Minneapolis, MN – December 17, 2024  Minnesota Emerging Software Advisory (MESA), a non-profit, pro bono mentoring organization inspired to make Minnesota’s emerging growth software economy rank among the most vibrant and respected in the nation, is pleased to announce the appointment of John Moroney as its new President.

Moroney is a seasoned technology executive with over three decades of experience driving growth and success in small—to mid-sized software and IT services companies. He has been a MESA mentor and an integral part of the organization since 2017. In addition to mentoring, one of his most important contributions to MESA has been developing and expanding its Partner Program. Moroney’s deep commitment to mentoring and innovation, as well as his energy and leadership, will keep MESA on a steady path.

“I am honored to lead MESA and reinforce its mission,” said Moroney. “Jim Moar has done an exceptional job in building MESA into a thriving organization. I look forward to continuing his legacy and strengthening our commitment to supporting Minnesota’s startup software ecosystem.”

MESA’s Founding and Jim Moar’s Leadership

By 2010, Minnesota had lost its standing in the national computer industry due to the transition from hardware to software and several acquisitions. Recognizing the issue, Kevin Spanbauer brought together five other technology executives, Todd Krautkremer, Jim Moar, Rick Engel, Jerry Grabowski, and Tim Butler, to determine what to do. In the Fall of 2010, MESA was founded, and the original six executives began offering pro bono mentoring to founder CEOs of Minnesota startup software companies to speed growth. In its first five years, MESA solidified its mentoring program approach and began to add additional mentors.

In 2015, Jim Moar became President of MESA and has been instrumental in shaping the organization’s growth and success for 10 years. With a successful track record leading technology companies for three decades, Moar brought a wealth of experience and strategic direction. He oversaw MESA’s remarkable growth, established a strong volunteer-powered structure, and ensured unwavering focus on the mission to grow the size and vibrancy of the MN startup software community.

“I’m incredibly proud of MESA’s achievements over the past 15 years. We’ve stayed true to our mission, grown our mentor ranks to 56 mentors, and supported 93 startup software companies on their journey,” said Moar. “John is the ideal person to lead MESA into the future. His passion for technology, commitment to mentorship, and strategic vision will ensure that MESA continues to thrive.”

MESA’s Impact and Continued Success

MESA is unique in its mentoring program. MESA’s mission is to grow the size and vibrancy of the Minnesota startup software community through pro bono mentoring of CEOs/founders by C-level software executives. MESA mentors are active or retired C-level software executives with their own startup experience. They are not paid, and MESA takes no equity. Founder CEOs are mentored monthly, typically for two to three years. The result is candid, honest mentoring relationships with the founder CEOs that deliver faster learning and growth while minimizing detours.

With 93 MESA mentoring engagements to date, there are 30 active engagements and 41 official graduates—companies that were acquired or thriving at the end of their MESA mentoring period. Of the 41 MESA graduates, 25 have had major financing events—either a significant capital or debt raise, acquisition, or IPO.

The organization’s 2024 investment roundup revealed that collectively, MESA mentees have secured an impressive $1.1 billion in funding, led by graduates Sezzle, When I Work, Player’s Health, and Dispatch.

Looking Ahead: Building a Stronger Future for Minnesota Software

MESA remains dedicated to fostering an environment where Minnesota’s software ecosystem can flourish.

“We want to sustain the growth we’ve seen over the past few years,” explained Moroney. “To do that, we need to preserve MESA’s strong culture of giving back, deepen the organizational structure, and connect and leverage the expertise of our mentors and our partners across the organization.”

With Moroney at the helm, MESA is poised to continue its mission of empowering software entrepreneurs and building Minnesota’s position as a hub for software innovation.