2026 Entrepreneur Of The Year Finalists
Nick Schneider
President and CEO, Arctic Wolf
Founded: 2012
Headquarters: Eden Prairie
Mission: To strengthen security by delivering a cloud-native security operations platform to end cyber risk.
Chad Baker
President and CEO, Ascentek
Founded: 1993
Headquarters: Golden Valley
Mission: To support businesses with fluid manufacturing, regional distribution, vehicle washes, hard parts assembly, dropshipping, and software solutions.
Nawal Noor
CEO, Noor Companies
Founded: 2015
Headquarters: Minneapolis
Mission: To deliver vertically integrated real estate development, commercial construction, and solar installations.
Nicholas O’Grady
CEO, Northern Oil and Gas, Inc.
Founded: 2006
Headquarters: Minnetonka
Mission: To acquire and invest in non-operated minority interests in the premier hydrocarbon producing basins.
Robert F. Moeller II
President and visionary, R.F. Moeller Jeweler
Founded: 1951
Headquarters: St. Paul
Mission: To help customers celebrate life’s milestones through the sale of engagement rings, fine jewelry, and Swiss watches.
Brian Murray
Founded: 1938
Headquarters: Minneapolis
Mission: To offer comprehensive commercial real estate services as a national developer, designer, builder, capital markets advisor, and real estate manager to create places for people to thrive.
J. Robert (Bob) Paulson
President and CEO, Sonex Health, Inc.
Founded: 2014
Headquarters: Eagan
Mission: Through ultrasound-guided surgery, to pioneer innovative therapies that empower physicians, improve patient safety, decrease invasiveness, and reduce the cost of care.
Matt Joyce
Founder and CEO, Toom
Founded: 2011
Headquarters: Mendota Heights
Mission: To build the Toom brand by securing a place for its garlic dip in domestic grocery stores, convenience stores, and food service restaurants.







