The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) today announced $552,820 in Launch Minnesota Business Operation Innovation Grants to 21 Minnesota startups that have created innovative technology solutions; 76% of the grantees are startups led by entrepreneurs of color, veterans, women or persons with disabilities or are located in Greater Minnesota. 

Launch Minnesota is a statewide collaborative effort spearheaded by DEED to support startups and grow Minnesota's innovation ecosystem. It awards Innovation grants of up to $35,000 to promising, innovative and scalable technology businesses to use toward operational costs such as research and development, direct business expenses and technical assistance.  

Since its inception in 2019, Launch Minnesota has awarded $9.1 million in grant funding and 64% has been awarded to targeted founders. Innovation grantees have gone on to raise more than $150 million in additional post-award funding.

 "It’s always fascinating to see the broad range of innovative new products and technologies being developed right here in Minnesota," said DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek. "Launch Minnesota helps our state’s startups to grow and thrive as they develop new ways to help individuals and businesses solve problems.” 

“Launch Minnesota increases access to capital, helps connect our state’s vibrant startup ecosystem and provides educational resources for entrepreneurs," said Neela Mollgaard, DEED Office of Small Business and Innovation Executive Director. "Innovative businesses are vital to the state’s business economy, and we're thrilled the grant continues to help businesses start, scale and succeed.” 

"This grant round represents a diverse range of startups with new products and technologies that enhance consumers’ daily lives or help businesses or health care providers to be more efficient and improve operational safety," said Rob Cimperman, Launch Minnesota Director.  

The following companies received Business Operations Innovation Grants: 

Alure LLC: The minority co-owned company is developing a product that baits and kills Japanese Beetles using a pheromone-baited scent and an effective capture surface. The product is organic and eliminates the need for pesticides.   

Anser Implants: The company’s clavicle pin is a minimally invasive solution for midshaft clavicle fractures that effectively stabilizes the bone while accommodating micromotion and preserving length. This allows patients to resume their normal activities faster, without compromised motion or unsightly bumps and scarring. 

Aplos Medical: The minority-owned company’s Omega PF device for the treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease, commonly known as GERD, is implanted with a laparoscopic procedure. The device is designed to prevent excessive acid from entering the esophagus and minimize dysphagia (swallowing difficulty) and side effects common to other GERD treatments. 

Clix Flosser: The company’s ergonomically-designed, hand-held dental flossing device simplifies flossing. The product is refillable for continued use and does not require batteries or charging. 

cLoc Medical: The minority-owned company is developing a novel mechanical suture fastener device for cardiac and other surgeries. 

Endovascular Horizons: The minority-owned company’s minimally-invasive endovascular technology for treating chronic subdural hematomas can increase procedure safety by replacing the current standard of care that is highly invasive. 

Ewke: Created and designed by musicians and teachers, the company’s mobile app-based music platform provides an easy way to learn, teach, play, create and share music. Users can explore and access contemporary electronic sounds and recordings of 150 musical instruments from around the world, plus record their own external voice and acoustic instruments, for their own unique compositions. 

Gametime Hero: The minority woman-owned company is developing an event management platform that streamlines the process of organizing and participating in sports, hobbies and other types of events. The platform helps users connect with other enthusiasts to build their own local communities, organize events, assemble teams, coordinate participants, find last-minute subs or replacements, and more.  

Hive AI: The woman-owned tech company is developing a marketing and decision intelligence platform built on scientific data about human behavior and cognitive patterns. 

Infinite Intel: The minority co-owned startup is developing a web app platform that aims to revolutionize workers' compensation claims by leveraging AI. 

Levelrie: The woman-owned company is developing an AI-based mobile app that serves as a personal stylist that curates outfits for specific occasions, events or trips. The app simplifies occasion-based shopping and it enables users to build a digital closet with their existing wardrobe and generate outfit ideas based on their personal style and preferences. 

ModernKind: The woman-owned startup, located in Zimmerman, developed waterless shampoo and body wash formulas, made with clean ingredients and no harsh chemicals, and packaged in refillable aluminum bottles and compostable refill pouches. The aluminum packaging is recyclable and replaces the need for single-use plastics packaging that is prevalent in the beauty products industry.     

MOOV: The minority co-founded, Twin Cities-based rideshare initiative champions fair compensation for drivers and affordable rates for riders. 

Nivoso: The company is developing autonomous snow removal and lawn maintenance robots with sensors and complex software algorithms that enable the units to operate without human intervention. The products are modular and customizable for commercial market users. 

Pennant: The minority-owned streaming video platform enables performing artists and organizations to deliver custom-branded content and set their own prices for subscriptions and merchandise or sell access to premium pay-per-view style content. 

Phos Technology: The Duluth-based, veteran-, minority-, woman-owned company developed a patented fluorescence technique and software to monitor and characterize chemical and physical degradation and oxidation of polyethylene and polypropylene materials at early and late stages and at the sub-micron level. These advanced insights can be used to improve plastic design, manufacturing and testing, which can help to reduce damage to the environment by enhancing the reusability of plastics. 

Priogen: The minority co-founded University of Minnesota spin-off company specializes in next-generation protein diagnostics technologies for detecting prion and protein misfolding diseases – such as chronic wasting disease and mad cow disease – in wildlife, livestock and humans.  

Reveal Medtech: The company is developing fluoroscopic markers that delineate structures in the heart and vasculature to simplify device implantation and improve precision. 

Talknician: The company is developing an AI-optimized learning and resource management system to support workplace onboarding, upskilling and servicing in discrete manufacturing settings and the consumer packaged goods and food processing industries. 

Vertex Medical Solutions: The minority-owned company is developing a web-based social care coordination application for emergency departments and health care payers, aimed at improving health outcomes.  The app includes an assessment tool to identify patient’s social needs such as food and housing insecurity, a trauma history questionnaire to identify factors such as emotional triggers and coping skills and a community resources platform to help connect patients to relevant community-based organizations and social services. 

xBlock AI: The woman-owned company is developing a learning platform for hospitality management that provides tailored courses, quizzes and assessments based on individual needs and career paths.