Welcome to the Minnesota Cup!The Largest Statewide New Venture Competition |
The Minnesota Cup is an annual competition that seeks to support and accelerate the development of the best breakthrough ideas from across Minnesota. We are looking for the next great entrepreneurial success story in our state.
The 2012 entry period for all divisions except Social ended on May 18. Thank you to all the participants and good luck in the competition! Divisional semi-finalists will be announced on June 11 and all team leaders will be notified as to the results of the first round judging on the same day.
To enter the Social division, please do so by 11:59pm on May 25 here: http://svpmn.org/programs/social-ent-cup-award/.
Quick Links:
CNN Money Coverage of Prominent Small Business Competitions Across the Nation
Innovative medical device, biotech, health IT and life science ideas.
Innovative ideas involving clean technology and renewable energy.
Innovative products, services and solutions in manufacturing, recreation, education and all other ideas.
Innovative web 2.0, mobile, software and hardware ideas.
Innovative solutions to society's most pressing social problems.
For full and part-time undergraduate and graduate students attending a college or university in Minnesota and who are between the ages of 19 and 30 and have less than 5 years of work experience.
Minnesota Cup Supplements
Each year, Twin Cities Business provides enhanced coverage of the Minnesota Cup through a 16 page supplement. To the right are supplements from the 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 & 2011 competitions that can be downloaded as PDF's.
Success Stories
As the Minnesota Cup program grows and evolves, one of the most important themes is that the program works. Many past finalist and semi-finalist have met investors, advisors, board members, business partners and business professionals through various Minnesota Cup events, the semi-final reception, the awards event in the fall and through media attention they have received during and after the competition.
Whether it's 2005 finalist HealthSimple who went on to successfully sell their business to Johnson & Johnson, 2006 winner VAST Enterprises and their growth including a partnership with Fabcon or 2009 winner Alvenda who closed on their series A round soon after the competition ended, we hear stories of past entrants that have had great success since participating in the Minnesota Cup.
