You've probably heard the quote, "Go West, young man, go West," made famous more than a hundred years ago by Horace Greeley. If he were alive today, Mr. Greeley might be admonishing young entrepreneurs to seek their fortune in the Northwest...Northwest Minnesota, that is — a place where ingenuity thrives. The region, which has come to be known as the "Ingenuity Frontier," is an area like no other in the Midwest, dotted with manufacturers and technology companies thriving within a local culture of engineering knowledge and creativity.

IDEA (which stands for Ingenuity Drives Entrepreneur Acceleration) is a project of Ingenuity Frontier, a collaboration of partners joined by a common purpose — to grow the economy of Northwest Minnesota by outfitting the next generation of homegrown innovators for success in the global marketplace.

IDEA believes in the ingenuity of the people who call Northwest Minnesota home. In fact, the region is home to several world-class manufacturers, including Arctic Cat, Central Boiler, Digi-Key, Marvin Windows and Doors, Polaris and TEAM Industries. Without exception, each of these companies was launched by a innovator who had a dream and was able to access the resources to make that dream a reality.

Some might call IDEA a competition, but it is so much more. IDEA is here to assist the most promising local entrepreneurs in the commercialization of innovative products, processes and deliveries by connecting them to the best resources available, along with access to the capital it takes to launch a successful venture.

Learn how to join the competition here

There are a lot of good ideas out there, but only a handful of business people who are able to take a breakthrough idea and turn it into a profitable business. Our goal is to truly impact the economy of our region by bringing entrepreneurs, educators and investors together.

Whether you've never started a company or you’re already in business and generating revenue, the future of Northwest Minnesota depends on your passion to create ideas that can become profitable ventures and that produce value in the marketplace for your customers and your investors.

IDEA partners include Bemidji State University, Center for Research and Innovation/Custom College, Headwaters Regional Development Commission, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, Northland Community and Technical College, Northwest Minnesota Foundation, Northwest Regional Small Business Development Center and University of Minnesota, Crookston.

IDEA sponsors are Blandin Foundation, Bremer Bank Crookston and Warren, Midwest Minnesota Community Development Corporation, Northwest Minnesota Foundation, 360° Manufacturing and Applied Engineering Center of Excellence, and University of Minnesota Crookston.