Edition 15: July 2025 Minnesota Startup Events and News
Community fueled resource for Minnesota's startup ecosystem.
We hope you’re enjoying summer before fall brings a fresh wave of startup events and ecosystem energy.
If you have an event or news you’d like included in the next edition, fill out the linked forms. Share this substack with your friends in the community so we can continue to grow.
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JULY EVENTS (and a sneak peek into future events):
Town Hall: Calling All Entrepreneurs 📣 - This one-night event is designed for anyone working on something — whether it’s a fresh business idea, a side hustle, or a thriving small company. You’ll connect with fellow entrepreneurs, crowdsource solutions to real challenges, and hear from inspiring voices shaping the local landscape. Expect unconference-style discussions, a pitch competition with $1,000 prizes, and a keynote address from one of the city’s most compelling founders. Whether you’re looking to meet collaborators, share your story, or simply listen in and learn — this is your room.
When: July 25th, 6pm
Where: Theatre in the Round, 245 Cedar Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55454
Who should attend: Founders & teams of local startups, SMBs, & those looking to build and grow their business.
Contributed by Rachel at Strangers Meeting Strangers
AI in Healthcare Forum - We’re diving deeper this year into how AI is actually changing healthcare—beyond the buzzwords. Whether you’re working in a hospital, building the next big startup, investing in healthtech, or shaping policy, this is the place to meet your people, hear what’s working, and spark new ideas. Together, we’ll explore how AI is transforming patient care, rural health, clinical workflows, device innovation, data governance, and entrepreneurial pathways in Minnesota and beyond. This event builds on last year’s incredible momentum, bringing together participants from across the healthcare innovation ecosystem. We’re curating a dynamic lineup of speakers, startups, and collaborators to inspire new conversations—and catalyze real-world collaborations.
When: July 30th, 4:00pm
Where: Anderson Student Center, University of St. Thomas
Who should attend: This forum is designed for anyone at the intersection of healthcare and innovation. Whether you're building, funding, researching, or implementing AI solutions
Contributed by Rashmi at Healthcare.MN
ConnectUP! Mini Summit: Sparking Success with Cannabis - Have high hopes for your small cannabis businesses? This ConnectUP! Mini Summit is designed for entrepreneurs who want to elevate their businesses, learn from experts, and collaborate with like-minded professionals. Whether you’re looking to scale your operations, stay compliant, or forge new partnerships, this event is your gateway to the next level of success in the cannabis industry. Don’t miss this opportunity to ignite your business growth and network with industry leaders!
When: September 5th, 8:30am
Where: Red Lake Nation College Minneapolis Campus, 900 S 3rd St, Minneapolis, MN 55415
Who should attend: Entrepreneurs, Investors, and Ecosystem Partners
Contributed by Natalie at ConnectUp MN
Talk to Me Day 💬 - Join us at Talk to Me Day, the largest intentional gathering of strangers - a day the city can talk ✨ We at Strangers Meeting Strangers (SMS) are creating a packed (free) one-day talking festival to be fun & safe atmosphere to break past the awkward intros and meet local community groups who love what you love, flow into conversations over shared experiences, & meet strangers who want to nerd out on your favorite thing. In 2023, we organized the first Talk to Me Day which brought together 700+ strangers, and this year we're aiming to break that record.
When: September 13th, 12pm
Where: Loring Park, Loring Greenway, Minneapolis, MN 55403
Who should attend: All strangers who are curious to meet other strangers through conversation!
Contributed by Rachel at Strangers Meeting Strangers
NEWS AND RESOURCES
Tackling a make-or-break milestone? - Capita3 Leader Launch™ is the exclusive leadership accelerator that gets founders ready for their next major milestone.
Leader Launch is a high-velocity accelerator designed for navigating high-risk, high-reward scenarios when traditional approaches fall short. With fundraising timelines nearly doubled, upscaling your preparedness is a must. The application for our August cohort is now open. You've waited long enough. This is your moment to lead.