Urban Evolution

A Rochester, Minnesota startup is helping to fill a void in community exploration. Shrpa.com connects travelers with self-guided adventures created by locals. It's a unique online resource that is gaining traction and subscribers. Shrpa.com co-founders Chris Lukenbill and Andy Vig are software developers who met at a co-working space. They both struggled to find a source for new experiences. Not finding a usable platform, they...

In Minnesota, a new initiative is providing a launching pad for entrepreneurs. Launch Minnesota is a pilot program that is fostering an innovative ecosystem across the state and is helping to get capital in the hands of startups. Over the past two years, Launch Minnesota has provided several millions of dollars in grant funding for early stage startups. The executive director of Launch Minnesota, Neela Mollgaard, has been a leader ...

The vision of the University of Minnesota Rochester is to inspire transformation in higher education. It's a vision that aligns well with a new groundbreaking partnership with two of the world's most recognized brands. Mayo Clinic and Google are partnering with the University of Minnesota Rochester on a pilot program called NXT GEN MED, designed to inform the future of higher education, leveraging machines and humans work...

A Scandinavian retailer in Rochester, Minnesota is proof that you can be successful during a pandemic. The Nordic Shop has seen a nearly 300 percent growth in its online sales in 2020 thanks to a robust digital strategy, a keen understanding of its customer base and a forewarning of the impact of COVID by its European vendors. Louise and Walter Hanson, who own and operate the Nordic Shop and are celebrating 47 years in business and...

Food as medicine is a popular buzzphrase, but what does it mean? A Rochester, Minnesota startup company is helping to shape and define it. Canomiks is a big data company bringing scientific rigor and a whole new standard to the natural remedies marketplace that doesn't currently exist with an end goal to help consumers make better choices. Co-Founder and CEO of Canomiks, Leena Pradhan-Nabzdyk, shares details about her company ...

As an Italian immigrant growing up in New York, Pasquale Presa and his family moved to America for a better life when he was a young boy. A passion for food led to a successful career in the hospitality industry, and ultimately, ownership in a namesake neighborhood pizzeria in Rochester, Minnesota. His booming business hit the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic, but supply chain issues at local grocery stores created a new opportun...

In Minnesota, there's a fearless sprit when it comes to healthcare innovation. Shaye Mandle is President and CEO of Medical Alley, Minnesota's healthcare association. Medical Alley bills itself as the Silicon Valley of healthcare. In a wide-ranging interview, Shaye explains why Minnesota has been a longtime leader in this ecosystem and where the healthcare industry is pivoting because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The Coronavirus pandemic has accelerated changes in many industries and in our daily lives. Tom Fisher, Director of the Minnesota Design Center at the University of Minnesota is a professor and former dean at the university. His research has focused on sustainable architecture, design ethics and community based service design. He shares insights on what a post pandemic city might look like, and how lessons from past pandemics and h...

A unique partnership of civic and community organizations in Rochester, Minnesota joined forces in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic to help ensure a safe and resilient recovery for the community. The partnership is called Rochester Ready. Erin Sexton, Director of Community Engagement for Mayo Clinic and Joe Ward, president of Experience Rochester, the city's destination marketing organization, explain more about Rochester R...

Kam Talebi is founder and CEO of Kaskaid Hospitality and operator of 12 CRAVE restaurants throughout the Midwest. He surprisingly opened his newest CRAVE restaurant in Rochester, Minnesota in the middle of a pandemic, even as restaurants nationwide were closing. But his family's special bond with Rochester and Mayo Clinic was his motivation.

CRAVE: https://craveamerica.com/
Destination Medical Center: https://dmc...

There's a transformation taking place in Rochester, Minnesota, home to Mayo Clinic. Destination Medical Center is a nearly $6 billion transformation of the city, creating a global destination for health and wellness. Lisa Clarke, Executive Director of the Destination Medical Center Economic Development Agency, and Dr. Clark Otley, Chief Medical Officer of the Mayo Clinic Platform and Medical Director of Mayo Clinic's Depa...