze School of Entrepreneurship

1:20            ClosingHostScott Marquardt– Southwest Initiative Foundation

1:30            Conclude

– 2019 MN Entrepreneur Kick-off Agenda –

– May 14, 2019 –

The Minnesota Entrepreneur Kick-off will be held in the NEW Scouting Leadership Center at the Northern Star Base Camp.

Please use the Conference Center Entrance for the Leadership Center

 9:30     Doors Open – Registration and Refreshments

Experience the Leadership Training Tech Portal and tour the Leadership Center

10:00    Welcome and Introductions

10:15     What’s New in Our Entrepreneur Ecosystem – Part I

Featured Co-Hosts: JJ Hill Center, EdNorth, Silicon Prairie Online, Minnesota Innovates
Hill Capital Corporation/One Million Cups, Network Connect, Gener8tor

10:45    Dorm Room Startups Showcase

Featured Student Entrepreneur Programs: University of St. Thomas – VersAttach
Gustavus Adolphus College – Capakñan + 2019 Gustie Cup Winner, St. Mary’s University

11:00    Lifter Award Presentations

Todd Bol, Founder – Little Free Library
Ted Huisinga & Ray Norling – Willmar Poultry Company, the
MN Turkey Industry, Life Science Innovations, Nova-Tech Engineering and additional industry affiliated firms.

11:30  Entrepreneur Resource Bazaar & Lunch

Networking & Connecting | Meet Featured Startups
“Lunch & Learn” Sessions
Experience the Leadership Training Tech Portal
“Starting up Outside the Beltway”

12:15 – 12:40 Lunch & Learn Session – Part I

“Starting from Scratch, Finding your Strength & Sourcing
Support”

“Competitions & Accelerators – Choosing When to Apply,
Getting the Most from the Experience and Implications of
Winning or of not Winning

12:30   Entrepreneur Resource Bazaar Concludes

12:45 – 1:10 Lunch & Learn Sessions – Part II

“Student Founder Insights”

“Research Commercialization Opportunities and the Research
to Entrepreneurship Imperative/Conundrum”

“The Dawning of the Hemp Industry – Identifying and
Leveraging its Opportunities

 1:20      What’s New in Our Entrepreneur Ecosystem – Part II

Featured Co-Hosts: Entrepreneurs Organization, Greater MSP,
MOJO, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce/Grow Minnesota,
Techstars United Healthcare & MinneAnalytics, CoCreateX

 1:45      Emergent Technologies Panel – Microfluidics, AI, Data Analytics, Quantum Computing,
                    Cybersecurity, Smart Buildings

Ryan Webber – Singularity University MSP
Justin Grammens – IoT Fuse
David Deetz – Ativa Medical
Dan Atkins – Optum
(Panel Members are Highlighted here – EmTech Panel)

 2:40      Closing and Looking Forward

 2:45       2019 Minnesota Entrepreneur Kick-off concludes

Network & Converse | Experience the Leadership Training Tech Portal

 3:15       Doors Close

[Downloadable PDF available here]

Parking:
The Base Camp parking lot has been increased in size, considerably. Public parking
spaces around Base Camp remain. On May 14, a program, open to the public, begins
in the original Base Camp Team Building at 4:00 PM. Accordingly, the 3:15 to 3:45 time
will be a parking lot transition time.