Target lets Gen Z entrepreneurs show their stuff

The first-ever Target Incubator concluded with a demo day for all eight participants.

Launched in May 2019 to support Gen Z entrepreneurs who run businesses that benefit people or the planet, Target Incubator concluded Aug. 1 at the discount giant’s Minneapolis HQ. At Target Incubator Demo Day, the founders of Blue Mangoes, Dressmate, KnoNap, Mickey’s Mission, Pulp Pantry, Symba, Terravive, and Trill Project shared overviews of their businesses and the progress they’ve made.

The demos were the conclusion of a three-day event known as Target Incubator Conference, with more than 100 attendees from across the country. Participants attended retail workshops, networked, met mentors and listened to speakers such as Minsok Pak, Target’s chief strategy & innovation officer. They also split into teams to take on a business case challenge of brainstorming a new service to launch at Target that would simplify the customer experience.

The eight-week Target Incubator program took the founders through a series of workshops and immersive learning experiences.

“I’ve had my own software development company since age 13,” said Ariana Sokolov, co-founder of Trill Project, a social networking app that creates safe and supportive spaces. “During the Target Incubator program, I’ve designed, tested and executed a new feature into the app every single week.”

To learn more about the eight companies that participated in Target Incubator click here.