The Week of Startups is Here

Twin Cities startup week has arrived

Illustration by Morgan Wittmers-Graves

Illustration by Morgan Wittmers-Graves

The Twin Cities will show off its startup spirit this week. From October 7-14, Twin Cities businesses and entrepreneurs will hold over 200 events, all under the umbrella of Twin Cities Startup Week (TCSW). The Week kicks off its 5th anniversary with an opening party to bring people together.

TCSW started in 2014 with only a handful of organizations. “We started with the content side of it, creating education, creating workshops, creating experiences for people to come and learn,” Nels Pederson, Co-Founder of Twin Cities Startup Week, said. The Week shines a spotlight on entrepreneurship in Minnesota and helps foster that community. It expanded from solely technology to include health-care, food and agriculture, marketing and advertising, and other topics that reflect the major industries of Minnesota. Pederson hopes to keep expanding with more businesses, more arts and entertainment, more music, and more of what makes Minnesota unique and exciting.

The scope of the entire week can be overwhelming, which is why the TCSW website (twincitiesstartupweek.com) provides a calendar of events to help guide the experience. “There are so many great things going on,” Pederson said. “So I tell people to go in, build out your calendars, and really dig into what you’re trying to take out of it.”

TCSW casts a wide net with people coming to learn about industries and startups, find co-founders, find funding, find jobs, find mentorship, or just find some direction. “The Week is fun, and we want it to be an experience that is exciting and energizing for everybody,” said Pederson. To get the most out of TCSW, Pederson suggests for participants to be open to the experience and the people they meet.

Wake Mag