Entrepreneur Showcase

Entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of a thriving community and Minnesota is abundant with entrepreneurs making a difference in our great State! Learn more about our Minnesota entrepreneurs, all of whom are a part of EO Minnesota.

Jeremy Miller

PAX Solutions was founded on the belief that a company’s packaging should create marketing value, operational efficiency, and a defining customer experience. By taking this approach, we help our customers create one-of-a-kind packaging while focusing on increasing corporate sustainability. 

PAX Solutions mainly serves the CPG, manufacturing, medical, cosmetic, and electronic industries. We provide packaging solutions to the Contiguous United States and Southern Canada. Our target customer typically has 20-250 employees, but we do work with some fortune 500 companies as well. Companies that don't have a full-time packaging engineer tend to be a great fit for us as we can handle a lot of the heavy lifting if we understand their business goals and operations. 

Services: 

  • Budgetary estimates

  • Structural design

  • Provide samples for fitment tests and shipping validation

  • New packaging development

  • Custom packaging manufacturing

  • Artwork placement

  • Warehousing / JIT Shipping

Jeremy’s advice for entrepreneurs: “Taking time for gratitude can help in ways you couldn't imagine.”

Michele Zoromski

m.zoro helps companies to successfully commercialize new life science technologies by applying our business expertise to compliment their technical strengths to get to market quicker, on-target, with less cost. Life science areas encompasses pharmaceuticals, biologics, medical devices, combination devices, diagnostics, research tools, and digital health.

Services:

  • Commercialization Plans

  • Grant writing

  • Opportunity Assessments

  • Voice of Customer

  • Clinical and Economic Value Outcomes

  • Marketing and Sales Strategy and Execution

  • Market Access Strategy and Execution

  • Fundraising (non-dilutive and dilutive)

  • Pricing studies

  • Pitch deck review

  • Pitch deck development

We've helped over 200+ companies with their commercialization strategy and execution. Our mentee, Glimpse Diagnostics, won the 2023 MN Cup Life Science Division and Best Woman-led company.

Michele’s advice for entrepreneurs: “You are not your customer, listen and learn from your customer stakeholders (physicians, patients, hospital administration, payors, regulatory, caregivers...) early and often and incorporate into an integrated commercialization strategy.”

Schedule an intro call to see how we can help you and your team. 

Jeff Lin

Bust Out designs and builds apps, websites, custom software, and digital experiences. 

Pennant is a SaaS platform that enables performing artists to launch their own custom-branded subscription video service. It’s like their very own Netflix-like experience where they control their content, revenue, and brand presence. 

Bust Out serves mid- to large-size organizations in a wide range of industries including retail, biomedicine, travel, manufacturing, performing arts, government, and more. 

Pennant’s target customers are performing artists or performing arts organizations with large, active fan bases. 

Services:

Bust Out:

  • Digital content strategy

  • Design (user interface, user experience, brand design)

  • Software engineering and web development

  • Video production and animation

Pennant:

  • On-demand subscription video services

Jeff’s advice to entrepreneurs: “Be intentional about defining and creating the culture and values of your company. This will set the foundation upon which you build everything!”

Natalie Standridge

Casa de Corazón provides quality Spanish immersion childcare that families can rely on for their children's first educational experiences. Through the Spanish immersion curriculum, holistic and sustainable practices, and an emphasis on social responsibility, Casa prepare's children for their future endeavors both inside and outside scholastic settings.


Casa de Corazón serves families who seek high-quality, bilingual early childhood education in a culturally rich environment. Additionally, Casa serves families living and/or working in urban areas or inner-ring suburbs.


Services:

  • Infant Care

  • Toddler Care

  • Preschool Care

  • Pre-K Care

  • Part-Time and Full Time Options

  • Spanish Immersion Education


Awards & Credentials:
NAEYC Accreditation, Minneapolis & St. Paul Business Journal Women in Business, Star Tribune Movers & Shakers, Entrepreneur Hot Franchises to Own, 2020 EOS Core Values Contest Winner, 2021 University of Minnesota Distinguished Alumni Award


Natalie’s advice to entrepreneurs: “I believe that the key to great leadership is to foster environments that produce other great leaders. This philosophy is precisely why I'm convinced that the franchise model is the best vehicle for business growth."

Robert Lillegard

We are a French-German bakery with three locations (Minnesota and Wisconsin). We specialize in flaky croissants, crusty sourdough and hilarious jokes.

Some of our audiences include…

  • MPR listeners who wear sweaters, served in the Peace Corps in 1968, and "haven't had croissants like this since Paris".

  • Women in their 40s who like succulents, Lululemon, and taking photos of our danishes to put on Instagram.

  • Triathlete dads with two kids in soccer, both named Tristan (Cayden or Madison are also acceptable).

Services:

  • We bake things

  • We also bake other things

  • COFFEE

Claims to fame: We baked the largest pretzel in Minnesota (17 pounds)  & we were the first bakery to be sponsored by Germany's number one ranked arm wrestler, Matthias "Hellboy" Schlitte

Robert’s advice to entrepreneurs: “put yourself in a setting where you can constantly learn from other entrepreneurs” and “communicate clearly, deeply, and often with your business partner(s).”