Toaster resources
The Toaster Innovation Hub offers a rich variety of resources to help you bring your ideas from concept to reality. Click the links below to explore how we can help you connect, ideate, make, and launch!
- Support for Student Entrepreneurs
- Coaching & Consultation
- Makerspaces
- Media Services - Video and Audio Production
- Creative Coursework
- Recommended Student Groups
- Funding Opportunities
Not finding what you need?
Reach out to us at toaster@umn.edu
Support for Student Entrepreneurs
The Holmes Center for Entrepreneurship is the hub of entrepreneurship and innovation at the University of Minnesota that inspires, educates and connects the next generation of Minnesota's entrepreneurs. The Holmes Center mobilizes the community and provides support for emerging entrepreneurs.
Check out some great places to get started below:
- Curious about Innovation & Entrepreneurship?Connect with fellow students for this Entre Meetup! Every Thursdays 3-4pm @ the Toaster
Coaching and Consultation
Toaster Coaching Hours provide a variety of opportunities to connect with folks who can help move your ideas from concept to reality. Meet with UMN faculty and program leaders in innovation and entrepreneurship; do targeted product or market research with support from the University Libraries; or get advice from lawyers, makers, media specialists, and experts in the field.
Find all the upcoming Toaster Coaching sessions on our coaching calendar.
Check out available resources below:
- Meet with Steven - Makerspace Lab Manager
Monday, 4pm-5pm
Ever wonder how those 3d prints are created? How to prototype an idea? Come connect with Steven for advice or a quick consultation on making, prototyping, and support resources that will get you started toward producing projects for your class assignment and beyond! - Meet with Deb - Innovator Outreach & Development Specialist
Tuesdays, 1pm-2pm
Interested in entrepreneurship? Doing cool technology research? Want to learn how to take the next step?
Come meet and chat with ....
Deb Miedema, Innovator Outreach & Development Specialist! Deb has over 20 years of experience in Intellectual Property and Competitive Intelligence, including at Google, Boston Scientific, and Fish & Richardson. In her work with MIN-Corps in the Carlson School of Management’s Holmes Center for Entrepreneurship, she assists teams of students, faculty, and researchers in navigating the early stages of the technology innovation lifecycle, providing education and coaching programs that help develop the skills required to translate innovations into products and services with real-world impact. - Meet with Mark - Gemini Chair for Engineering Entrepreneurship
Wednesday's, 1-3pm
Run your idea(s) by a seasoned entrepreneur. Mark Sanders has over 20 years experience working with and mentoring early stage startups in Austin and Silicon Valley - from new ideas to scale up, students to CEOs. - Meet with Alison - Business Library Associate
Wednesdays 1pm-3pm
Connect with a Business Reference Library Associate, to get hands on support one-on-one research / reference support in areas such as...
University Library website and databases questions, New business/startup, Historical company hobby-searches, Securities, stock market, and public organization financial information, Private and public company searching
Industry, market, brand and consumer reports, and local businesses and policies. - Meet with Scott - Media Outreach Librarian
Thursdays, 11am -12pm
Ever wonder how those captivating podcasts are created? How YouTubers make videos that people want to watch? It's all about the story and engaging your audience. Come connect with Scott to for advice or a quick consultation on media creation and related campus support resources that will get you started toward producing these projects for your class assignment and beyond!
Scott Spicer serves as Media Outreach Librarian, who functions as head of Libraries Media Services. Primary responsibilities include working with instructors to design media assignments and coordinating support for students creating their media projects. Scott has been working on campus for 16 years, and is constantly intrigued by the potential of media to transform teaching and learning. - Entre Clinic Startup Advice with John
Thursdays, 12-1pm
Entre Clinic is a great opportunity for student entrepreneurs to get startup advice by connecting with industry experts, successful entrepreneurs, experienced attorneys and investors. Guests change weekly.
Makerspaces
The Breakerspace Explore, tinker, prototype, learn and share. The Breakerspace, right here in the Toaster, is a free-to-use, student run makerspace providing access to a variety of hands-on tools and materials such as craft kits, a sewing machine, 3D printer, button makers, VR Headsets, and more. All majors, years, and skill levels welcome.
Check out some additional tech rich spaces in the Libraries and across campus:
- The MakerspaceThe Makerspace in the Health Sciences Library provides equipment, materials, and tools that promote innovation and creativity. The space is free to all U of M Twin Cities faculty, students, and staff.
- Virtual Reality StudioThe Virtual Reality Studio is a space that facilitates the use and exploration of virtual worlds for education, research, and patient care. The space is free to all U of M Twin Cities faculty, students, and staff.
- UMN Makers - Where else can I make something?UMN students are welcome to use these maker spaces. Each space is run by a different college or department on campus and may have fees to use. You should contact them individually if you have questions.
Media Services - video and audio production
Media services provides media equipment for no-cost checkout to UMN students, staff and faculty. Consultations on using the equipment or any part of the media production process are available. Priority for equipment and consultations is given to students working on course-related media projects.
Check out these media services resources:
- Media Service EquipmentCameras, tripods, microphones, hard drives, DSLRs, and other media equipment are available for checkout for UMN students, staff and faculty. No reservation is needed; equipment is available on a first-come first-served basis.
- Media Services SoftwareThe Toaster has 4 iMac workstations equipped with a variety of video / audio editing and graphic design software. This link will show what is available at the Toaster and the broader University Libraries.
- Media ConsultationsNo experience? No problem! A media consultation can help you organize your project, develop a story, decide on equipment, give video and audio pre-production advice, and answer specific questions about editing software. There are two consultation options:
1. Sign up for an individual consultation with a Media Services staff member. These consultations are are offered primarily for students working on course-assigned media projects. Sessions are pre-scheduled and range from 30 minutes to an hour in length.
2. The Toaster offers drop-in hours with our Media Services Librarian on Thursdays from 11am to 12pm. Drop-ins are quick help sessions (no more than 20 minutes) for individuals that need just a little advice or help with a project. - Media viewing roomA space that accommodates a group of people viewing media together.
- Media Production Festivals and FellowshipsAre you looking funding or ways to get your content in front of an audience (e.g. short film, pilot episode, etc.)? Check out these great Minnesota resources.
- 1:Button Studios1:Button Studios are fully automated HD video recording spaces with professional studio lighting and sound equipment. They are set up to record high-quality video projects without any knowledge of lights and cameras. There are currently four 1:Button Studio locations on campus (Magrath Library has the one on St. Paul).
Creative coursework
Creative Coursework There are so many courses offered at UMN. Where to start?
The Toaster Team has developed a short list of starting points to help you connect, ideate, make, and launch... in the classroom. If you are interested in innovation and entrepreneurship, here are a few starting points that will help to inspire, support, enhance, and realize your creative ideas.
Check out some of the Toaster's creative coursework recommendations:
Exploring Design - College of Design has so many options, here are a few places to start...
Student groups
Many University Student Groups call the Toaster home. From brand communication to innovative problem solving and the promotion of entrepreneurship to the production of video content, each group provides a unique opportunity to develop and apply new skills in real world settings.
Check out some of the Toaster's Student Group regulars...
Competitions and funding opportunities
Funding opportunities are one of many ways to get some much needed traction behind your product, service, or community impact idea. From entering competitions to connecting to the UMN's very own student run venture capital firm, there are many ways to get started.
Check out these funding opportunities:
- BizPitch ContestYour chance to win $1,000 to develop your new venture or implement your idea to support the local community.
- IonE Mini GrantsInstitute on the Environment Mini Grants are designed to support and spark collaborative projects addressing environmental and sustainability issues. These grants of up to $3,000 may be used for a range of research, leadership, education, storytelling, and outreach activities.
- Media Production Festivals and FellowshipsAre you looking funding or ways to get your content in front of an audience (e.g. short film, pilot episode, etc.)? Check out these great Minnesota resources.
- MN CupMN Cup is a community-led, public-private partnership supporting Minnesota’s entrepreneurs. We host an annual competition that reaches emerging entrepreneurs, including university students, from across the state and connects them with education, mentorship and support to launch and accelerate the development of their new ventures.
- MVP ChallengeMVP or “Minimum Viable Product” is a tool to show customers and key stakeholders how your innovative idea could work, capture feedback, and bring your concept one step closer to reality. Apply for $100-$5,000 to develop a prototype or pilot that demonstrates the impact of your innovation.
- Worlds Challenge ChallengeThe World's Challenge Challenge Competition welcomes multidisciplinary teams of 2-4 students to propose and pitch their solutions to global challenges. Finalists will be sent to London Ontario Canada in June of 2023 to participate in the final competition.