I recently participated in a panel conversation on "When Need Meets Opportunity" at the Annual MN Entrepreneur Kickoff event, where I got to share some of my experiences with co-founding The Widow Collaborative.  Lois Josefson, who puts the Annual MN Entrepreneur Kickoff Event together, gave me the opportunity to share the stage with other female business owners, including Wendy S. Wiesman, Jennifer Roth, and Meredith Englund to talk about how we're creating meaningful initiatives out of need. I'm so grateful to have strong female leaders in my corner introducing me to new opportunities. I founded The Widow Collaborative with three other widows out of our shared experience of trying to navigate tasks and find resources after loss while experiencing horrible brain fog, and how difficult and taxing it is. We recognized the similarities of our journey with so many others and decided to use this platform, which we never wanted, as an opportunity to make a difference for widows coming along behind us by starting locally with the goal of expanding to a national level. There is a great need for a set of resources that creates an environment where no widow feels alone, and every widow feels supported, cared for, and seen. We are building what we wished was available when we became widows. Getting to share more about TWC gets more eyes on our mission, helping us grow and expand in the community and beyond. I'm so grateful that these friendships have created more relationships, opening doors for TWC.  Thank you to Lori Ryan for introducing me to Lois Josefson - both of your support is greatly appreciated!

Please meet: University of St. Thomas - Schulze School of Entrepreneurship, Scale Bank, Infinity Robotics LLC, Lab651 | Custom Software Development & Process, The PLUM Catalyst LLC, 1201 Partners, Explore Design, Lorignite, KLN Web, Kate LaBrosse Coaching & Consulting, they are indespensible partners in a special event where connections form that change lives, companies and economies. They are SPONSORS. They are comprised of Good People, who do Good Work, with a focus on Good Ends for students, clients and the communities they call home. Do business with them, because when you do you will experience the above and they will be better positioned to continue to serve & support our MN future! On April 11th the MN entrepreneur ecosystem will come together to celebrate its 13th annual Kick-off of a new season of competitons and accelerator cohorts and of innovation supported new opportunities. It takes dedicated organizers and invested parties in the arena to make the MN Entreprneur Kick-off happen, but the driving enablers whose support puts the wheels in motion and keeps them smoothly on the road are the SPONSORS. This is the case in virtually any setting. Sponsors provide the starting dollars, they help to keep the costs that have to be passed on to the attendees as low as possible. They take the risk of attendance and weather complications out of the picture. They enable venues that take events to the next level of effectiveness. They bring their expertise to the attendees in program content. Sponsors do this for two reasons that are close to a chicken and an egg scenario - they care about their communities and want to make them stronger and sponsors want their communities to know how the sponsors can serve them well. This takes us back to: Meet the 13th MN Entrepreneur Kick-off sponsors, do business with them and PLEASE THANK THEM for the support and leadership that they give to the MN startup and growing company ecosystem. With appreciation to: University of St. Thomas - Schulze School of Entrepreneurship, Scale Bank, Infinity Robotics LLC, Lab651 | Custom Software Development & Process, The PLUM Catalyst LLC, 1201 Partners, Explore Design, Lorignite, KLN Web, Kate LaBrosse Coaching & Consulting From me and on behalf of the organizations of the MNEN - Minnesota Entrepreneur Network, the hosts of the annual Kick-off and the volunteers that help to make the Kick-off happen each year and from the attendees! Join us in thanking them at the Mpls Club on April 11th! Kick-off registration is open until 1PM on Tuesday, April 9th! #sponsors, #entrepreneurs, #Founders, #Minnesota #Startups #investors

Please join us in appreciating these organizations supporting our startups and growing companies and our creators and innovators.

"Have you registered for the MN Entrepreneur Kick-off on April 11th?" If your answer is NO - please do so Today! Remaining tickets are going quickly! Rates go up on Monday. (See comments to register.) At the Kick-off you will meet the MNEN cohosts - there are 33 of us! (See us all on the Kick-off website.) We include the new Small Business Department of DEED and five of their key leaders will be at the Kick-off sharing their many resources. Don't miss this Opportunity to Meet: Neela Mollgaard, SBD Director, Andy Donahue, SBDC State Director, Rob Cimperman, Launch MN Director, Drew Lindorfer, SSBCI Unit Manager, Stephen Wolff, Tax Benefit Unit Manager. YES, April 11th can be impactful for your business - We hope to see you!

CORRECTING Yesterday's Accident - 13th MN Entrepreneur Kick-off Registration is STILL OPEN! (False Sold Out lock.) Register soon! Only 60+/- remain. Agenda, Presenters, Founders, Insights, Connections and ... ! Thank you Rick Brimacomb for the announcement. See MNEN - Minnesota Entrepreneur Network for more information. #entrepreneurs, #Founders, #investors, #startups, #Minnesota, #business

Totally! Registration goes up next week. Thanks for the call out Nick Roseth! Looking forward to hearing your insights at the Entrepreneur Bazaar. Your noon session is fully booked, so the Bazaar is the place to learn from you about all things new in tech!!!

We have a special announcement to make! Each year the MN Entrepreneur Kick-off has the privilege of hosting the Lifter Award presentation. But, first, before sharing the name of the 2024 Lifter Award recipient, some context. Our entrepreneur network has grown considerablely since 2011, it is home to over 10 local and national accelerators advancing founders. (Meet them at the Kick-off!) The second MN Entrepreneur Kick-off hosted outreach for Minnesota's First Accelerator and was strongly supported by the team bringing that new experience and opportunity to MN. Thank you Project Skyway. Creating Project Skyway catalized continued efforts by many that are evidenced in our ecosystem today. Join us on April 11th at the 13th Minnesota Entrepreneur Kick-off and meet 2024 Lifter Award recipient Casey Allen, Founder of Enterprise Rising Conference, Co-Founder of Project Skyway, co-facilitator of the first Entrepreneur Rallies and friend, connector and lifter of entrepreneurs! #Entrepreneurs, #Founders, #Minnesota, #Investors, #Startups, #Growing

Meet Camperoni ! - Camperoni can help you plan yours and your children's activities. Meet Featured Founder Meredith Englund, Camperoni Co-Founder and Techstars Accelerator grad on April 11th at the MN Entrepreneur Kick-off! Camperoni - In one location, discover the full metro region's varied, fun and enriching activities for youth outside school hours AND have Camperoni help you fit the activity schedules into a cohesive package. Use it now AND have the opportunity to meet Meredith to share your thoughts about future additions. Such Founder meetings are a special aspect of the Kick-off. Don't miss it - April 11th at the Minneapolis Club! #children, #entrepreneurs, #startups, #families, #minnesota, #kick-off Brett Brohl, Paul Taylor, Kailin Oliver, John Stavig, Patrick E. Donohue, Shane Erickson, Brian Cox, Jennifer Roth, Linda Cummings, Linda Hall, Mary Grove, Mary MacCarthy, MBA, Lori Ryan, Nick Tietz, Jason Dayton, Matt Frakes, Peter Boardman, Laura Meemken, Rob Cimperman, Neela Mollgaard, Andy Donahue MBA, MA, CEcD, Matt Stang, Taranvir Johal, Jon Berry, Christine Beech, D. M., Stacy Janda- Nimmo, Katie Kalkman, Valerie Lockhart, Steve Wellvang, Adam Gordon, Molly Doyle, Jenna Pederson, Brad Thompson, Craig Espelien, Nick Roseth, Casey Allen, Ellie Pigott, Ben Ihde

Founders - meet MNEN Cohost MN Cup Director Kailin Oliver and Student Division winner Max Minakov of Nivoso and Impact Division semifinalist Jennifer Roth of Wise Blue Yonder at "Innovation Unleashed - Opportunities Abound!" the 13th MN Entrepreneur Kick-off on April 11th at the Mpls Club! #mncup, #Founders, #entrepreneurs, #startups, #Minnesota, #MNKickoff John Stavig, Ernest Grumbles, Jeffrey C. Robbins, Paul Taylor, Rick Brimacomb, Patrick E. Donohue, Traction Capital, Ellie Pigott, Nick Tietz, Atland Ventures, Arvind Maran, David Russick, Gopher Angels, Cihan Behlivan, Deling C., Sara Dziuk, LeeAnn Rasachak, Rosemarie Kelly N., Lori Ryan, Meredith Englund, Amy Perrill, Wendy S. Wiesman, Christine Beech, D. M., Rob Cimperman, Neela Mollgaard, Andy Donahue MBA, MA, CEcD, Megan Baniecke, Alfonso N. Cornish II, JD, Casey Allen, Allison Hohn, Jessica Cooley, Matthew Thielen, Matthew Klosky, Lois Josefson, NeTia Bauman, CEcD,

These are times of change and change causes us to pivot in our lives. Being ready to pivot is important!!  Meet 2024 MN Kick-off Featured Company -  Ready. Set. Pivot. (RSP). RSP encourages women to think differently about their many talents and helps them create new measures of success! RSP operates off the premise that change that happens for you and by you is the ideal state for making a pivot as opposed to change that happens to you. RSP helps women get ready to create a strategic plan of their very own. Join Founder & CEO of RSP Wendy S. Wiesman on April 11th at the MN Entrepreneur Kick-off to learn more about how to find your next - today! Register - NOW - through the graphic below - Rates go up next week! #pivot #change #technology #entrepreneurs #founders #startups Linda Cummings, Amy Perrill, Valerie Lockhart, Mellissa "Missy" Meidinger, Lois Josefson, Meredith Englund, Jennifer Roth, Kailin Oliver, John Stavig, Katie Kalkman, Jolene Foss, NeTia Bauman, Jessica Cooley, Laura Dunham, Casey Allen, Ellie Pigott, Mary MacCarthy, MBA, Mary Grove, Laura Meemken, Kate LaBrosse, Lori Ryan, Steve Wellvang, Patrick E. Donohue, Jen Lindahl, Summer Song, Emily McCarthy, Rob Cimperman, Andy Donahue, Nick Tietz, Jeff Wig, Ben Ihde, Stacy Janda- Nimmo, Christine Beech, D. M., Sara Russick, Nicole Deters, Sarah Lewis, Allison Hohn, Wendy Hansen-Vahle,