Past participants
Take some inspiration from the entries that reached the Top 10 in our contest’s previous years.
2025 Contest winner: BookMother!
An independent bookstore and coffee shop designed as a welcoming third space for adults.
Five-year vision: Become a leading Twin Cities bookstore with expanded digital offerings, events, and a second concept development.
2025 Top 3: NUNAA
An African restaurant offering authentic cuisine with catering and takeout services, featuring unique spices and art. thenunaa.com
2025 Top 3: Twin Cities Streetwear
A retail and event-based business specializing in sneaker sales and fostering sneaker culture.
2025 Top 10: Bastu Bloomington
A modern bathhouse blending ancient thermal rituals with contemporary design for relaxation and wellness.
2025 Top 10: Bloomington Farm & Feed
An online farm and feed store offering next-day delivery of locally sourced products within a 20-mile radius.
2025 Top 10: Hearts and Spades
A gaming food hall featuring local restaurants and classic games to foster community connections.
2025 Top 10: Hot Box Pies
A family-built company offering gluten-free pizzas and sandwiches made with locally sourced, organic ingredients.
2025 Top 10: The Chocolate Bar
A modern chocolate shop offering seasonal treats in a stylish, inclusive environment for all ages.
2025 Top 10: ThePlugMobile
A digital marketplace facilitating cannabis delivery, pickup, and lounge experiences in Minnesota.
2025 Top 10: Veterans Post Provisions
A veteran-owned coffee business offering premium coffee and snacks to professionals and veterans.
2024 Contest winner: Scramblin’ Egg!
A fast casual breakfast restaurant based on a successful food trailer with the same name.
2024 Top 3: Kalsoni
A startup focused on empowering Muslim women and girls through culturally sensitive activewear and wellness initiatives.
2024 Top 3: NUNNA
A takeout and reservation-based restaurant offering authentic West African cuisine, catering to immigrants seeking familiar tastes and new customers eager to try traditional dishes.
2024 Top 10: Arbor Furniture
A custom furniture company that aims to foster long-term relationships with customers, making high-quality, handmade furniture accessible through a subscription model.
2024 Top 10: The Arts Creative
An arts and entertainment space providing accessible art classes, private parties, and collaborative workshops for all ages, empowering guests through hands-on art experiences.
2024 Top 10: Bloomington Greens
A sustainable urban agriculture and grocery store that addresses food deserts in Bloomington using innovative techniques like vertical farming and aquaponics to produce fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs year-round.
2024 Top 10: Coastal Coolers
Initially a mobile stand, then a brick-and-mortar location offering a variety of fresh, fun, and photogenic drinks including unique lemonade flavors, with a beach-inspired atmosphere.
2024 Top 10: Disinvested Youth Gaming Initiative
A tech hub and gaming lounge for youth, collaborating with local businesses to host events and offer educational opportunities in technology.
2024 Top 10: Indoor Dog Fitness
A health club for dogs and their owners offering exercise areas and activities to keep pets fit, especially during extreme weather.
2024 Top 10: The Jump
An apparel brand specializing in size-inclusive jumpsuits for women, sizes XS to 5X, with a core line of products that will be updated seasonally with new prints and colors.