This week, judges narrowed down the competition at MN Cup and named the winner for each of its eight divisions.
 
Minnesota entrepreneurs have been pitching their business ideas since March in hopes of securing seed money from MN Cup, which is the country’s largest statewide new venture competition. Approximately 1,500 participants entered this year after it was announced that $405,000 would be awarded to the most impressive startups.
 
The MN Cup’s 2016 divisional winners are:
 
Activated Research Company

• Energy/Clean Technology/Water division winner
• Based in Eden Prairie
• The company’s Polyarc system performs a gas chromatography analysis of liquids, which has a variety of uses, including but not limited to: measuring the cholesterol level in one’s blood, testing water purity, or looking for solvents in gasoline

 
SelfEco Garden

• Food/Agriculture/Beverage division winner
• Based in Stillwater
• The company’s self-feeding compostable garden pots were a hit on Kickstarter in January (at which time SelfEco founder Danny Mishek said its products were already catching the attention of big name home and garden retailers)

 
Berd Spokes

• General division winner
• Based in Roseville
• The company uses polymer technology to create bike spokes that it claims are the “world’s lightest” and provide “exceptional strength, aerodynamics, and durability”

 
Vugo

• High Technology division winner
• Based in Minneapolis
• The company’s on-demand advertising platform takes aim at the rideshare industry, allowing companies to target ads to the passengers of Uber and Lyft drivers

 
StemoniX

• Life Science/Health IT division winner
• Based in Eden Prairie (with operations in La Jolla, California)
• The company’s scientists, engineers and physicians make heart and brain cells from skin, which can be useful in the discovery of cures for diseases ranging from autism to the Zika virus

 
Asiya

• Social Entrepreneurship division winner
• Based in Minneapolis
• The company designs sport and active wear for Muslim females, which allows its customers the freedom to participate in physical activities while still upholding their religious beliefs

 
Minnealloy Magnetics

• Student division winner
• Based in Minneapolis
• The advanced material company manufactures and sells a novel material used by power converters, which are an essential part of electronic devices, wind turbines, motors, generators and more

 
ExperessionMed

• Youth division winner
• Based in St. Paul
• The company makes adhesives for diabetic infusion sets, which can be used to teach diabetic children about the disease

 
Each division winner is awarded $30,000 (with the exception of the Youth division which is awarded $10,000). The runner-ups for each division will take home $5,000. (Find the full list of MN Cups finalists here.)
 
The remaining eight companies will now move on to compete for the $50,000 grand prize. Judges will select the MN Cup winner on September 22, which will be announced live at the University of Minnesota’s McNamara Alumni Center.