Six Saint Paul-based companies were awarded Launch Minnesota Innovation Grants from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.
Launch Minnesota Innovation Grants target the most promising, innovative and scalable technology businesses in Minnesota. The grants help reduce the risk for Minnesota technology startups and entrepreneurs who are solving problems and growing the state’s innovation ecosystem.
“The launch of new technology startups is central to Minnesota’s overall competitiveness, because our startup ecosystem has an outsized impact on our state,” said DEED Commissioner Steve Grove. “These grants encourage more Minnesotans to build the next big thing – creating jobs and opportunities in industries of the future.”
Since its inception during the 2019 legislative session, Launch Minnesota has awarded 245 Innovation Grants totaling $6M to 176 unique grantees – accelerating the growth of startups and amplifying Minnesota as a national leader in innovation.
The program has $3M this biennium, $1.5M each fiscal year to provide grants to high-growth startups. Launch Minnesota has $310,500 remaining this fiscal year, which ends June 2023.
“Putting capital in the hands of founders is making a difference,” said Launch Minnesota Executive Director Neela Mollgaard. “These businesses are growing and solving big problems that will define our state’s next chapter.”
Innovation Grants include business operations, which provide up to $35,000 for research and development, direct business expenses and technical assistance, and Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Matching Grants, for first time Phase I and Phase II awardees and that are based on sliding scales of their federal awards. Businesses are eligible to receive one of each grant over the two-year period.
The following Saint Paul companies received grants:
Agitated Solutions Inc (Business Operations): Provides agitated saline as contrast during ultrasound procedures.
Cerovations LLC (SBIR/STTR): Medtech development focused on neurosurgical, urologic/gynecologic and cardiac inventions.
Hayaa LLC (Business Operations): Providing culturally appropriate sanitary wear for Muslim healthcare workers.
NovoClade Inc (SBIR/STTR): Working to bring chemical-free environmentally friendly insect control to market.
Nucleic Sensing Systems LLC (SBIR/STTR): Developing technology for the autonomous detection and verification of biological organisms.
Sasya Inc (SBIR/STTR): Developing low-cost, high-performing feed additives for the swine feed market.
Visit LaunchMinnesota.org or the Launch Minnesota grants section of the DEED website to learn more about grant opportunities, see a listing of grant recipients and access application materials.
Launch Minnesota, spearheaded by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), empowers and elevates our state’s innovation ecosystem. By convening and catalyzing efforts statewide, Launch Minnesota helps make Minnesota the best place to start and scale new ventures by providing access to capital, statewide connectivity, and expertise. Find additional details at LaunchMinnesota.org, the DEED website, and the JoinUsMn.com website, or follow us on Twitter.