2010 Division Winners Press Release
MINNESOTA CUP ANNOUNCES COMPETITION WINNERS
MINNEAPOLIS - Sept. 1, 2010 – The Minnesota Cup, a statewide entrepreneurial contest that seeks out and supports Minnesota’s newest and most innovative business ideas, today announced the winners of the 6th Annual Minnesota Cup competition.
“This year’s Minnesota Cup winners are behind some of our state’s most innovative new business ideas,” said Scott Litman, Minnesota Cup co-founder. “We look forward to honoring them at our upcoming awards ceremony.”
The Social Entrepreneur division winner – chosen earlier this summer – will join High Tech, BioSciences, Clean Tech & Renewable Energy, General and Student division winners to compete for the grand prize on Monday, Sept. 13 at the University of Minnesota’s McNamara Alumni Center in Minneapolis (200 Southeast Oak Street, Minneapolis, MN 55455).
Contest organizers, University of Minnesota President Robert Bruininks, the Minnesota Cup review board, mentors and past winners will join the finalists at the awards reception, where the University of Minnesota will also announce the Entrepreneur of the Year award, which recognizes University alumni who founded, and are currently leading, remarkable businesses while serving as exemplary role models for the next generation of entrepreneurs. Past honorees include Joel Ronning (Digital River), Tom and Valerie Doherty (Doherty Employment Group), Robert Stephens (Geek Squad), and Gary Holmes (CSM Corporation).
More than $130,000 in prizes will be awarded to Minnesota Cup winners, as well as consulting services from leaders in finance, accounting, legal and management support services. Each division finalist – with the exception of the student category – will be awarded $20,000 in seed capital. The grand prize winner will be awarded an additional $20,000 and receive the Minnesota Cup, presented by David and Carolyn Cleveland and sponsored by the University of Minnesota.
One student winner will receive a $5,000 prize and the opportunity to compete for the grand prize.
The Minnesota Cup congratulates the following division winners:
Minnesota Cup Winner – High Tech
- GeaCom (Duluth) – developing a multilingual medical communication system.
Minnesota Cup Winner – BioSciences
- BioMatRx (Twin Cities) – provides tissue engineering products, equipment and information to the dental industry.
Minnesota Cup Winner – Clean Tech & Renewable Energy
- EarthClean (Twin Cities) – commercializing an environmentally safe liquid that is exponentially more effective than water, Class-A Foams, and toxic retardants at stopping fires.
Minnesota Cup Winner – General
- Go Home Gorgeous (Twin Cities) – provides postpartum recovery treatments that have proven effective in decreasing the physical and emotional stress commonly associated with childbirth.
Minnesota Cup Winner – Social
- Springboard for the Arts (Twin Cities) – Connects artists with the skills, contacts, information, and services they need to make a living and a life.
Minnesota Cup Winner – Student
- Blue Water Ponds (Twin Cities) – provides environmentally-friendly services for restoring ponds through the use of barley straw and pond weed harvesting in an effort to control aquatic plants in the long term.
About Minnesota Cup The 6th Annual Minnesota Cup is a statewide competition that seeks out aspiring entrepreneurs with the next breakthrough business ideas. From high-tech to high-touch, biosciences to retail, agriculture to social ventures, this is a competition for entrepreneurs, inventors and anybody with an innovative business idea. With more than $130,000 in prize money and support from the state’s leaders in finance, accounting, legal and management support services, the Minnesota Cup is the premier business idea generator in Minnesota.
Media contact:
Jessica Snell
Haberman for Minnesota Cup
612-372-6452 / jessica@habermaninc.com
