Twin Cities Business recently rounded up 20 of the innovators and innovations leading Minnesota into the 2020s. This list includes UMN startups Anatomi Corp. and Calyxt Inc.
Anatomi Corp. founders Vincent Truong and Patrick Walsh were working as staff researchers at University of Minnesota stem cell labs when they discovered a shortcut for producing human neurons. Using adult cells, the two found a way to produce neurons in as little as seven days, a process that typically takes a month. Truong and Walsh took their idea to the U of M’s Venture Center, an accelerator that helps researchers commercialize their discoveries. In May, Anatomi spun off as a separate business.
... Is Roseville-based Calyxt Inc. an agriculture company or a tech company? Yes; it’s both. Incorporated in 2010, Calyxt uses proprietary and gene-editing technology to create plants and crops that will produce healthier food. And the company’s leadership, including CEO Jim Blome, aren't startup kids with a crazy dream, but experienced industry veterans (with experience at Bayer CropScience LP and Cargill Inc., respectively).
Read the full article in Twin Cities Business.