MN CUP
Participation is FREE
Enter March 26th – April 27th via link on the home page.
$450,000 + in seed monies
Mentorship opportunities with industry leaders
Exclusive event access
Business plan feedback
Networking opportunities with potential investors
Media exposure
Open to Minnesota based entrepreneurs with less than 1 million dollars in annual revenue The MN Cup, associated with the University of Minnesota, is the largest state wide start up competition in the USA. Every participant will have the opportunity for networking, resourcing and learning.
Featuring 8 divisions: Energy/Clean Technology/Water, Food/Ag/Beverage, General, High technology, Life Sciences/Health IT, Impact ventures, Student, and Youth divisions that are judged by the following;
Judging Criteria
This is the judging criteria for the MN Cup. Judges will weigh each category through the percentages assigned below.
50% – OPPORTUNITY
Discuss your product and competitive advantage. What problem are you solving? What is your solution? What makes your product innovative? How large is your target market? (500 words)
25% – PLAN
Explain your business model including operating, sales and marketing plans. How will your company be structured? How will you make money (pricing, profit margins, licensing, etc.)? Who are your partners/vendors? How will you reach your customers/raise awareness of your product? Include a list of key team members/advisors.
Please include summary financial projections and assumptions including projected volume, unit pricing and margins, major operating costs and capital needs. (500 words) One excel document may be uploaded with summary financial information.
25% – PROGRESS
What progress have you made? Do you have a prototype, customers, strategic partners or revenue? Tell us what milestones you’ve achieved to validate the opportunity and bring your product/service to market. (500 words)
Impact Ventures Division
Impact Ventures Division review board members are agnostic on corporate structure or tax status (i.e., applicants need not be nonprofit or tax exempt entities). Under the OPPORTUNITY section of the application, Impact ventures need to articulate the social benefits of their idea and how big the impact will be.
Division Prizes: Grand prize $50,000 plus business planning, networking, and media exposure. Division winners will receive $30,000 in seed monies. Division runner ups will receive $5,000 in seed monies.
Dedicated Prizes:
DEED is offering $30,000 ($10,000 each) in prizes for the top startups led by a veteran, minority and Greater Minnesota entrepreneur.
Carlson Family Foundation will award $25,000 for the top woman-led business.
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation will provide up to 3 – $5,000 cash grant awards to startups from their region.
Meda will award $10,000 to the minority entrepreneur with the most innovative business concept.
Securian Financial Group will award $10,000 for an innovation that shapes the future of financial services or life insurance through technology.
Capella will award $10,000 to the most innovative education technology that promotes learning solutions or builds 21st century skills.
AARP will award a $5,000 prize for an innovation that improves the lives of seniors.
Public Events
2018 MN Cup Events Schedule
- January 30 – Start-up Capital of the North Showcase
- March 14 – MN FinTech: Making it Happen Here
- March 22 – 5th Annual Women in Entrepreneurship Conference hosted by WE*
- March 26 – 2018 MN Cup Application Launch Party
- April 27 – MN Cup 2018 Applications Due
- October 8 – Final Awards Event from 4:00 – 7:00 pm at McNamara Alumni Center
MN Cup Participants Only – Application Round
- March 26 – 2018 Minnesota Cup Application Launch
- April 27 – Entry deadline 11:59 p.m.
- May TBD – Judges gain access to applications
- May TBD – Participants are notified of first round results, semifinalists announced
MN Cup Participants Only – Semifinalist Round
- June 6 – Semifinalist Reception at the Carlson School of Management
- June TBD – Semifinalists paired with mentors
- July TBD – Youth Division Workshop Saturday
- August TBD – Semifinalists submit business plans, investor presentations and videos by 12 p.m.
- August TBD – Division Review Board Members receive written semifinalists plans
- August TBD – Judges convene to select finalists
- August TBD: Life Science/Health IT Division Reception Hosted by Treehouse Health
- August TBD: High Tech Division Reception Hosted by Lurie LLPand Gray Plant Mooty
- August TBD: Impact Ventures Division Reception at CliftonLarsonAllen
- August TBD: Food/Ag/Beverage Division Pitch Slam Hosted by 301 Inc.
- August TBD – Semifinalists are notified of results and given written feedback on their plans, finalists announced
MN Cup Participants Only – Finalist Round
- September TBD – Finalists receive training on speaking/presenting from Spoken Impact
- September TBD – Finalists rehearse presentations with contest organizers
- September TBD – Finalists present to Division Review Boards, winners selected
- September TBD – Finalists present to Division Review Boards, winners selected
- September TBD – Division winners announced and written plans are sent to Grand Prize Review Board
- October TBD – Division winners present to Grand Prize Review Board
- October 8 – Final Awards Event from 4:00 – 7:00pm at McNamara Alumni Center