Scott Brown has built and scaled companies through some of the biggest tech trends of the last two decades. As a MESA mentor, he brings invaluable operator perspective to Minnesota startups, sharing the wisdom gained from a career on the front lines of innovation.
Tell us a little about your background, Scott.
My career has been deeply rooted in technology, focused on building and scaling companies through some significant industry shifts. It started with Accenture during the Y2K era, implementing PeopleSoft ERP systems. From there, I transitioned to Digital River and the burgeoning world of e-commerce. I then spent a decade working on Medtronic’s connected care system for remote patient monitoring. After that, I helped lead the mobile transformation at XRS within the transportation industry, moving from hardware-based systems to mobile apps. I even launched my own healthcare startup and then helped commercialize pharmacogenomics IP from the Mayo Clinic. More recently, I’ve been involved with AI applications in healthcare, from preventing diabetic limb complications to summarizing medical records. Today, I’m with Cherry Tree & Associates, a private investment banking firm, where I leverage my operational experience to advise CEOs and boards on liquidity events. It’s been an incredible journey navigating some of the biggest tech trends of the last two decades.
How long have you been a MESA Mentor, and what drew you to the organization?
I officially joined MESA in January 2020, though I connected with Jim Moar in 2019 before the pandemic hit and had been fan of the group for many years prior. What drew me to MESA was its mission and the opportunity to contribute to our Minnesota tech ecosystem. I see so much potential here, with passionate people and great ideas. I wanted to be a part of that and give back using my skills and experience. I was impressed with MESA’s vision, the quality of the presenting companies, and the phenomenal group of mentors already involved.
Are there any highlights from your experiences working with MESA Mentees?
I’ve had the pleasure of mentoring some fantastic companies and working alongside some exceptional mentors. Omnia Fishing, an e-commerce store for fishing gear targeted to specific bodies of water, is one of my early mentees with Dan Kinsella – and Matt Johnson has seen great traction and growth. Another highlight was working with Joel Morris from Hello Ignite, an idea generation and implementation software platform, alongside MESA mentor Jason Marx. Forsta acquired Joel’s company, and it was incredibly satisfying to help him navigate that process and avoid some potential pitfalls. He was a phenomenal mentee – prepared, engaged, and receptive to our guidance. That particular experience really underscores the value of MESA’s mentorship. Today, I’m mentoring ProsperStack with Troy Thibodeau, a customer lifecycle optimization platform for subscription businesses.
What keeps you involved? What do you get out of being a MESA Mentor?
I get a lot of satisfaction from helping these startups navigate challenging problems. Working with such innovative, scrappy companies with driven founders and limited resources is energizing. It contrasts my current work and challenges me to think differently and exposes me to new concepts and ideas. I also value the MESA mentor community. It’s a fantastic network of highly experienced executives, and I regularly exchange thoughts and ideas with them. If I don’t know something, chances are someone in the mentor network does.
What would you say to others about MESA?
I encourage any software startup in Minnesota to consider joining MESA as a mentee. It’s a truly differentiating factor in our startup ecosystem. You get pro bono access to phenomenal mentors, a great peer network, and genuinely independent perspectives to help you evaluate your options. I’d also encourage software executives with startup experience to join us as mentors. It’s a great networking opportunity, a way to stay plugged into the startup ecosystem, and a tremendous way to give back to the Minnesota technology community. “A rising tide lifts all boats” and the MESA network does an exceptional job of raising the tide for the software companies and workers in Minnesota.
