Members of the largest multi-state network of angel investor groups in the country will gather in Minneapolis for the 6th Annual RAIN Makers Conference on September 23-24 at the new Hilton in Bloomington. Sponsored by St. Paul-based Rain Source Capital, this event has been held in other cities throughout the Upper Midwest in previous years. In addition to members of the RAIN funds network of angels, this is the first year that members of the Angel Capital Association are also being invited. RAIN Source Capital is partnering with the ACA, which is dubbing the event a regional meeting for their organization, to encourage networking and sharing of best practices in investing and syndication.
RAIN Source Capital anticipates more than 100 angel investors representing its 23 funds across six states will be in attendance, along with investors of other angel investment organizations. The company told me they expect a larger representation from the Twin Cities this year, of course, since the event is being held here. Any active or would-be angels (accredited investors) are welcome to register for the event, and RAIN said entrepreneurs may also register, although they will not be allowed to attend the second-day (Thursday) morning sessions. 
Minnov8 is a media partner for the RAIN Makers Conference. Steve Borsch and myself will each be attending portions of the event, and we’ll have a table where we plan to do some audio and video interviews during breaks. 
(I’m returning from DEMOfall in San Diego late the night of the 23rd, and will attend RAIN Makers the morning of the 24th.)
The first day of the event will feature sessions devoted to trends in angel investing, due diligence tools and techniques, corporate governance/board service, valuation and deal terms, and patent landscaping, followed by a reception. One the second day, there will be a session in the morning devoted to four companies making presentations, chosen from among RAIN Source’s portfolio companies. The presenting firms have each received an investment from at least one RAIN fund (angel network), but are now being syndicated to the rest of the fund network for additional financing. Those companies are: … [Read More…]
The 
Comcast’s recent launch of a 100Mbps business class service for $369.95 per month will provide a great option for small to midsize businesses, at the same time I’m troubled because the continued acceleration of broadband speeds at low prices equals even more Comcast control of our local internet broadband access. What happens when Comcast is the dominant provider in the Twin Cities of both consumer and small to midsize business internet?
The Twin Cities is the first market in the nation to enjoy Comcast’s newest high speed offering: 100 megabit per second business class service, leveraging their investment in 
The Minnov8 Gang will be off this weekend celebrating labor, though as I write those words to announce we’re not doing a podcast this Labor Day weekend I’m struck by how the nature of labor has changed over the last 100+ years.
It was a mob scene, but a lot more Minnesotans were wishing they could have gotten this hot ticket, it turned out. Screw the Fair, this was the place to be in St. Paul last night. There was nothing on a stick — in fact, no eats or drinks at all that I ever saw (more on that later). But it was the first time any TED event had graced our town — and it was freeee! — so it was a no-brainer that demand for seats would exceed supply.
If you’re a designer creating websites, web applications are someone working with a developer on a project or initiative, then this workshop and seminar will empower you with the things you should know before you design your first website; what the content management system 
Our 
As the early-bird registration deadline of September 7th closes in for the annual