BETA State of the State

BETA State of the State is Minnesota's annual gathering for the people building the innovation economy. This year's program brings founders, investors, media, and ecosystem leaders together for an evening of honest conversation about what it actually takes to build forward in 2026 -- when capital is cautious, AI is rewriting business models, and the narratives shaping our ecosystem have never mattered more.

Expect a full evening: complimentary hors d'oeuvres, a cash bar, and a program built around real talk from people with skin in the game.

What's on the Program

Media, Narrative and Trust -- Melissa Jun Rowley, Evan Ramstad, Daniel Bergin, and Dawn Stevens:

• How the stories told about business shape public trust and economic confidence
• Media trust cycles and what they mean for founders and leaders
• Building visibility through local press in uncertain times

Founders Navigating Uncertainty -- Moderated by Michael Kerski, featuring Nancy Lyons and Anthony Dann:

• The founder's advantage in a hard market
• Crisis as a catalyst for innovation
• Resilience across cycles and what bright spots actually look like

Innovation Impact -- AI Is Changing the Game -- Moderated by Jacob Brindley, with Seiji Cataldo, Madeline McCloughan, Anushka Bhide and Michael Arulfo:

• How AI is shifting business models at every level
• Where corporate adoption and startup speed are colliding
• What operators and founders should actually be doing right now

Investment Reality Check -- Reed Robinson and Stephanie Rich:

• Where Minnesota capital is moving and where investors are still leaning in
• What founders should do right now to position for funding
• An honest read on the cycle -- data-led, landing on possibility

The Great MN Give Back Hack -- Linda Finley and Kate Keuhl:

• A monthly initiative bringing founders, technologists, and civic leaders together to solve real problems
• How to get involved and help build Minnesota forward

Who This Is For Founders, operators, investors, and ecosystem partners who want substance over a highlight reel. If you're building, funding, or shaping what Minnesota's innovation economy looks like next -- this evening is for you.

5:30 to 6:30 PM: Social hour, complimentary hors d'oeuvres, and cash bar
6:30 to 8:30 PM: Program
8:30 to 9:00 PM: Post-program connect

Details Tuesday, March 31 5:30 to 9:00 PM Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center, Macalester College (130 Macalester St, Saint Paul, MN 55105)

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