10 years of accelerating innovation ----
107 startups featured----
$52M+ in capital raised by Walleye Tank Companies -----
10 years of accelerating innovation ---- 107 startups featured---- $52M+ in capital raised by Walleye Tank Companies -----
Walleye Tank | Spring 2026
Where Healthcare Innovation Meets Capital
Now powered by HealthcareMN — accelerating bold healthcare startups in Minnesota and beyond.
Event Experience
May 4, 2026 | Walker Art Center | 3:00 PM
2:30 PM – Doors Open
Check in, grab a drink, and start connecting
3:00 PM – Kickoff Begins
A look at what’s ahead for Walleye Tank’s 10th year
3:15 PM – Past Winners Spotlight
See how Walleye Tank continues to fuel innovation
3:25 PM – Junior Anglers Takes the Stage
Watch early-stage startups pitch bold ideas and receive live feedback
4:05 PM – Ecosystem Spotlight
Featuring Fredrikson, Safe Use, and MNSBIR
4:10 PM – Break & Connect
Refuel, network, and meet the people behind the innovation
4:25 PM – Mid-Level Showdown
Scaling startups compete for a shot at the MN Cup semifinals
5:18 PM – Great Lake Giants Showcase
Meet investment-ready companies poised for growth
5:48 PM – Audience Voting
Cast your vote and support your favorite teams
6:00 PM – Deliberation & Networking
Judges finalize decisions while you build connections
6:30 PM – Winners Announced
See who takes the Walleye title
7:00 PM – Networking & Afterglow
Connect with Minnesota’s healthcare innovation community
Thank You!
What is the Walleye Tank?
This isn’t your average pitch competition.
Walleye Tank is Minnesota’s premier life science stage, where founders with bold ideas compete for capital, mentorship, and the attention of the region’s top investors. It’s fast. It’s intense. And it’s where early-stage traction meets real opportunity. Finalists leave with more than prize money — they gain credibility, visibility, and direct access to the decision-makers who can fuel their next big leap. We bring together investors, industry leaders, mentors, and service providers — all focused on one thing: helping the most promising healthcare and life science startups scale. Step into the tank, and take your startup to the next level.
Why Walleye Tank?
Live Pitch Competition – showcase your innovation in front of key stakeholders.
Healthcare-Focused Startups – connect with a community driving real impact.
Curated Investors & Operators – engage with those who can fund, advise, and partner.
Community-Driven Prize Pool – reward and recognition beyond the pitch.
More Than a Pitch – a platform for visibility, networking, and growth and mentorship.
Click here to read more about the Walleye Tank.
This event was originally founded in 2016 in Rochester, Minnesota. Over the years it has been organized by the University of Minnesota Venture Center and Mayo Clinic Office of Entrepreneurship. Since its founding, financial support has included contributions from University of Minnesota Medical School the Gary S. Holmes Center for Entrepreneurship and Launch Minnesota and promotional partnership from The Medical Alley Association. Beginning in 2026, HealthcareMN is honored to steward the next chapter of Walleye Tank — preserving its mission, competitive spirit, and deep commitment to Minnesota’s innovation ecosystem while expanding its statewide reach - spotlighting bold founders, connecting them with investors and strategic partners, and accelerating the future of health innovation in Minnesota.
👉 Read the full announcement here: [Press Release]
“The Walleye Tank pitch competition was an amazing launching pad for OneDose (formerly Hinckley Medical). The cash prize was incredibly helpful, but more importantly, we were able to network and meet people who were directly involved in our pre-seed fundraising round. The judges, organizers, and companies pitching are all world-class, it is truly the best competition in the Twin Cities area.”
“As Walleye Tank celebrates its tenth year of supporting Minnesota’s healthcare innovation ecosystem, the world is still in desperate need of rapid innovation to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare cost. ”
“We’re thrilled to bring it back with an even stronger platform to support founders, accelerate solutions, and connect innovators with the resources they need to succeed. Looking ahead, our goal is to expand Walleye Tank across the Midwest, sharing this celebration of healthcare innovation with an even broader community of founders and innovators.”
