Tag: entrepreneur

Focus group: Meeting our future workforce needs

Ranked as the 16th Best College Town in America by Business Insider, southeastern Minnesota’s reputation for talent development is recognized nationally. But what’s not as widely known is the unique collaboration taking place between higher education and the business community to help address the area’s growing workforce needs.

Now, with construction for DMC’s signature Discovery Square building officially underway, working together to ensure Rochester has the skilled workforce to meet the needs of the region is becoming increasingly important.

DMC is partnering with Winona State University-Rochester to conduct research into the gaps that currently exist in the local educational offerings and how to be intentional about filling those gaps as we develop future programming, specifically related to entrepreneurialism.

Think local, reach global

 

 

 

 

Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) is celebrated in more than 165 nations and, locally, we’re excited to be in the midst of our fifth year celebrating Global Entrepreneurship Week Rochester.

From coffees to keynotes, there have been an array of activities throughout the week of November 13-17 to fit everyone’s interests and schedules. “This year’s events really continued to grow what we started five years ago,” says Jamie Sundsbak, community manager of Collider Coworking and GEW Roch organizer. “We’ve provided networking, educational events, and inspiring speakers to celebrate entrepreneurs throughout the region.”

Dr. Peter Stark presenting at Pasquale’s Neighborhood Pizzeria

One such event was hosted by DMC on Monday, November 13. “Doing Business Globally: A Cultural Perspective” featured Dr. Peter J. Stark, an expert in international business strategies. Stark helped attendees navigate the unfamiliar terrain often encountered when conducting business abroad. “Doing business internationally is about more than understanding the cultural norms,” Chris Schad, DMC’s Senior Strategy Consultant, explains. “Dr. Stark provided insight on a variety of issues to consider when engaging in business with other countries.” 

RAEDI launches Southeast Minnesota Capital Fund

As DMC drives growth and investment in and around downtown, Rochester Area Economic Development, Inc., commonly referred to as RAEDI, and Journey to Growth (J2G) work to diversify the economy and increase investment throughout the entire region.

To help these complementary efforts succeed, RAEDI recently launched the Southeast Minnesota Capital Fund, which was spearheaded by J2G back in 2015 when the group recognized that one of the primary barriers for startups was the lack of local angel financing.

Showcase your idea at the Investors & Innovators Forum

Got an idea you’d like to share?

The DMC Discovery Square Investors & Innovators Forum is the perfect venue for start-ups, spin-offs, and experienced entrepreneurs to pitch their pioneering ideas, technologies, or solutions.

Now in its second year, Destination Medical Center (DMC) will bring together investors and innovators from around the state to foster conversation, encourage collaboration, and grow partnerships in hopes of advancing healthcare at the 2017 Investors & Innovators Event on Tuesday, October 10.

The Discovery Square Investors & Innovators Forum will run from 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. in the Riverview Suites at the Mayo Civic Center in downtown Rochester.

Small businesses = Big impact

They might be called “small businesses,” but there’s nothing small about the impact these organizations have on our economy.

Recently, two Rochester businesses were named finalists in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Dream Big Small Business of the Year Award, making the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce the only chamber in the United States with more than one finalist.

“There are 8,800 chambers in the United States,” says Rob Miller, the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce president. “Any one of those could potentially submit nominees for the award. But Rochester was the only chamber – and Minnesota, the only state – who had more than one finalist.”

DMC Storyteller Video Series: “In the Middle of Investment” with Traci Downs

Private investment is critical to the balanced growth of a city’s economy and workforce, and a growing number of Americans are investing less in Wall Street and more in their local communities. Rochester is no different.

To help illustrate the many ways individuals are transforming Rochester, DMC has created a video series called “DMC Rochester, MN Storyteller Videos.” These snapshots of forward-thinking people and approaches showcase the opportunities that exist in Rochester as DMC sets in motion a new future for America’s City for Health.

In the Middle of Investment

Companies, non-profits, and individuals – local and global – have demonstrated confidence in the future of the Destination Medical Center (DMC) initiative by investing in projects throughout the DMC District. In March, that investment resulted in DMC not only meeting but exceeding the $200 million threshold required to release state infrastructure dollars, with investments at that time totaling $297 million.

Traci Downs

At your service: Chamberlain provides a personal touch

Taxis, Uber, Lyft. Personal transportation is at the forefront of many discussions taking place in Rochester recently. And while DMC, the city, and community leaders and advocates are dedicated to ensuring that transportation solutions support the growth of the city, those solutions will require more than the point-A-to-point-B services provided by the above options.

Enter Chamberlain, Rochester’s own unique but generally undiscovered transportation service that goes the extra mile for its customers.

Chamberlain is dedicated to providing black car transportation but has found that customers are looking for more. “They want a personal touch,” says owner Laura Elwood, so Chamberlain includes concierge and lifestyle management services as options for its guests. And, according to Elwood, serving those guests is the highlight of the Chamberlain story.

Celebrating entrepreneurs and inspiring innovation

There isn’t a blueprint for becoming an entrepreneur. There also isn’t a universally agreed-upon definition. In the simplest sense, an entrepreneur is an individual who identifies a need or a problem and finds a way to fill it or a solution to fix it. An entrepreneur can be an inventor, an artist, or an organizer. In the end, it’s not so much the definition but the impact of entrepreneurship that matters. That impact is so powerful that, every November, 165 countries around the world dedicate an entire week to celebrating it.

gewGEW Rochester kicks off on Monday, November 14 and runs through Friday, November 18. Events throughout the week provide opportunities to learn from those involved in new and existing startups, to support the evolving entrepreneurial ecosystem in Rochester, and to connect with kindred spirits.

“We’ve got an app for that”: Q&A with Wade Beavers

As one of the first 2,500 companies allowed in Apple’s App Developer Program, Rochester’s own DoApp was making apps before apps were cool.

In 2008, DoApp was part of a whirlwind app-developing frenzy – and the start-up ultimately landed three of its products in the Apple Store.

Wade Beavers
Wade Beavers

“That put us on the map,” former DoApp CEO Wade Beavers told the Destination Medical Center in an interview. “Companies were calling us to develop apps for them – which we did for a period of time.” But eventually, DoApp had to focus on their own apps in order to build out the solutions they offer today.