TEDxMinneapolis

What TEDxMinneapolis does

TEDxMinneapolis, Inc. is an independently licensed, all-volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit (EIN 81-4643333) that organizes annual TEDx-style conferences in Minneapolis under a free license from TED. Founded in 2014 (originally as TEDxHennepinAve) and rebranded in 2015, the organization curates Minnesota-rooted speakers whose ideas are published through TED.com and the TEDx YouTube channel. Programming comprises three product lines: a mainstage annual event (most recently "Life, Rewritten" in August 2025 at Orchestra Hall, with "Climates" announced for August 2026), TEDxMinneapolisWomen (debuted 2017), and TEDxMinneapolisSalon gatherings hosted at venues such as the Walker Art Center, HGA, and MacPhail Center for Music. After two virtual events during 2020–2021, the organization returned to in-person programming at Keg and Case Market in 2022 and consolidated at Orchestra Hall from 2023 onward. Cumulative published content has reached over 6 million views globally and the speaker community exceeds 100 individuals since inception.

The technical surface is intentionally minimal: no app, no API, no proprietary software platform. The "platform" consists of live event production (with contracted video production partners such as Thad Brenny Productions and RockStoria Studios), a WordPress-based marketing site, and distribution of recorded talks through TED's global channels. Governance is handled by a five-person Board of Directors (Chair/Design Anna McKenna, Treasurer/Ops Aeriel Waters De Garcia, Secretary/Volunteers David Long, Executive Director Katy Preston, Production Lead Pat Laeger), and operations are executed across cross-functional volunteer teams in curation, speaker coaching, attendee experience, production, fundraising and sponsorship.

Revenue is generated through three streams: corporate sponsorships at four published tiers ($15,000 Premium, $10,000 Partner, $5,000 Supporting, $2,500 Community), ticket sales to live events (sold via the website and Minnesota Orchestra's ticketing system with prices set per year), and tax-deductible donations routed through GiveMN. Sponsors include a mix of enterprise logos (SPS Commerce, Hubbard Radio, TalentTelligent, Minnesota Orchestra), SMBs (Allegra, RockStoria Studios), education (University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts) and nonprofit partners (TC Pride, Minneapolis Regional Chamber). Marketing and community development rely on organic social (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X), an email newsletter, TED's global content platforms, and a speaker nomination channel ([email protected]).

Name

TEDxMinneapolis

Legal name

TEDxMinneapolis, Inc.

Website

https://tedxminneapolis.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

TEDxMinneapolis is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit that independently produces licensed TEDx conferences in Minneapolis, featuring Minnesota speakers whose talks are published to TED.com and YouTube and funded by sponsorships, ticket sales and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Event Organization

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920), Professional Organizations (81392), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Speaker, Program & Abstract Management Services (THAHACAI), Abstract, Speaker & Session Management Systems (THAHAFAI), Government & Public Sector Conferences (MPAGAGAH)

Keywords

• Independent TEDx events
• Local speaker conferences
• Nonprofit event organizing
• Community idea sharing
• Recorded talk publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships at multiple tiers (Premium $15,000, Partner $10,000, Supporting $5,000, Community $2,500) providing brand visibility, event access, and community engagement. Tax-deductible donations to 501c3 nonprofit.
2. Ticket Sales: Annual event tickets sold to attendees. Prices vary by year and venue, designed to cover event costs. Tickets available through Minnesota Orchestra website.
3. Donations: Tax-deductible donations from community members supporting local ideas and innovation. Suggested gift amounts of $25, $100, or $150 mentioned.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

TEDxMinneapolis is an independently licensed 501(c)(3) non-profit that organizes annual in-person TEDx events in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area featuring local speakers who share ideas worth spreading. The organization curates speaker lineups, delivers speaker coaching, produces the live event, and publishes recorded talks through TED's official channels and YouTube, operating with an all-volunteer team across functions such as curation, speaker coaching, production, and attendee experience.

Product overview

TEDxMinneapolis is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that operates as a single unified program: an annual TEDx event series featuring local Minnesota speakers who share ideas worth spreading. The core offering consists of in-person TEDx conferences held at venues such as Minnesota Orchestra Hall, supplemented by recorded talks published through TED's global platforms (TED.com and YouTube). The organization maintains a Speaker Community directory and offers sponsorship and volunteer opportunities for community involvement. There are no separate product modules, add-ons, or technology platforms—the offering is the event experience and its associated content distribution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TEDxMinneapolis Events Annual TEDx conferences held in Minneapolis featuring local speakers sharing ideas worth spreading. Events include live presentations, performances, and recorded TEDx talks, with themes such as 'Life, Rewritten' (2025), 'Confluence' (2024), and 'Intersection and Connection' (2023). Tickets are sold to attendees to cover event costs.
• Sponsorship Opportunities Corporate sponsorship tiers (Premium $15,000, Partner $10,000, Supporting $5,000, Community $2,500) offering brand visibility through venue signage, digital boards, website recognition, social media, email, on published videos with 6M+ views, on-stage sponsor recognition, reserved-seating event tickets, and activation options such as employee volunteer or speaker coaching access.
• TEDxMinneapolis Talks Recorded talks and performances from TEDxMinneapolis events, published on TED.com and the @TEDx YouTube channel after events. Talks cover diverse topics including technology, social justice, arts, health, and community innovation, providing global distribution of locally curated ideas.
• Speaker Community A directory of past TEDxMinneapolis speakers featuring their bios, talk topics, and professional backgrounds. The community includes speakers from 2014 to present, spanning fields such as mental health, design, science, arts, and social activism; curated via speaker nominations submitted to [email protected].

Quantifiable outcome

• 6M+ video views on published talks
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014TEDxMinneapolis operates under a free license granted by TED. The organization follows TED's format guidelines and receives support for curation, speaker coaching, and event organizing. All talks are published through TED's official channels and must undergo TED's review and approval process before release.
• TalentTelligentcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner Sponsor for 2025 Life, Rewritten event. Research-based talent management tools company bringing leadership development expertise.
• SPS CommercecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting Sponsor powering supply chain and commerce connections. Helps optimize supply chains and grow through global network.
• Minnesota Orchestra / Orchestra HallflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting Sponsor and primary venue host for recent TEDxMinneapolis events (2023-2026). Premier venue with world-renowned acoustics, connected to Minneapolis Skyway.
• HGA Architects & EngineerscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Sponsor and venue host for salon events. National interdisciplinary design firm with shared values on innovation and community impact.
• Thad Brenny ProductionscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGold Sponsor and video production partner. Six-time Emmy award winner providing storytelling expertise for TEDxMinneapolis content.
• IntemarkcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGold Sponsor and global partner marketing company with 28+ year history. Manages strategic alliances and forward-thinking programs for clients including BBC and Disney.
• RockStoria StudioscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGold Sponsor video production studio in St. Paul midway area. Provides studio rental with community/education rates and gender equity focus.
• College of Liberal Arts, University of MinnesotacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver Sponsor. Reimagining liberal arts education, research, and outreach for 21st century. Shared passion for innovation and community engagement.
• MenttiumcoreGTM or Marketing Partner2024 sponsor. Woman-owned leadership development and mentoring company founded in 1991. Recognized leader in professional mentoring.
• Hubbard RadiominorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Sponsor serving Twin Cities with 3 radio stations (KS95, myTalk 107.1, 1500 ESPN) and local podcasts.
• Groves Learning OrganizationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Sponsor with 50 years of experience in evidence-based literacy instruction and learning disability approaches.
• Pryes BrewingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHospitality Sponsor providing vibrant taproom experience with award-winning craft beers and wood-fired pizzas for event attendees.
• AllegraminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Sponsor providing high-impact marketing and printing solutions in Minneapolis metro area for nonprofits and businesses.
• Devil's Advocate RestaurantminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting Sponsor restaurant in Twin Cities challenging ordinary dining experience with East Coast 'tracksuit' Italian cuisine.
• Anna McKenna DesigncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting Sponsor and board chair's design business. Graphic designer providing layout, branding, typography, and event design services.
• ArchetypeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFriend Sponsor, custom sign fabrication partner creating precision signage for organizations.
• Rêve AcademyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFriend Sponsor committed to advancing equity in student achievement through digital and professional skills.
• TetherosminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze Sponsor, project management platform for creatives that sparks innovation.
• TC PrideminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFriend Sponsor nonprofit celebrating LGBTQ+ community in Twin Cities with annual June celebration.
• Minneapolis Regional ChamberminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFriend Sponsor advocating for economic vitality and inclusive environment for businesses and communities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• TEDxNewYork: Another independently licensed TEDx event organizer operating under the same TED license structure, running annual flagship and Salon-style events in a major U.S. metro. TEDxNewYork parallels TEDxMinneapolis in format, licensing model, volunteer or small-staff operations, and corporate sponsorship tiers.
• TEDxBoston: Direct peer independent TEDx event serving the Boston metro with a similar operating model: licensed TEDx events, multi-tier corporate sponsorship, and publication of speaker talks through TED channels. Useful benchmarking on ticket pricing, sponsor tier design, and event production scale.

Emerging players

• PopTech: A nonprofit ideas-and-innovation conference organization running curated talks and programming on emerging technology and social impact. Comparable to TEDxMinneapolis in mission (curating innovative speakers, social impact framing) and nonprofit funding model, though at a different scale and geographic footprint.
• The Moth: A nonprofit storytelling community organization that operates a national Mainstage and local StorySLAM events with corporate sponsorships and donor support. While format differs (storytelling vs. TED-style talks), The Moth's nonprofit event model, sponsor activation, and volunteer-driven local chapters are closely comparable.

Broad incumbents

• 92nd Street Y (92Y): A New York-based cultural and community institution that has hosted a wide range of talks, interviews, and idea-format programming for decades. While much larger and venue-owned, 92Y is comparable as a nonprofit speaker-and-ideas platform relying on ticketing, sponsorships, and donor support.
• Aspen Ideas Festival: A larger, more established ideas-focused conference organized by the Aspen Institute. While the Aspen Ideas Festival operates at a much larger scale and budget, it shares TEDxMinneapolis's core proposition (curating thought leaders to share ideas with a broader audience) and competes for similar speaker talent and sponsor mindshare.

Regional players

• Minnesota Public Radio (MPR): A leading Twin Cities public media nonprofit that shares TEDxMinneapolis's regional audience, civic-mission framing, and reliance on sponsorships plus donor contributions. While MPR operates in audio rather than live event format, it is a benchmark for nonprofit media/community engagement economics in the same local market.
• Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce (Minneapolis Regional Chamber): A Minneapolis-St. Paul civic and economic development organization that is itself a current TEDxMinneapolis sponsor. As a peer in the regional nonprofit/civic ecosystem, the Chamber offers direct comparison on Twin Cities sponsor development, member events, and community programming scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/TEDxMinneapolis
• Facebookfacebook.com/TEDxMinneapolis
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tedxminneapolis
• Instagraminstagram.com/tedxminneapolis

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TEDxMinneapolis