Tag: Chris Schad

Local startups find support through 1 Million Cups

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Since 1 Million Cups Rochester launched in Rochester, Minnesota in February 2017, the organization has provided a platform for thirty-two emerging startups and businesses to share their story.

This educational opportunity offers a supportive environment for entrepreneurs to learn and grow their business while gaining feedback and support from the local community. A regional startup less than five years old with an innovative new idea or an established business that is launching a new disruptive product can apply to make a 1 Million Cups presentation.

Limb Lab founder highlights the importance of the Assistive Tech Challenge

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Photo credit: Limb Lab

The Assistive Tech Challenge pitch competition, presented by Destination Medical Center Discovery Square, was developed to explore ways to facilitate greater independence for individuals with disabilities and address the daily challenges they face. It also strives to help minimize the direct support workforce crisis confronting communities in the region and across the United States.

It is some of these same challenges that Brandon Sampson wanted to solve when he first launched the Rochester-based boutique prosthetic and orthotic company Limb Lab. “We asked clients to list five specific goals they wanted to achieve,” Sampson explains. Then, the Limb Lab team would keep those goals top-of-mind as they sought ways to improve the daily independence and overall quality of life of their clients.

University of Minnesota Rochester signs on as an anchor tenant in One Discovery Square

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One Discovery Square was designed with collaboration in mind to support the acceleration and translation of the most promising health-related therapies and technologies. Mortenson has announced that the University of Minnesota Rochester (UMR) will be a new tenant in the unique, state-of-the-art facility in Destination Medical Center’s Discovery Square, where doctors and researchers will explore innovative new discoveries and bring them to market – and ultimately to patients – faster.

Five Questions with Chris Schad, Destination Medical Center’s Director of Business Development – Discovery Square

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Chris Schad

Chris Schad is a driving force behind Destination Medical Center’s Discovery Square. He directs business and economic development for the healthcare technology hub that is the cornerstone of the Destination Medical Center (DMC) initiative. He works to recruit healthcare companies to Rochester and attract investment capital to the region. He is also passionate about growing the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Rochester, a key to our community’s long-term success.

We spent some time with Chris to learn more about his priorities for Discovery Square and why he thinks Rochester is a hidden gem.