Session Organizer: Kurt Smith, Fogarty Innovation
In this session, you will get an overview of the Minnesota MedTech 3.0 MNcubator project from the key enabling players involved in making the MNcubator a reality and you will learn how you will be able to plug in and turn on a Smart MedTech startup. The MNcubator project is driven by the mission to enable rapid growth in new Smart MedTech companies that combine data with AI to yield more effective and equitable delivery of healthcare in this emerging, disruptive sector. The MNcubator will provide entrepreneurs, at all stages, with a tiered system of services designed to fast-track Smart MedTech innovation and support founders through the challenges of early-stage MedTech startups and provide access to the resources they need to survive and bring their ideas to market.
Rob Cimperman, Launch MN
Rob Cimperman
Launch Minnesota Director
Pat Dillon; MNSBIR, Inc.
Pat Dillon, CDR, USN (Ret), MBA
President and Founder, MNSBIR, Inc.
Pat Dillon, MBA has worked with hundreds of small businesses to secure millions of dollars during her 30 years of experience in the federal Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Programs. In current role as founder and President of MNSBIR, Inc., she leads the strategic vision of the private, non-profit to facilitate commercialization of deep tech ideas, concepts, and projects by leveraging federal research and development investments. Pat collaborates closely with the University of Minnesota, Technology Commercialization Office and the Venture Center, and serves as the Chair of the College of Science and Engineering, Technological Leadership Institute’s Advisory Board, and she worked with the Mayo Clinic, Office of Entrepreneurship leading to the first-ever graduate course called Accelerating SBIR/STTR Funding for Healthcare Innovations. Pat was awarded the prestigious Small Business Administration Tibbetts Award for excellence in the SBIR/STTR Programs. Pat has been a commercialization plan reviewer for the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, and the United States Department of Agriculture. Pat is a 2001 recipient of the City Business’ 25 Most Innovative Woman Award (now the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal). Pat is a retired United States Navy Commander combat veteran with 40 years of service with one tour in Kabul, Afghanistan in 2011-2012. Pat earned an MBA and BS from Winona State University, Winona, MN.
Frank Jaskulke, Medical Alley
Frank Jaskulke
Frank is the VP of Innovation at Medical Alley where he leads efforts to accelerate innovation in healthcare.
Hubert Lim, University of Minnesota
Hubert H. Lim, Ph.D.
Bakken Professorship for Engineering in Medicine
Endowed Lions Professorship in Otolaryngology
Institute for Translational Neuroscience Scholar
Director, Earl E. Bakken Medical Devices Center
Co-Director, Center for Neural Engineering
Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Otolaryngology
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Jackie Mejia, gener8tor
Jackie Mejia
Managing Director | OnRamp Insurance Accelerator, gener8tor
Amrin Singh, Vensana Capital
Amrin Singh
Healthcare Investor, Vensana Capital
Session Organizer Bio
Kurt R Smith, D.Sc.
Special Advisor, Fogarty Innovation
Kurt R. Smith, D.Sc., has a proven track record in innovation and entrepreneurship with the unique ability to drive passion in individuals and collaborative teams so that they can achieve their highest potential. Kurt is the founder of numerous high technology companies including Surgical Navigation Technologies which is now owned by Medtronic where has had a long and storied career spanning over thirty years. He has also been a Professor of Entrepreneurship and Scholar-in-Residence at the University of Colorado where he founded the Engineering Entrepreneurship Program, and he holds more than 30 medical and information technology patents and is an AIMBE Fellow and a Medtronic Bakken Fellow. Today, Kurt is focusing his skills in innovation development, digital strategy, and coaching as a Special Advisor to Fogarty Innovation, a non-profit education & alliance-based MedTech incubator in Mountain View, CA.