--- title: Announcing BETA State of the State 2021 Panelists! description: Learn about our BETA State of the State 2021 Panelists! Takes place February 25th from 6pm-7pm CST on Zoom. image: https://blog.beta.mn/hubfs/BETA_SotS_email-01a-1.jpg --- Close - Programs - [Twin Cities Startup Week](https://www.tcstartupweek.com/) - [Accelerator](https://www.beta.mn/join-a-cohort) - [Showcase](https://www.beta.mn/programs-showcase) - [Portfolio](https://www.beta.mn/portfolio) - [Partners](https://www.beta.mn/our-partners) - [Get Involved](https://www.beta.mn/how-to-help) - [Donate Now](https://donate.stripe.com/4gw9CLfHN5GN0RW144) [![Primary\_DkGray-Orange](https://blog.beta.mn/hs-fs/hubfs/Beta%20Logos/Primary_DkGray-Orange.png?width=200&height=50&name=Primary_DkGray-Orange.png)](https://blog.beta.mn/) [![BETA Logo-1](https://blog.beta.mn/hs-fs/hubfs/BETA%20Logo-1.png?width=200&height=50&name=BETA%20Logo-1.png)](https://blog.beta.mn/) - Programs - [Twin Cities Startup Week](https://www.tcstartupweek.com/) - [Accelerator](https://www.beta.mn/join-a-cohort) - [Showcase](https://www.beta.mn/programs-showcase) - [Portfolio](https://www.beta.mn/portfolio) - [Partners](https://www.beta.mn/our-partners) - [Get Involved](https://www.beta.mn/how-to-help) - [Donate Now](https://donate.stripe.com/4gw9CLfHN5GN0RW144) [Laura Beier](https://blog.beta.mn/author/laura-beier) Jan 15, 2021, 2:25:59 PM 5 min read # Announcing BETA State of the State 2021 Panelists! [Previous Post](https://blog.beta.mn/announcing-the-fall-2020-beta-showcase-lineup-and-fall-cohort) [Next Post](https://blog.beta.mn/announcing-the-2020-fall-beta-cohort) We're so excited for this year's State of the State event, taking place **Thursday, February 25 from 6pm-7pm CST** on Zoom! Take a look at our fantastic speakers, who will cover a variety of topics to give attendees an informative download on the current state of the Minnesota startup ecosystem!   ![BETA\_SotS\_email-B-steve](https://blog.beta.mn/hs-fs/hubfs/BETA_SotS_email-B-steve.png?width=821&name=BETA_SotS_email-B-steve.png) [Steve Grove](https://www.linkedin.com/in/grovesteve/) is the Commissioner of MN DEED, the state’s principal workforce and economic development agency, where he focuses on growing the state’s workforce, closing the opportunity gap and providing businesses with the help they need to grow, stay and thrive. Previously, Grove worked as an executive at Google for 12 years, led YouTube’s first news and politics team, and wrote for The Boston Globe and ABC News. He also served as an advisor to the White House and State Department on counter-terrorism strategy, and serves on the advisory boards of Witness, a video human rights nonprofit, and Report for America, a nationwide service organization to improve local news.   ![BETA\_SotS\_email-C-neela (1)](https://blog.beta.mn/hs-fs/hubfs/BETA_SotS_email-C-neela%20(1).png?width=795&name=BETA_SotS_email-C-neela%20(1).png) As the Executive Director of Launch Minnesota, a statewide collaborative effort to accelerate the growth of startups in Minnesota, [Neela Mollgaard](https://www.linkedin.com/in/neela-mollgaard-14ba58158/) focuses on fostering an innovative ecosystem across the state by supporting entrepreneurs and nurturing tech startups. Previously, she was the founder of Red Wing Ignite, a nonprofit that works to support entrepreneurs, businesses and students to succeed in the 21st-century economy.    ![BETA\_SotS\_email-D-mary](https://blog.beta.mn/hs-fs/hubfs/BETA_SotS_email-D-mary.png?width=821&name=BETA_SotS_email-D-mary.png) The Managing Partner of Bread and Butter Ventures, [Mary Grove](https://www.linkedin.com/in/marygrove/) has nearly two decades of leadership experience in technology, early stage investing and startup ecosystem growth. Prior to Bread and Butter, Grove was an investment partner at Revolution’s Rise of the Rest Seed Fund and served as the founding director of Google for Startups. She is also the co-founder and executive director of Silicon North Stars — a nonprofit that helps young Minnesotans from underserved communities pursue careers in tech — and serves on the boards of Vital Voices, the Minneapolis Foundation, and the Techstars Foundation.    ![BETA\_SotS\_email-A-casey](https://blog.beta.mn/hs-fs/hubfs/BETA_SotS_email-A-casey.png?width=821&name=BETA_SotS_email-A-casey.png) Our very own Executive Director, [Casey Shultz](https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseyshultz/)brings years of startup leadership to the table. After working in the Bay Area in executive roles for multiple startups and managing a startup accelerator in Silicon Valley, she moved to the Twin Cities after participating in the Twin Cities Startup Week Fly-In Program. Shultz is passionate about diversity in technology and showcasing the meaningful work that companies are doing in Minnesota.   ![BETA\_SotS\_email-E-andrea](https://blog.beta.mn/hs-fs/hubfs/BETA_SotS_email-E-andrea.png?width=795&name=BETA_SotS_email-E-andrea.png) [Andrea Jenkins](https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-jenkins-5a2b746/) is a writer, performance artist, poet, and transgender activist. Currently the Vice President of the Minneapolis City Council, she is the first African American openly trans woman to be elected to office in the United States. Jenkins has also worked as a vocational counselor for Hennepin County government, and is a curator for the Transgender Oral History Project at the University of Minnesota's Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Studies. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to hear valuable updates about the Minnesota startup ecosystem, business trends, and more!   [![register today](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/5463664/32a87d10-485b-4755-b92f-ce9ef55d9d9f.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/5463664/32a87d10-485b-4755-b92f-ce9ef55d9d9f) ## RELATED ARTICLES ##### [Laura Beier Apr 21, 2021, 1:47:11 PM 5 min read Support these MN startups addressing systemic racism & public safety Start Reading](https://blog.beta.mn/mn-startups-to-support-that-are-fighting-systemic-racism) ##### [Laura Beier Jul 16, 2021, 8:53:47 AM 6 min read BETA Explore Recap: Must-Have Content for Every Stage At this month’s BETA Explore, we were lucky to have Erica Thompson, Director of Creative at soona as our session leader! Start Reading](https://blog.beta.mn/beta-explore-recap-must-have-content-for-every-stage) ##### [Laura Beier Jul 8, 2021, 12:00:00 AM 5 min read Minnesota Startup Award Winner Kipsu Grows Internationally In an increasingly digital world, Kipsu is making it simple for businesses like hotels, stores, and restaurants to connect with ... Start Reading](https://blog.beta.mn/minnesota-startup-award-winner-kipsu-grows-internationally) [![BETA Logo](https://blog.beta.mn/hubfs/Beta%20Logos/BETA%20Logo.svg)](https://blog.beta.mn/) The Beta Group (BETA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing Minnesota's technology startup founders the resources + relationships required to scale their companies. Office Hours: 10 am - 4 pm, Mon-Thurs [![Beta-grey](https://blog.beta.mn/hs-fs/hubfs/Beta%20Logos/Beta-grey.png?width=66&name=Beta-grey.png)](https://www.beta.mn)  [![TCSW-grey](https://blog.beta.mn/hs-fs/hubfs/Beta%20Logos/TCSW-grey.png?width=105&name=TCSW-grey.png)](https://www.twincitiesstartupweek.com)    - Beta.mn - [About](https://www.beta.mn/about) - [Contact](https://www.beta.mn/contact-us) - [Subscribe](https://info.beta.mn/subscribe) - Programs - [Accelerator](https://www.beta.mn/join-a-cohort) - [Showcase](https://www.beta.mn/programs-showcase) © 2026 The Beta Group \- All rights reserved - [Terms / Privacy](https://www.beta.mn/terms-of-service-privacy)