MOJO Minnesota is an innovation co-operative comprised of like-minded business leaders working to fuel entrepreneurship and reignite Minnesota’s culture of innovation. We are business advisors, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, angel investors and attorneys passionate about creating jobs and economic growth through the power of Minnesota based technology companies. Our goals are to provide a unique voice and support to Minnesota-grown innovation and shine the light on amazing new technologies developed here that will propel us into becoming a top 5 nationally ranked state for innovation and growth. We will do this through state policy advocacy, creating and hosting unique and interactive community and mentoring events and fostering an active and growing dialog that connects like-minded entrepreneurs, investors, industry groups and corporate partners in bringing Minnesota’s rich innovation heritage back into national prominence.
Brad Lehrman is one of the Co-Founders of MOJO Minnesota and an “entrepreneurial venture attorney,” focusing on business law, securities law and finance strategy for private emerging technology growth companies. After many years as a business advisor (Portage Capital), a venture capital fund manager (Portage Equity Investments), a board member and a business lawyer, he now leverages his unique business and legal perspectives to counsel and advocate for the Soffer Charbonnet clients. Brad counsels a broad array of companies with products and services, in software, medical devices, biotech and health sciences, telecommunications, publishing, semiconductor technology and information technology. As an insightful businessman who just happens to be an attorney, Brad knows how to assemble the right team to help an emerging business develop and grow. He is able to create a team of Soffer Charbonnet attorneys with corporate finance, securities, licensing and other legal expertise to serve each client’s particular needs. He offers not only legal services, but an overall business strategy that fosters his clients’ growth. Brad has lectured extensively on business and legal issues associated with venture capital, corporate finance and business law at the University of Minnesota Business & Law schools and University of St. Thomas MBA program.
Damian Novak is a serial entrepreneur at heart. Growing companies in the retail, online, finance and medical industries. He has an electrical/computer engineering degree from UW-Madison and MBA from the University of St. Thomas.
Dan Grigsby is a founding partner at the mobile app agency Drivetrain. Dan previously founded Mobile Orchard, which became the number one iPhone developer news site and podcast. He founded half a dozen other companies, including an early e-commerce provider that was acquired by Microsoft and the only ever successful competitor to PayPal. He received the Business Journal's "40 Under 40" award, Finance and Commerce's "40 Minnesotans On The Move" award, was named one of MPLS/St. Paul magazines "75 Best Brains" and featured as one of fifteen "Innovatives" by Twin Cities Business. Dan serves on the Advisory Commission of the Minnesota Science and Technology Authority and is an Adjunct Instructor and Entrepreneur-In-Residence the Carlson School of Business at the University of Minnesota.
Ernest Grumbles is one of the Co-Founders of MOJO Minnesota and an IP/Startup attorney with Adams Monahan (www.adamsmonahan.com). He works with emerging companies to identify and protect intellectual property assets and best position the company for launch and growth. Ernest is on the founding boards of Accelerate MSP, a venture development organization being developed for the Twin Cities, and of Gopher Angels (http://gust.com/angel-group/gopher-angels), a new angel group with a broad interest in high-growth MN tech startups. When not trying to keep up with his three daughters, he enjoys a little guitar.
Jeff O’Dell is an energetic, ethical, and passionate builder of businesses. As founder and CEO of NASDAQ traded August Technology from 1992 to 2006, O’Dell built the team and technology to successfully address critical automation needs for the global semiconductor industry. Driven by a passion for creating value for shareholders, O’Dell combines strong listening and problem solving skills.
Joy Lindsay is President and co-founder of StarTec Investments, LLC, a private venture capital firm making investments in early stage technology companies. In addition to her role at StarTec, Lindsay is a member of the Sofia Angel Fund, a women’s angel fund focused on making investments in companies founded by or led by women. Lindsay is on the board of the Minnesota High Tech Association, past Vice-President of the Minnesota Venture Capital Association, and a member of the Advisory Board at the University of MN Holmes Center for Entrepreneurship.
Kelly Henry is passionate about early stage companies. She has experience working in growing companies from conception to revenue. She believes in creating the foundation for an innovative and collaborative startup community in Minnesota. Kelly is a graduate of Bates College and is currently in the MBA program at the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management.
Kim Garretson is a partner at Ovative/Group, a boutique digital business consulting and digital marketing services firm. O/G's clients are large retailers, brands, media companies and venture-capital back digital, social, local and mobile technology companies. Kim previously was director of emerging media monetization and a liaison to the venture capital industry for Best Buy. Prior, he founded the digital agency NOVO in 1993 which was acquired by Leo Burnett advertising in 2001. He also is a mentor at AdZou, the Missouri School of Journalism's student-run digital agency.
Marti Nyman is Director, Emerging Businesses Group at UnitedHealth Group and responsible for the identification, development, incubation and the launching of new growth businesses in the health care and health care IT market. Prior to UnitedHealth Group, Marti founded Altavail Partners, LLC – an innovation and growth catalyst consulting firm based in Minneapolis, MN, focused on the creation of new growth businesses within established and startup organizations. Before launching Altavail Partners, Marti created and ran Best Buy's Venture Capital practice, generating over $40MM in new growth during his tenure. Marti's expertise includes strategy development, venture capital, new venture creation (M&A, Joint Ventures, Strategic Alliances), sales and marketing and operations management. His experience includes leadership roles at Best Buy, ADC, Ericsson and GE. Marti is also an instructor at the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management, specializing in entrepreneurial studies.
Mary Meehan is the co-founder and CEO of Panoramix Global. A successful serial entrepreneur with a twenty-year track record of transformational thinking and uncanny future foresight, Mary revolutionized the consumer insights space by co-founding consumer trend agency Iconoculture based on the industry's first theoretical framework for translating trends into opportunities for growth and innovation. Now launching Panoramix Mary combines a next-gen business model and methodology to give companies a clear picture of the complex globalized consumer. Mary is a sought-after commentator quoted in Advertising Age, the Associated Press, BBC, CNN,Wired, The Washington Post, Entrepreneur, Fast Company, The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and BusinessWeek.
Parag Shah is a visionary who is passionate about building technology companies. He is the Founder & President of Prodality, a technology company that develops and brings new products to market. Parag is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management, where he developed his first company, LunchBox. Since, Parag has brought to market a number of web-based businesses along with helping other entrepreneurs with their products.
Rick Brimacomb, founder of Brimacomb & Associates and a General Partner at Sherpa Partners, is a strategic and financial advisor specializing in helping companies grow. He has been advising and investing in emerging companies as a venture capitalist since 1991. In addition to serving early-stage companies, Brimacomb & Associates has a growing relationship development practice serving professional services firms.
Steele Lorenz is a digital strategy consultant specializing in mobile & audience monetization as they pertain to retail. He develops strategic solutions for large enterprise clients and focuses on driving innovation through integration of differentiated digital capabilities. His experience spans consumer engagement across various customer segments and industries including: Big Box Retail, Quick Service Restaurants, Grocery, Home Improvement, Entertainment and Consumer Electronics. Steele is also involved with MyRain, a social venture focused on bringing affordable irrigation solutions to rural districts in India. Steele has a B.S.B from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management.
An eternally optimistic force of nature, Tim Bachman is a Principal at Primordial Soup LLC. Tim brings 22 years of product development wisdom and experience to the table with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Colorado State University and 13 years of business ownership.