The regular monthly gathering for the Inventors & Entrepreneurs Club will not be held in April. We will share more information next month on future sessions!
Let’s talk Entrepreneurship…. March 22nd with I&E Club
The March Inventors & Entrepreneurs Club Meeting will be held in a hybrid format this month. Join us in-person at East Central Energy (412 Main Avenue N, Braham, MN) or online at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87349071758 beginning at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, March 22nd.
We are welcoming Brian Voerding with the Initiative Foundation to talk with guests about Entrepreneurship and the program available right here in Central Minnesota to assist you in taking your business from idea to reality. Shawn Hopman, owner of Ya-Sure Kombucha, will share his Business Success Story, and how working with the Initiative Foundation helped get his business up and running.
1 Million Cups: a free entrepreneur, business networking program
We invite you to the final Inventors & Entrepreneurs Club event of the season coming up on Tuesday, May 25th at 6:00 PM. This meeting will be held in an online format only. The Inventors & Entrepreneurs Club will be taking a “summer vacation” in June, July & August, and returning this fall on September 28th.
The theme of this month’s meeting is 1 Million Cups, a free entrepreneur / business networking program, Developed by the Kauffman Foundation, that meets at locations nationwide (including the Twin Cities & Duluth in our area) on Wednesday mornings at 9:00 AM. For more info please see www.1millioncups.com.
Our speakers include Peyton Green, Lead Analyst at Traction Capital, a Minnesota Venture Capital and Private Equity fund, who will talk not only 1 Million Cups, but also Venture Capital and Private Equity for businesses, and Andy Obst, President of Fistula Solution, who will speak on his first hand entrepreneurship experience and how 1 Million Cups can help.
The Inventors & Entrepreneurs Club events are free to participate in. Complete the RSVP Form below (no later than Tuesday, May 25th at NOON to receive a link via our Google Calendar.
Are you an entrepreneur with a social enterprise idea?
Explore the Initiators Fellowship program to see if it’s a fit for you or someone you know.
What is the Initiators Fellowship?
Through a friendly yet competitive selection process, the program awards up to eight fellowships and provides training, mentoring and guidance—plus $30,000 annually for two years—to support Fellows and their social enterprise ideas.
Am I eligible?
Applications are encouraged from passionate and emerging social entrepreneurs within the Initiative Foundation, Northwest Minnesota Foundation, Southwest Initiative Foundation and West Central Initiative areas.
How Do I apply?
Applications are submitted online and include a written form, resume, letter of reference and a short video. The initial pool of applicants will be narrowed down to 15 finalists from which eight Fellows—two from each region—will be selected.
Attend an informational webinar starting at 11:15 am on Tuesday, May 18, to learn more about the Initiators Fellowship.
Business Advice from People With Real World Experience
That will be the focus of the next Inventors & Entrepreneurs Club meeting on Tuesday, April 27th at 6:00 PM. Our speakers will include Dick Jordan with SCORE (formerly Service Corps of Retired Executives) on their entrepreneur and business leader mentorship programs, and Linda Laitala will speak on her real-world experience on selling her business – what went well, and what she would do differently.
MN Cup 2021 Applications Due April 16th
MN Cup is a community-led, public-private partnership supporting Minnesota’s entrepreneurs. Hosted by the University of Minnesota, this annual competition reaches emerging entrepreneurs from across the state and connects them with education, mentorship and support to launch and accelerate the development of their new ventures. The competition and events are totally free!
Minnesota Cup (MN Cup) is kicking off our 17th season! Applications for the 2021 competition are open from March 15 – April 16. MN Cup is here to connect current and aspiring Minnesota entrepreneurs to education, mentorship, seed capital, and the broader community. You do not need to have an entity formed or be earning revenue to apply – all Minnesotans and Minnesota-based businesses earning less than $1M annual revenue are eligible. MN Cup has given away $4 Million in non-dilutive seed funding since 2005, and plans to award at least $400,000 this season. We hope you’ll share this free, accessible, supportive opportunity with founders and innovators in your network!
Ready to learn more? Click here for information on scheduling an info session or go straight to the application!
SBA Resources & MINPACK owner featured for March I&E Club
We invite you to our next Inventors & Entrepreneurs Club event on Tuesday, March 23rd at 6:00 PM. This meeting will be held in an online format only.
Our speakers will include Jessica Schott Bitz with Falcon National Bank and Terry Stein from MN Business Finance Corp speaking on SBA programs for entrepreneurs, as well as Bob Thompson, owner of MINPACK in Pine City, as this month’s Business Success Story.
Complete the RSVP below to receive a link for the event.
County Resources will be the February Focus
The Inventors & Entrepreneurs Club for Tuesday, February 23rd at 6:00 PM in an online / telephone format only, will feature county representatives from Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine to talk about Resources & Assistance available in East Central Minnesota for Inventors & Entrepreneurs.
We are requesting advance registration for those that wish to attend this month’s session. The online meeting link will only be shared with attendees that are registered and only verified attendees will be admitted into the session. We look forward to collaborating with you!
Inventors & Entrepreneurs Club Meets November 26th
We invite you to our next Inventors & Entrepreneurs Club meeting on Tuesday, November 26th at East Central Energy in Braham. Doors open at 5:30 PM for networking, and presentations are from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM. Our Business Success Story will be from entrepreneur Dennis Frandsen.
The event is free to attend and open to the public. For more info, please log on to the Inventors & Entrepreneurs Club website: www.ecmnbusiness.com
Inventor & Entrepreneur Club Meeting, August 27
The next Regional Inventors & Entrepreneurs Club meeting will be on Tuesday, August 27th at East Central Energy in Braham. Doors open for networking at 5:30 PM, presentations start at 6:00. Bring your ideas, inventions and friends!
East Central MN Business 