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We have assembled a diverse group of business leaders, each who has extensive experience in working with leading, early stage growth companies and providing feedback, mentorship and resources that have lead to success.

This esteemed group of business leaders will select the winner of the Minnesota Cup after reviewing the many plans we receive and listening to the five finalists present their ideas.

Dave Cleveland - Co-founder, Riverside Bank

Leslie Frecon - CEO, LFE Capital

Art Fry - 3M Corporate Scientist (Retired ), Inventor of Post-It Notes

Skip Gage - Chairman and CEO, Gage Marketing Group

Morris Goodwin - Chief Administrative Director, Amherst H. Wilder Foundation

Michael Gorman - Managing Director, Split Rock Partners

Sima Griffith - Founder, Aethlon Capital

Fred Haberman - President, Haberman & Associates

Gary Holmes - President and Owner of CSM Corporation

Joel Lebewitz - Partner, Lurie Besikof Lapidus & Company, LLP

Brad Lehrman - Managing General Partner, Portage Equity Investments II, LP and Partner, law firm of Lommen Abdo PA.

Joy Lindsay - President and Co-Founder StarTec Investments, LLC

Scott Litman - Co-founder Minnesota Cup, Managing Director SDWA Ventures LLC

Dan Mallin - Co-founder Minnesota Cup, Managing Director SDWA Ventures LLC

Dan McElroy - Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)

Shawn McIntee - Partner, Maslon

Mike Moore - Director, William C. Norris Institute.

Jay Novak - Editor / Publisher, Twin Cities Business

Debra Paterson - Regional President, Metro MN Community Banking Wells Fargo & Company

Doug Ramler - Principal Co-Chair Entrepreneurial Services Group, Gray Plant Mooty Law Firm

Sam Richter - Chief Executive of SBR Worldwide and SVP/Chief Marketing Officer at ActiFi

Jeff Robbins - Partner, Entrepreneurial Services Practice Group, Messerli & Kramer

Thom Sandberg - Founder The Kenyon Consortium

Dale Wahlstrom - CEO, The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota

Jessica Zeaske - Associate Director, Venture Center, University of Minnesota

Student Judges

John Stavig - Director, Gary S. Holmes Center for Entrepreneurship, Carlson School of Management