Opportunity to See Howard Leonhardt, Med Tech Entrepreneur

During Twin Cities Startup Week, we're excited to host med tech entrepreneur (and renaissance man) Howard Leonhardt, who will speak at the University of Minnesota at noon on Friday September 23. He will share his story as well as his perspectives on opportunities in medical technology as well as entrepreneurship in general. For more information and to register: https://howardleonardt.eventbrite.com

Some of Howard's current roles include:

• Founder, Chairman and CEO of Leonhardt Ventures, a venture creation lab focused on developing regenerative medtech inventions and regenerative economy startups
• Executive Chairman and CEO of BioLeonhardt, developer and manufacturer of the world's first implantable, programmable, re-fillable stem cell pumps + electrical stimulators for organ regeneration
• Founder and Executive Chairman of Cal-X Crowdfund Connect, which helps startups build crowdfunding campaigns 
• Founder, Chairman and CEO of the California Stock Xchange, which aspires to be the first conscious capitalism stock exchange 
• Founder, Chairman and CEO of Cal-X Stars Business Accelerator 
• Owner and CEO of Leonhardt Vineyards 
• Founder, Chairman and CTO of BioPace, a developer of a biological pacemaker made of living cells designed to obsolete electronic battery powered steel can steel lead pacemakers 
• Board Advisor to University of Southern California Center for Technology and Innovation in Pediatrics (CTIP)

MIN-Corps Fall 2016 Programs

 

Each semester, MIN-Corps offers a full suite of programs on technology commercialization and starting up science-based ventures.  All events will take place on the UMN campus – see specifics in the registration links.

Medical Tech Commercialization Value Proposition Design Workshops Sep 14, Sep 28, Oct 5, Oct 12 1-4pm

Four hands-on sessions cover the following:  value proposition design, customer discovery, pathway to commercialization, market assessment, focusing on diagnostics, therapeutics, devices and health IT.

Register at: http://learning.umn.edu/search/publicCourseSearchDetails.do?method=load&courseId=1593532

Technology Commercialization Bootcamp Oct 4 10am-4pm

A six-hour overview of early-stage commercialization concepts, including value proposition design and customer discovery, as well as intellectual property considerations.

Register at: http://learning.umn.edu/search/publicCourseSearchDetails.do?method=load&courseId=5277347

Innovation Value Proposition Design Workshops Oct 18, Nov 1, Nov 15, Nov 29 1-4 pm

For researchers in any discipline.  Four hands-on sessions: value proposition design, customer discovery, pathway to commercialization, market assessment.

Register at: http://learning.umn.edu/search/publicCourseSearchDetails.do?method=load&courseId=5277181

Emerging Opportunities Forums

·        Howard Leonhardt Sep 23 Noon-1:30 pm

Perspectives from a very successful and quite eclectic medical technology entrepreneur.

Register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/startup-week-howard-leonhardt-tickets-26309955786

·        Intellectual Property Oct 18 4-6 pm

Attorneys specializing in IP will give an overview and especially address legal issues relevant to tech-based and science-based businesses.

Register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/min-corps-intellectual-property-seminar-tickets-27075570761

·        Funding a Startup Nov 15 4-6 pm

A panel of experts will address the variety of options for securing seed funding and early-stage capital.

Register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/funding-a-startup-tickets-27078740241

Strategy Clinics

Monthly sessions for current and future science and tech-based entrepreneurs to share a meal, hear from experts, and seek advice.

·        Negotiation Basics Sep 28 5-7pm

Register at: http://learning.umn.edu/search/publicCourseSearchDetails.do?method=load&courseId=5304729

·        Building a Startup Team Oct 26 5-7 pm

Register at: http://learning.umn.edu/search/publicCourseSearchDetails.do?method=load&courseId=5304863

·        Constructing Startup Financials Nov 20 5-7 pm

Register at: http://learning.umn.edu/search/publicCourseSearchDetails.do?method=load&courseId=5304871

Congratulations to FOUR Minnesota Cup Division Winners with MIN-Corps Connections

Last week, the Minnesota Cup, the largest state-wide venture competition in the U.S., announced its 2016 division winners.  Of the eight divisions, four of the winners participated in or mentored MIN-Corps programs!

Asiya - Social Division 
A sport and active wear brand using performance fabrics and modest sportswear designs to level the playing field for Muslim females everywhere.
Program: Spring 2016 STARTUP course (which focuses on customer discovery and development)
Student: Jamie Glover is a UMN MBA student who teamed with Fatimah Hussein, a social worker who works with the Minnesota Somali community.

Berd Spokes - General Division 
Bicycle spokes manufactured from braided plastic filament that are stronger, lighter and more durable than conventional metal spokes. These benefits are also application to additional markets under exploration.
Program:  Spring 2016 STARTUP course 
Student: Charlie Spanjers is a UMN post-doc in Chemical and Materials Science who also happens to be an avid bicycle racer.  

Minnealloy Magnetics - Student Division 
A breakthrough soft magnet material that can reduce the size and weight of electrical transformers while increasing efficiency.  Multiple potential applications ranging from small electronics to electric vehicles.
Program: I-Corps Energy and Transportation program at the NextEnergy Center in Detroit
Student: Md Mehedi is a UMN PhD student in Chemical and Materials Science.

StemoniX - Life Science/Health IT Division
A suite of new stem-cell technologies that are setting a new economic paradigm to meet the demands of drug discovery and personalized medicine. StemoniX grows, differentiates, and prints organ cells from skin cells, in a way that makes them biologically accurate, to better predict their toxicity and improve efficacy.
Program:  CEO Ping Weh has been a mentor to our STARTUP course.  Before starting StemoniX, the cofounders spent almost a year doing customer discovery to tailor their value proposition to customer needs.

Congratulations, and best of luck in the MN Cup finals on September 22 during Twin Cities Startup Week!

"Flyover country" no more...In 5 years, the Midwest will have more startups than Silicon Valley

If you believe in the potent talent, work ethic and distinctive capabilities of the Midwest...you've got to read this article.

As a Venture Development Executive at the UMN Office for Technology Commercialization, I'm personally exposed to many inspirational Midwest entrepreneurs and one of the key missing elements to unleashing their full potential is the mobilization of early stage capital in the Midwest. It's great to see outside money recognizing this opportunity. This should inspire more activity in our local investor base as well.