First Annual
Minnesota Cleantech Innovation Day
Wednesday, June 7, 2023
June 7, 2023
Hosted by 3M
Minnesota's First-Ever Cleantech Innovation Day
On June 7, over 50 companies convened at the 3M Innovation Center to share insights and information about emerging technologies, trends, and investing perspectives. This flagship event showcased the state’s dedication to advancing energy and climate solutions and driving innovation in the clean technology sector. Check out our event photo album on Flickr.
Minnesota Cleantech Innovation Day featured a comprehensive program that included key regional leadership from industry, energy, agriculture, higher education, investors, and nonprofits. Keynote speaker, Taj Ahmad Eldridge, shared his global experience with cleantech investing, including his work as a General Partner with Include Ventures and with the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator. He was joined at our event by an incredible group of Minnesota leaders in cleantech, workforce, investing, government and policy, research, business development, higher education, and community-building. The event brought together hundreds of partners and invited newcomers to the table to be part of our growing ecosystem. View the full event program, including speakers and moderator bios.
Mr. Eldridge is also building new pathways for cleantech jobs and leadership through his work with Jobs for the Future. We built upon the opportunity to share this wisdom and experiences with local students, employers, and partners, hosting a Workforce Pathways event at Saint Paul College during our week of events. We were incredibly fortunate to have Ramsey County Commissioner Rena Moran, Saint Paul College President Deedee Peaslee, Ling Becker (Ramsey County Director of Workforce Solutions), and Markeeta Keyes (City of Minneapolis – Green Careers Program Coordinator).
Our vision for this event, and the Minnesota Cleantech Consortium, is to solidify our region’s leadership in the cleantech innovation ecosystem. We have an incredible track record of technology innovation, and we have the talent and leadership to bring these opportunities home. The future state of this ecosystem has an accessible and tangible pathway for innovators from idea to commercialization and the network of partners to provide the necessary capital, mentoring, market access, and talent to scale our cleantech innovations. Our collective efforts can lead to a generations’ worth of equitable and impactful economic development.
Special thanks to our event co-hosts – 3M, Clean Energy Economy Minnesota, and the University of Minnesota Technological Leadership Institute.
8:00am – 9:00am – Networking & Innovation Center Tours
9:00am – 9:15am – Welcome
9:15am – 10:15am – Opening Panel Discussion – Emerging Cleantech Trends and Opportunities
10:15am – 10:45am – Keynote: Taj Ahmad Eldridge
10:45am – 11:00am – Break
11:00am – 12:00pm – PowerNorth Incubator Pitch Sessions
12:00pm – 1:00pm – Lunch & Innovation Center Tours
1:00pm – 2:00pm – Panel Discussion – Investor Perspectives
2:00pm – 3:30pm – Grid Catalyst Demonstration Cohort Presentations
3:30pm – 4:00pm – Closing Remarks
4:00pm – 5:00pm – Closing Reception & Innovation Center Tours
About Our Keynote Speaker
Taj Ahmad Eldridge
In addition, as General Partner of Include Venture Partners and former Senior Director of Investments at the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI), Eldridge has built a longstanding career with expertise in the fields of fintech, media, energy, transportation, and the circular economy. Eldridge is is also one of the 70 Black Investors in Bevy.com - a $325 million virtual conference platform as noted in AfroTech.
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