The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has announced $386,964 in Launch Minnesota Innovation Grant awards to 15 startups across the state. These grants are designed to reduce risk and encourage the growth of Minnesota’s technology startups, helping them to solve problems and build an innovative ecosystem.
“The launch of new technology startups is important to Minnesota’s overall competitiveness,” said DEED Deputy Commissioner Kevin McKinnon. “These grants encourage more Minnesotans to pursue future solutions and opportunities for industry.”
The grants provide up to $35,000 for research and development, business expenses, and technical assistance. Since its inception, Launch Minnesota has received $19.84M in funding requests, and has awarded 260 Innovation Grants totaling $6.4M to 187 unique grantees.
Among the grantees are All Clean Food, LLC, who are developing specialty food products and meals for those with allergies and food sensitivities; Glimpse Diagnostics L.L.C. who are developing an artificial intelligence diagnostic aid to enable telehealth treatment; Kinbee LLC, who are creating an online platform to connect families with short-notice childcare; and Steelhead Outdoors LLC, who are developing patented modular.
The other grantees are ArteMedics L.L.C., BABY KNOW: Bodies, Hearts & Minds, LLC, FreeNav, Inc., MFR TECHNOLOGIES, INC., Momease Solutions, Inc., Pneumeric, Inc., Radices Bio LLC, Verilytix, Inc., Verso-Cap, LLC, Visura Technologies, Inc., and VOCxI Health, Inc. All of these startups are led by entrepreneurs of color, veterans, women, or located in Greater Minnesota.
The $1.5M of funding for this fiscal year has now been exhausted. Launch Minnesota will begin accepting applications for Innovation Grants again in July 2023. “This funding is critical for helping start and grow new technologies,” said Launch Minnesota Executive Director Neela Mollgaard. “We continue to see the impact these grants provide. 100% of grantees have said this funding helped move their business forward.”