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Featured Article

People

Five Exits, One Partnership: The Playbook Behind Minnesota’s Quiet Power Duo

Scott Litman and Dan Mallin built and exited five Minnesota companies together, then founded the Minnesota Cup to grow the state's startup ecosystem.

Scott Litman and Dan Mallin with winner Dori Jones of AcQumen Medical at the Minnesota Cup in 2025

Latest

Previous

Chicago’s Madison Air files for IPO in potentially largest US industrial debut since 1999

Are We Evaluating Our Ecosystems? Or Just Counting Money?

Purdue Innovates launches second accelerator cohort

What Inc.’s fastest-growing Midwest companies list says about growth

Trending Stories

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It's Detroit vs. Everybody. Including Itself.

Minnesota knows how to build: can it keep its best?

Nothing ventured, nothing gained: the community-led bet on Chicago's next generation of investors.

The Secret VC: Midwest Investors, stop celebrating mediocrity

Funding

Northwestern Mutual Announces $150 Million to Accelerate Fintech Innovation

Northwestern Mutual commits $150M to a new venture fund in Milwaukee. Fund III brings total NMFV allocation to $350M for fintech and insurtech investments.

Cleveland’s SCATR Corp. Raises $12.6 Million Series A Led by First In

Cleveland's SCATR Corp. closes Series A round at $12.6M, led by First In to expand its Zero Trust Transit platform across enterprise and infrastructure markets.

People

Founder Stories: Josef Hjelmaker of Electric Outdoors

Electric Outdoors founder Josef Hjelmaker built an off-grid energy startup in Michigan that raised $3M after a 24-year corporate career at Whirlpool and Thor Industries.

From Campus to Acquisition in Under Two Years: Glenn Platt, Co-Founder & CEO of Lyceum AI

Lyceum AI's Glenn Platt on building an AI learning agent from campus to acquisition by Perceptyx in under two years.

Ecosystem

Defense firm V2X and analytics startup Ekkobar win in Indiana’s 2026 Mira Awards

TechPoint 2026 Mira Awards in Indianapolis: V2X named Tech Company of the Year and Ekkobar named Startup of the Year.

The Operator Gap: What Midwest Startups Are Missing, and What We Can Do About It

Midwest startups often fail due to an "operator gap." Learn why operational knowledge is the key to converting early traction into durable, scalable growth.

Technology

University of Chicago partners with Microsoft and Nvidia to support Midwest AI startups

University of Chicago partners with Microsoft and Nvidia to support Midwest AI startups with up to $350K in Azure credits and Bay Area investor access.

Most University Innovations Aren’t Meant to Be Startups

The majority of university breakthroughs represent foundational research tools and methodologies, rather than viable startup ventures; a revised definition of impact is warranted.

Opinion

Is Minnesota Primed for Moneyball Investing?

Should Minnesota favor a Moneyball investing strategy? Why smaller, more frequent startup exits may beat unicorn chasing.

Do Midwest Ecosystems have an Identity Problem?

Midwest startup ecosystems need a clear identity to attract and keep top talent. What can other states learn from Nashville & Detroit's success in music and mobility?

Latest Videos

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Lay of the Land - 241 Chad Delligatti of InnoSource

Midwest Moxie: Using sound waves to evaporate tumors - Histosonics

The Lay of the Land Podcast #237: Sundays for Dogs

Future in the Making: How AI is changing Manufacturing

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