Founders Circle 2022

Founders Circle is an effort led by the Minnesota founder community to pay-it-forward and raise $25,000 for the Silicon North Stars program in 2022. In 2021, Founders Circle successfully reached the goal of raising $25,000 and also received a matching grant from the Knight Foundation of $25,000.

Silicon North Stars board member Damola Ogundipe (CEO & Co-founder of Civic Eagle) is leading the challenge again to get startups of all stages and sizes to contribute to the future of the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Creating a Fund for Tomorrow's Future

Our mission is to educate and inspire young Minnesotans towards futures in tech. We focus exclusively on youth from economically underserved communities in St. Paul and Minneapolis and our programs are 100% cost free for the students. Each year, we select a cohort of rising 9th graders with a passion and interest in tech and guide them through a week-long tech summer camp. We then support their entry into high school and offer four years of hands-on programming, mentorship, and connections with the Twin Cities tech ecosystem as they prepare for college and ultimately for futures in technology. Our students are also eligible to apply for a college scholarship after they have completed junior year of high school.