Innovation through entrepreneurship
Launched in 2018, Glen Nelson Center at American Public Media Group identifies, elevates, and invests in the best and brightest media ventures led by a diverse group of visionary founders.
To date, we have supported the work of 300+ ventures through investments, competitions and incubator/accelerator programs.
American Public Media Group (APMG) is the tax-exempt, nonprofit parent organization for American Public Media®, Minnesota Public Radio®, and Southern California Public Radio.
Our commitment to equity
Glen Nelson Center is committed to promoting racial and gender equity in media and strives to be an anti-racist venture. We also recognize that to remain relevant and accomplish our public service mission, we must embrace the demographic shift occurring in our communities and invest in founders and startups that represent that change.
As one part of this commitment, Glen Nelson Center will set aside 51% of available investments, awards and resources for Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), LGBTQ+ and female-founded ventures and ideas on an annual basis and expects all portfolio companies to have diverse teams.
About Dr. Glen Nelson
Dr. Glen Nelson was a relentless advocate for innovation and entrepreneurship. As vice chairman of Medtronic, he championed efforts to save lives through innovation and was the patron of the “Patent Garden”, honoring the legacies of medical inventors. Dr. Nelson was also a longtime supporter of Minnesota Public Radio and American Public Media, serving as board member and board chair. He was passionate about advancing public media’s unique ability to connect people in order to tackle society’s greatest challenges.
Glen Nelson Center at American Public Media was founded on Dr. Nelson’s steadfast conviction that public media is a vital source of connection, and that innovation is essential to serve new and diverse audiences. To honor Dr. Nelson’s legacy, Glen Nelson Center is building a new future for public media by launching, accelerating, and investing in entrepreneurs and start-up companies at the cutting edge of media innovation.
At Glen Nelson Center, we generate breakthrough ideas by combining American Public Media’s storytelling legacy with the agility and hustle of entrepreneurship. APM employees work alongside entrepreneurs from a variety of disciplines, forming unique connections and partnerships that power innovation.