Founders Day 2026
A showcase of entrepreneurship and innovation from across the University of Minnesota.Join fellow alumni and the broader entrepreneurial community as we celebrate innovation and entrepreneurship across the University of Minnesota campus. Learn about innovative projects led by students and faculty to develop new products, test new business concepts and launch new startups.
This year will feature the MVP Challenge, showcasing 25 projects from classes and labs across the UMN sharing their prototypes to solve significant social, medical/health, environmental and manufacturing problems. Recent technology startups spun out of the UMN will also be featured, alongside students' new products and startup companies development in experiential entrepreneurship courses.
The event will also announce entrepreneurship student/teacher/faculty awards and recognize the 2026 University of Minnesota Entrepreneur of the Year - Ryan Broshar, Founding Partner of Matchstick Ventures and co-founder of Beta.MN and Twin Cities Startup Week.
Immediately after the program, join us downstairs in the Toaster Innovation Hub for refreshments, and meet our 15 current MBA and undergraduate student teams participating in experiential courses and leading startup companies.
Founders Day 2026
Date
May 13, 2025
Time
4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Location
Walter Library & Toaster Innovation Hub
117 Pleasant Street Southeast
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Presented by
Holmes Center for Entrepreneurship
Cost
Show all resources
Get connected to professional resources, tools, and guidance from business experts.
Schedule a consultation
Meet one-on-one with a Business Navigator to assess your best next step.
Real businesses, real stories.
Mother Earth Gardens cultivates legacy in CEO Next
When Karen O’Connor, co-owner of Mother Earth Gardens, joined CEO Next, she wasn’t chasing more locations or a bigger revenue, she was thinking about the legacy of her business.
2025 highlights from Elevate Hennepin
Through 2025, Elevate Hennepin continued to provide transformational support for businesses through no-cost consulting, cohorts, and a curated hub of vital resources.