For 2022 Conference proceedings, please review the conference brochure that is available here. 

Conference Agenda

Thursday, September 8, 2022

11:00 a.m. Registration and lunch available 

Location: Saint James Hotel - Summit Room 

11:15-11:30a.m. Welcome  & Special Thank You from Launch, MN 

Conference Host:  Rani A Bhattacharyya, Community Economics Extension Educator, NW Minnesota , University of Minnesota Extension                                                             

Special Conference Welcome : Neela Mollegaard, Executive Director of DEED's Launch, MN 

11:30-12:15pm.  Opening Keynote 

Location: Saint James Hotel - Summit Room
Description:  Chris Farrell, senior economics contributor at Minnesota Public Radio will facilitate a panel discussion with two entrepreneurs. The panel discussion will focus on the importance of entrepreneurs to communities and of communities to entrepreneurs.
Moderator: Chris Farrell, Minnesota Public Radio, senior economics contributor
Panelists:

• Susan Langer, Spave.io, CEO

• Beth Fynbo, Busy Baby, president and founder

12:15-12:45 p.m. Walk to breakout session 1

**All breakout sessions are located in Downtown Red Wing venues. **

12:45-1:45 p.m. Breakout session 1 

Workshop 1A: Fostering rural innovation 

Track: Best practices
Description: Hear from the Center on Rural Innovation (CORI) about the work they’ve done across the U.S. to understand and highlight what works to grow a digital economy. Red Wing Ignite was recently featured by CORI as an example of rural innovation. Both CORI and Red Wing Ignite will share their tips for fostering innovation in communities.
Location: Red Wing Ignite 

Speakers:  Breyana Ray- Director of the Rural Innovation Network at CORI,  and Stacy Nimmo, Red Wing Ignite

Moderator: Shannan Harris. Operations and Program Manager, Red Wing Ignite. 

Workshop 1B: Local entrepreneurship data

Track: Data and research
Description: This session will highlight the variety of data resources available that can shed light on entrepreneurship trends and opportunities for your community. 
Location: Saint James Hotel- Victorian Room 

Speakers:  Jennifer Hawkins, Community Economics Extension Educator, University of Minnesota and Melissa Kano,  Extension Educator, University of Wisconsin

Moderator: Jennifer Hawkins, Community Economics Extension Educator, University of Minnesota

Workshop 1C: Cohort programs to accelerate entrepreneurs

Track:  Training tools and resources
Description: Learn about two cohort programs that you can use in your community: Waseca New Business Challenge with Kauffman FastTract and Collider's Co-starters.
Location: Boxrud's
Speakers:  Ann Fitch, Waseca Chamber of Commerce, Gary Schott, South Central Small Business Development Center, and Amanda Leightner, Collider Foundation         Moderator: Emily Kurash- Casey, Community Programs Director, Rethos. 

Workshop 1D: Mapping the entrepreneurial journey: e-commerce 

Track: Startup stories
Description:  Neil Linscheid will demonstrate a technique used to understand opportunities to better support entrepreneurs by interviewing an e-commerce entrepreneur in this session.
Location: Lora & Isaac Photography Studios
Speakers:  Colette Drager with The Meatery.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Moderator: Neil Linscheid, Community Economics Extension Educator, University of Minnesota.                                                                            

1:45-2:15 p.m. Travel to breakout session 2

2:15-3:15 p.m. Breakout session 2 

Workshop 2A: Growing a diverse and inclusive ecosystem

Track: Best practices
Desc ription: This session will explore approaches to engage and support historically underrepresented entrepreneurs.
Location: Boxrud's 
Speakers: Tawonda Burks, Elocina Consulting and the Black Entrepreneurship Team and Amanda Leightner, Collider Foundation.                                                            Moderator: Rani A Bhattacharyya, Community Economics Extension Educator, NW Minnesota, University of Minnesota Extension 

Workshop 2B: Understanding workforce and talent

Track: Data and research
Description:  Finding strategies to deal with workforce shortages and attract talent is top of mind for entrepreneurs and community leaders. This session will describe the data and trends related to the workforce. 
Location: Saint James Hotel - Victorian Room
Speakers: Kelly Asche, Research Associate, Center for Rural Policy Development, Jinny Rietmann, Workforce Development Inc. and Cameron Macht, DEED Regional Analyst & Outreach Manager 

Moderator: Cameron Macht, DEED Regional Analyst & Outreach Manager

Workshop 2C: Speed networking - resources across Minnesota

Track:  Training tools and resources
Description:  This interactive session will provide an opportunity for participants to engage directly with representatives from a variety of entrepreneurial support resources .
Location: Red Wing Ignite
Speakers:  Small Business Development Centers-Mark Thein, MN Exchange- Kris Eul, Launch Minnesota-Maddy LeClaire, Coworking-Shannan Harris, Angel and Venture Capital - Ryan Weber, and ILT Entrepreneurship Education providers- Nick Tietz                                                                                                                                                                   Moderator: Neela Mollgaard, Executive Director of DEED's Launch MN Program          

Workshop 2D: Mapping the entrepreneurial journey: restaurant and retail

Track: Startup stories
Description: Moderator Neil Linscheid will demonstrate a technique used to understand opportunities to better support entrepreneurs, interviewing restaurant and retail entrepreneurs in this session. 
Location: Lora & Isaac Photography Studio
Speakers: Julie Schrimpf, Cut Above Home and Jacob Peterson, Pie.co                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Moderator: Neil Linscheid, Community Economics Extension Educator, University of Minnesota.  

3:15-3:45 p.m. Travel to breakout session 3

3:45-4:45 p.m. Breakout session 3 

Workshop 3A: Growing and accessing risk capital

Track: Best practices
Description:  Curious about how equity investment works? This session features a panel of equity fund leaders. They will explore how equity and risk capital investments are used to support entrepreneurs, how investment funds are established, how entrepreneurs connect with investors and access equity funding and what investors look for in a pitch.
Location: Red Wing Ignite
Speakers:  Adam Choe with Tundra Ventures VC, Harry Hoffman with the Southeast Minnesota Community Capital Fund and Steve Mercil with RAIN Source Capital. Moderator: Rani A Bhattacharyya, Community Economics Extension Educator, NW Minnesota, University of Minnesota Extension 

Workshop 3B: Assessing entrepreneurial development initiatives

Track: Data and research
Description: How do you evaluate entrepreneurial development efforts? How do you know what's working and what impact you're having? This session will provide tools and models to do just that.  
Location: Saint James Hotel - Victorian Room
Speakers:  Scott Chazdon, Evaluation Specialist and Jennifer Hawkins, Community Economics Educator, University of Minnesota Extension                                                 Moderator:  Kathryn Leys, Community Economics Extension Educator, SW Minnesota.

Workshop 3C: Bringing people together: competitions, events, and gatherings

Track:  Training tools and resources
Description:  This session will highlight three models for convening and connecting entrepreneurs and their supporters through in-person events.
Location: Boxrud's
Speakers: Ryan Vesey with Greater Mankato Growth, Christine Beech with the Women's Entrepreneur Forum and Shannan Harris with Ignite Cup.                    Moderator: Gary Schott, Business Consultant, SBDC, Minnesota State University Mankato 

Workshop 3D: Mapping the entrepreneurial journey: business services 

Track: Startup stories
Description: Moderator Neil Linscheid will demonstrate a technique used to understand opportunities to better support entrepreneurs, interviewing service business entrepreneurs in this session.
Location: Lora & Isaac Photography Studio
Speakers:  Elaine O'Keefe and Tom Duenow, Transitions in Nature and Roger and Renee Sievers with Sievers Creative.                                                                          

Moderator: Neil Linscheid, Community Economics Extension Educator, University of Minnesota.     

4:45-5:15 p.m. Break

 5:15-7:00 p.m. Reception and networking event 

Location: Saint James Hotel - Oak Room                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Host: Rani A. Bhattacharyya, Community Economics Extension Educator, NW Minnesota, University of Minnesota Extension 

Friday, September 9, 2022

7-8:30 a.m. Breakfast on your own

8:30-9:15 a.m. Warm-up, wake-up, idea sharing 

Description:  During this time, conference attendees share inspirations and ideas they've gathered at the event so far.
Location:  Saint James Hotel - Summit Room                      

Moderator: Rani A Bhattacharyya, Community Economics Extension Educator, NW Minnesota, University of Minnesota Extension 

9:15-9:30 a.m. Walk to breakout session 4

9:30-10:30 a.m. Breakout session 4 

Workshop 4A: Innovation and entrepreneurship as economic drivers

Track: Best practices
Description:  Why is entrepreneurship an important economic development strategy for communities? What impacts have communities observed from targeted efforts to develop and support entrepreneurs? Two communities from Minnesota will share their perspectives. A University of Wisconsin Extension educator will also share stories of communities in our neighboring state.
Location: Red Wing Ignite
Speakers:   Melissa Kono, University of Wisconsin Extension, Courtney Bergey-Swanson with CEDA representing the City of Spring Grove, and Evan Brown for City of Red Wing.

Moderator: Emily Kurash- Casey, Community Programs Director, Rethos. 

Workshop 4B: State of entrepreneurship in Minnesota

Track: Data and research
Description:  This session will highlight recent research into the state of entrepreneurship and small business activity in Minnesota. It will focus on business conditions in Minnesota in general and highlight business conditions with under-represented populations.
Location: Saint James Hotel - Summit Room
Speakers: Sean O'Neil with the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and Joe Mahon, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.                                                      

 Moderator: Cameron Macht, DEED Regional Analyst & Outreach Manager

Workshop 4C: Engaging and educating underrepresented founders

Track:  Training tools and resources
Description:  Learn about the programs that focus on engaging with and supporting the education of underrepresented founders. The Elevate program in Kandiyohi County is working to support, connect, and provide in-depth training for entrepreneurs. The Prosperity Initiative is an effort of the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation to promote inclusive entrepreneurship and business growth for entrepreneurs who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, women, veterans, low-income persons, and/or persons with disabilities. The Elevate program of Hennepin County was created to accelerate an inclusive and equitable economy in Hennepin County. It’s a hub for business guidance and support, connecting entrepreneurs to mentorship, education, grants and more.
Location: St. James  Hotel - Merriweather Room  
Speakers: Pam Bishop, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, Sarah Swedburg, Kandiyohi County Economic Development, Tashie George, Hennepin County, and Mary Matze, Hennepin County. Moderator: Rani A Bhattacharyya, Community Economics Extension Educator, NW Minnesota. , University of Minnesota Extension 

Workshop 4D: Mapping the entrepreneurial journey: high tech

Track: Startup stories
Description: Moderator Neil Linscheid will demonstrate a technique used to understand opportunities to better support entrepreneurs, interviewing high-tech entrepreneurs in this session.
Location: Lora & Isaac Photography Studio
Speakers:  Ramsey Schaffer, Babl and Chris Lukenbill, Shrpa 

Moderator: Neil Linscheid, Community Economics Extension Educator, University of Minnesota.

10:30-10:45 a.m. Travel to closing session keynote 

11:00-12:00 p.m. Closing session keynote 

Keynote presentation: Making the case for entrepreneurship in your community

Location: Sheldon Theatre
Description: This closing keynote will highlight key points for local leaders to broaden support for entrepreneurship development as an economic development strategy.
Speaker:  Tessa Conroy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, economic development specialist and assistant professor                                                                                                       Moderator: Rani A Bhattacharyya, Community Economics Extension Educator, NW Minnesota, University of Minnesota Extension 

12:00-12:15 p.m. Closing remarks and adjourn 

Lodging Options:

Room Blocks are available for Sept. 8, 2022 Evening for conference participants at the following hotels:

St. James Hotel- Main Venue for Conference

406 Main Street | Red Wing, MN 55066

Room rates range between $149-179 per night
Rates are for single and double occupancy. An additional $25 per person will be charged when more than two people are occupying a room. Guestroom prices are subject to state and county tax of 7.375%, a local lodging tax of 3%, and a Historical Preservation Fee of $3.70.

Please use this link to register at the hotel or call  651.388.2846 and mention: University of Minnesota Entrepreneur Conference. Deadline for booking is August 8th

Country Inn & Suites  by Radisson

4275 US-61 | Red Wing, MN 55066

20 Queen rooms available @ $135/night. Please call: 651-388-9000 and mention UMN Conference Booking

Deadline for booking is August 3rd

Red Wing Holiday Inn Express & Suites an IHG Hotel

1919 Old W Main St | Red Wing, MN 55066

12 King rooms available @ $130/night and 8 Queen rooms available @ $140/queen/night. Please call 651-327-2225 and mention code UMN

Deadline for booking is August 3rd

AmericInn of Red Wing

1819 Old West Main St. |Red Wing, Mn 55066

20 Queen rooms available at $123.90/night. Please call 651-385-9060 and mention code  Training Entrepreneurial Communities

Deadline for booking is August 8th

For Bed & Breakfast Options please visit this page of the CVB's website.

Thank you to our 2022 sponsors!

For more information about the Red Wing community, please Visit Red Wing!