From Innovation to Impact: Fellows Wrap Up Inaugural Summer Program

The first Innovation to Impact Summer Fellowship Program concluded its 8-week program on July 29 with presentations from each team. Twenty-five STEM and business students from 10 colleges and universities collaborated with 7 Minnesota-based cleantech and medtech startups to tackle specific business challenges.

This pioneering Fellowship, a joint effort between Grid Catalyst, MIN-Corps, and the Institute on the Environment, aimed to empower the next generation of innovators and strengthen Minnesota's growing startup ecosystem. Cleantech startups benefiting from this year's program were Carba, Flow Environmental Systems, NETZRO, and SYNCRIS. Medtech startups participating in the program were Gavio BIO, Oroscope, and PhysiAroma.

The Innovation to Impact Fellowship provided a unique platform for interdisciplinary student teams to learn the complexities of startups while working on projects proposed by the companies. Through a project-led summer experience, students gained practical skills in customer discovery, problem identification, ideation, creative problem solving, market research, data analysis, and communication – all while contributing meaningfully to their assigned startups.

"My most valuable experience was gaining fast, thorough, and real-world exposure to startups and innovation. I particularly enjoyed working directly with companies and exploring the cleantech space, including engaging with industry experts." - a student on the Carba team

"Working closely with a startup like PhysiAroma provided invaluable real-world experience and a deeper understanding of their reality, while connecting with my coach and other students in person offered tremendous support and learning." - a student on the PhysiAroma team

Key Outcomes and Highlights of the 2025 Fellowship:

• High Participant Satisfaction and Strong Recommendation: 90% of respondents to the evaluation said they were satisfied with the experience and would recommend it to a friend next summer. 76% said the program increased their interest in startups and entrepreneurship.
• Real-World Experience and Skill Development: Participants gained invaluable real-world experience and startup exposure, fostering significant growth in their innovation capabilities and developing tangible skills in areas like market research, business strategy, communication, and working in cross functional teams.
• Meaningful Impact and Value Creation for Startups: Student teams provided critical support to startups, making measurable contributions through in-depth market research, validating value propositions, and informing strategic decisions.
• Strong Networking and Learning Opportunities: The fellowship offered valuable networking opportunities and emphasized skill development, particularly in entrepreneurship and product innovation.
• Ecosystem Building: The fellowship successfully connected academic talent with innovative startups, strengthening Minnesota's pipeline of innovators and contributing to the growth of the state's cleantech and medtech sectors.

"Our goals were to connect students with the local, startup ecosystem and to provide the opportunity for them to work with students from a variety of majors. In addition, we wanted to deliver high-quality work for our startup partners," commented Ashley Mahoney and Cameron Popp, leaders of the program. 

For more information about the Innovation to Impact Summer Fellowship and how to get involved, please visit the website.

About the Innovation to Impact Summer Fellowship:

The Innovation to Impact Summer Fellowship is an 8-week program designed to empower students from a variety of majors with the tools and experiences to be lifelong innovators. Developed in collaboration with Grid Catalyst, the University of Minnesota MIN-Corps program, and the Institute on the Environment, the fellowship pairs students with Minnesota-based cleantech and medtech startups to address real-world innovation challenges.