External Entrepreneurs

Are you an experienced entrepreneur? Are you interested in partnering with a UMN innovator to launch a startup based on University technology?

The Venture Center is looking for entrepreneurs who have the ability, willingness, experience, and resources to lead the formation and launch of a new company. A big part of our role in the Venture Center is to find entrepreneurs who can partner with our UMN innovators and our technology commercialization team to pull together a plan and start a new company. At any one time we have about 35 opportunities in our startup pipeline, where there may be a good fit for you.
 

Venture Center Business Advisory Group

Typically external entrepreneurs get to know the Venture Center first by joining our Business Advisory Group (BAG), which is a broad-based, diverse network of entrepreneurs, business executives, investors, and subject matter experts. The BAG helps us vet new ideas and assist with technology commercialization across a wide range of technological disciplines and sectors.

Members of the Business Advisory Group:

• Participate in bimonthly meetings
• Help find entrepreneurs, investors, and CEOs
• Make connections with other key stakeholders and industry experts
• Provide technical and market advice
• Serve as CEOs, advisors, mentors, and investors 
• Correspond outside of regularly scheduled meetings
• Get invited to other Venture Center events
• Must sign a nondisclosure agreement with the University

If you are interested in joining our Business Advisory Group, please contact us at venture@umn.edu with a link to your LinkedIn profile.