About GetGo

Governor Pawlenty Announces Launch of 'GetGo' Network

A partnership of leaders in education, government and business creates GetGoMN.org, a business network for entrepreneurs, small business and those that support them

St. Paul - Governor Tim Pawlenty today joined a group of business, government, academic and civic leaders to announce the launch of GetGo, a new online portal that intends to create networking opportunities between and among entrepreneurs, investors, service providers and industry organizations.

"I'm proud to participate in the exciting launch of this innovative tool," Gov. Pawlenty said. "This provides more evidence of Minnesota's ability to constantly find new ways to help small businesses and entrepreneurs get connected to resources, services, investors and the business community."

The GetGo network is located at www.GetGoMN.org, and freely available to all audiences.

GetGo is the result of a unique collaboration developed by the co-founders of the Minnesota Cup, an annual statewide competition to discover and commercialize new breakthrough ideas. Operating as a non-profit organization, GetGo is a program of the James J. Hill Reference Library, the nation's premier business research organization. To finance and build the network, Scott Litman, Dan Mallin and Tom Kieffer brought together the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), the BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota, the University of Minnesota, the University of St. Thomas, the Minnesota High Tech Association, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU), Wells Fargo and the Itasca Project.

These founding members envision GetGo as a way for entrepreneurs and small businesses to update current and prospective investors about their business plans, projections and presentations; for investors, angel groups and venture capitalists to seek out new deals that match their areas of interest; and for service firms to publish their service capabilities and cultivate business opportunities.

"As an angel investor, you're always looking for new entrepreneurs with innovative ideas and a strong ability to execute," said Michael Moore, founder of the Early Stage Investor Network, a group of more than 70 metro-area investors. "GetGo is an exciting new tool that will help investors, entrepreneurs and supporting organizations find one another."

"Like earlier communication tools such as the fax, cell phone and e-mail, GetGo does not create business on its own, but it does provides a dynamic environment that creates new opportunities for collaboration and business," Mallin and Litman said.

GetGo Mission
To provide tools, resources and a collaborative network that brings together entrepreneurs, emerging growth companies and those that support them to make Minnesota a better place to start and build successful businesses.

Brief Description
GetGo is a Web site and network where small businesses and entrepreneurs can get connected to resources, services, investors and the business community.

The GetGo network, located at www.GetGoMN.org, is freely available to all audiences with no user fees. GetGo is a nonprofit organization, funded by the support of a unique collaboration of founding members.

Statewide Supporters
GetGo founding members include:
• MN Department of Employment and Economic Development
• University of Minnesota
• University of St. Thomas
• Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
• Minnesota High Tech Association
• BioBusiness Alliance
• Itasca Project

How It Works
GetGo will leverage personalization capabilities and social networking to enable all audiences to create a network within GetGo they can customize to support their business needs.

• Entrepreneurs and small businesses can use their network to update current and prospective investors about their business plans, projections and presentations. Information can include executive briefs, presentations and blogs. Members can also connect with service providers and resources that can help them grow their business.

• Investors, angel groups and venture capitalists can use filtering tools to seek out new deals that match their areas of interest and can collaborate with other investors. They can create their own space to keep track of information about a group or business prospect. GetGo allows the information to be shared with a select group, the public or to remain private.

• Service firms (including staffing, PR, legal and financial) can publish their service capabilities, cultivate business opportunities and stay better connected with the entrepreneurs they support.

Like earlier communication tools such as the fax, cell phone and e-mail, GetGo does not create business on its own, but it does facilitate communication that creates new opportunities for collaboration and business. GetGoMN.org - a tool that makes Minnesota a better place to launch and keep great new businesses.