Last night, DEED Commissioner Steve Grove attended the 2019 Tekne Awards, presented by the Minnesota High Tech Association (MHTA). Nearly 1,000 entrepreneurs, policy makers, educators and business leaders from across the state gathered for the annual awards ceremony, which celebrates innovation in Minnesota. Since 1998, the Tekne awards have been presented to Minnesota’s leading advanced manufacturing, IT, health care and agricultural technology firms, and entrepreneurs. 

Commissioner Grove received an award for public service, along with Minnesota State Senator Eric Pratt, who serves as the Assistant Senate Majority Leader and Chair of the Senate Jobs and Economic Growth Finance and Policy Committee. Senator Pratt earned the Tekne Public Service Award for his work to bring back Minnesota’s Angel Tax Credit, and his support of the SciTech Internship Program. Commissioner Grove accepted an award on behalf of DEED for the agency’s work to reinstate the Angel Tax Credit, expand broadband throughout the state, and kickoff Launch Minnesota, which aims to expand Minnesota’s innovation ecosystem.

Growing our innovation ecosystem is essential work that will help Minnesota continue to be a great place to do business. Minnesota ranks 3rd in five-year business survival according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. And in CNBC’s recent Top States for Business report, Minnesota ranked 7th overall, 3rd in education, 7th in technology and innovation and 9th in infrastructure. We want to be in the top 5 across the board.

At DEED, we’re prioritizing innovation and encouraging the exchange of ideas among Minnesota’s entrepreneurs. This fall, we kicked off Launch Minnesota, a statewide collaborative effort to accelerate the growth of startups and amplify Minnesota as a national leader in innovation. Our goal is to elevate Minnesota as an innovation leader, and we’re accepting applications for Innovation Grants and Education Grants now.

Interested in finding out more about growing Minnesota’s innovation ecosystem? Visit LaunchMinnesota.org. Let’s grow Minnesota’s network of entrepreneurs and accelerators together!