UEL: The Innovation Hub Powering Minnesota’s Startup Future
Introduction by Sam Shuster, Executive Director, UEL and Full Stack Steering Committee Member
Meet This Month's Featured Innovator
Sam is the new Executive Director of UEL. A PhD neuroscientist and lifelong entrepreneur, he brings a deep understanding of technology commercialization and firsthand experience starting and growing lab-based businesses. Sam has run and exited several businesses across multiple industries—from biotech to consumer electronics to his most recent venture commercializing novel automation equipment for the craft ice industry.
UEL is a 150,000 sq ft independent, mission-driven nonprofit incubator that is currently home to 60+ resident companies across biotech, medtech, agtech, and cleantech. UEL resident companies are working on solutions to some of our toughest challenges including eliminating PFAS from our environment, developing better biofuels, improving crop yield to help feed our planet, and cures to diseases that today are incurable.
Photos provided by UEL
UEL occupies a unique role in Minnesota’s science and technology community by providing specialized, sophisticated lab space that would otherwise be cost-prohibitive for startups to build on their own.
Over its two decades of operation, UEL has been home to 170 resident companies. Those companies have raised over $1.4 billion in capital, created approximately 2,000 jobs, and been granted over 1,500 patents.
Continue reading to see how UEL plans to expand in the future to help launch more start-ups.
Grid Catalyst is launching GridReady – a new kind of utility innovation program that opens the door for the country's most promising energy startups to pilot their solutions with Minnesota's leading utilities.
Their utility partners – Great River Energy, Minnesota Power, Xcel Energy, and Otter Tail Power Company – are actively seeking new technologies to modernize the grid, keep energy reliable and affordable for their customers, and deliver on the state's ambitious commitment to 100% clean energy by 2040. Refer to the Startup Applicant Guide for more details on eligibility and selection criteria. Applications are open now and close June 26.
The City of Saint Paul invites Saint Paul business establishments to participate in a brief survey. The information you provide will help inform the policies intended to guide the City's economic growth and resilience in the coming years. This survey is being conducted on the behalf of the City of Saint Paul by TIP Strategies, an Austin-based economic strategy firm.
Ramsey County Community and Economic Development has launched the Re-Imagination Resource Center, a new initiative designed to strengthen the ability of local Business Community Organizations (BCOs) to better serve entrepreneurs and small businesses throughout Ramsey County, including Saint Paul. For small business owners in Saint Paul, the Re-Imagination Resource Center is intended to create more accessible pathways to business support and growth resources.
Macalester student Jolie Davis and Hallie Q. Brown Executive Director Benny Roberts, have created Rondo-Verse: a Roblox game featuring Saint Paul’s Rondo before and after I-94.
A geothermal pilot project at Macalester College in Saint Paul could illuminate a new way to heat and cool in cities using clean energy innovation.
This year’s Walleye Tank featured new backers, HealthcareMN. They hope to expand Walleye Tank throughout the Midwest over the next five years. Learn how HealthcareMN is impacting Minnesota's Healthcare AI Landscape in this feature from Executive Director Dr. Rashmi Kandwal.
Ecolab’s CEO is betting on an AI payoff and is looking to play a role in associated data centers and water and cooling innovation.
Pivot Bio, a billion-dollar company, relocated headquarters from California, choosing the Twin Cities over other Midwest cities.
At the University of Minnesota’s Wearable Technology Lab in Saint Paul, clothing becomes medical care for infants with jaundice.
Hosting a tech event this year? Full Stack Saint Paul offers a limited number of event sponsorships each year for events that will benefit Saint Paul’s tech and innovation ecosystem.
Full Stack Saint Paul is a public-private collaboration leveraging the power of tech and innovation to drive equitable, resilient economic development in Saint Paul.
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