Target, Cargill and 3M Join to Host Twin Cities Startup Week
Twin Cities Startup Week (TCSW) announces new partnerships with global leaders aimed at solidifying Minnesota as a top destination for solving the world’s biggest problems. The collective aim is to strengthen connections between local startup founders, corporate innovators, investors and talent, while creating pathways for all communities to participate in Minneapolis-Saint Paul’s growing startup community.
We are pleased to announce that Target, Cargill and 3M are the title sponsors for TCSW 2019, each contributing events, mentorship and support. Target will host the Kickoff Event and the Retail Track in the Target Plaza Commons; Cargill is co-sponsoring Techstars’ Farm to Fork Program, for which the Demo Day will take place on the evening of October 15; and 3M will participate in BETA’s Backers program, where investors meet early-stage Minnesota-based startups.
There are countless benefits of having a diverse corporate community that is actively supporting our startup ecosystems, says Reed Robinson, Executive Director of BETA (the operators of TCSW), including opportunities for partnerships, paid pilots and talent development. The speed of prototyping is also a benefit of corporate / startup partnerships: startups are able to test and model solutions at a rapid pace, which may ultimately be absorbed into larger institutions.
“We are companies that value innovation. Companies like ours became what they are today by being innovative — and combining our 154 years of experience and expertise with the agility and entrepreneurial spirit of our startup partners,” says Lawrence Wang, Digitalization and Analytics Strategy Lead at Cargill.
“The pace of innovation is so fast that close-knit relationships with early stage founders is required to remain ahead of the competition,” says Wang.
Mentorship, feedback and balance of risk also flourish when startups and corporations work together. These three companies and their experienced leadership can provide valuable customer feedback and advice to startups during the critical product development stage.
“It’s an ecosystem,” says Robinson. “Having many large companies in many industries creates the opportunity to have smaller companies that provide services. It’s symbiotic.”
The balance of startups and corporations is a key differentiator for the Minneapolis-Saint Paul market. Support from Target, Cargill and 3M is a great example of how businesses big and small in Minneapolis and St. Paul are working together to solve common problems.
“Startups and corporations can work together in a way that is mutually beneficial,” says Gene Han, VP New Ventures & Accelerators, Target. “We embrace working with startups through our portfolio of accelerator programs and find that they help inject a more entrepreneurial culture and spirit to our teams,” says Han.
This year, with the help of Target, Cargill and 3M, TCSW will be able to showcase the strength of these relationships and the advantage they give our region in solving greater problems.
“Twin Cities Startup Week is a great opportunity to collaborate with the local entrepreneurial community,” says Ben Wright, Director of 3M Ventures. “Innovation is at the heart of 3M’s culture, so we’re excited to meet Minnesota startups and investors who share that spirit.”
If you haven’t already, register for Twin Cities Startup Week here.
