We are
innovate.mn
WE ARE market-disrupting innovation specialists who aim to improve the world for ourselves, our communities, and our collective futures.
WE ARE collaborative deep thinkers and problem solvers. We do not stop at the status quo but continue to push, evolve, and expand our horizons. We incubate ideas to change the world, using our collective imaginations for good (and not evil). We cultivate an abundance mentality every time we share, knowing that the cross-pollination process and practice of sharing means that all will get to take something away with them- whether it is a deeper connection to a professional colleague, a new perspective to explore a relationship to our industry or the possibility of inter-industry collaboration that we didn’t think was possible. We, together, are Innovate MN!
Hello
Dr. Jonell Pacyga and Matt Pacyga are the co-founders of Innovate MN. Together, they bring over two decades of expertise in digital product management and educational leadership, leveraging their diverse experiences from both startup ecosystems and corporate environments to foster innovation and drive impactful change.
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​Dr. Jonell Pacyga is a professor and program lead for the ESL Education and Spanish Education licensures at the University of Northwestern-St. Paul. In addition to her teaching role, Jonell has served for five years on the leadership committee for faculty professional development, focusing on aligning mission-driven goals with scholarly practices. Her academic passions include Instructional Technology, Language Acquisition, The Science of Reading, Developmental Learning, and Trauma-Informed Practices. Holding an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, she is an advocate for ethical, cross-cultural education and brings a wealth of knowledge in dispute resolution, compliance, and developmental teaching methodologies.
Matt Pacyga is an innovation strategist specializing in mobile, web, and omnichannel product development. With a career spanning startups, Fortune 500 companies, and nonprofit initiatives, Matt has a proven track record of leading digital transformation efforts that deliver measurable value. He holds a patent for new media technology and has founded and advised several successful startups, including Slice Engine and Gray Squid Division.
As a mentor with Techstars' Farm to Fork accelerator, Matt empowers emerging businesses in the digital food ecosystem. His expertise extends to GenAI-driven ideation, where he guides teams through design sprints and prioritization strategies to move from visionary concepts to actionable results. Matt, a collaborative problem-solver and thought leader, is passionate about fostering community-driven innovation and building meaningful solutions.
At Innovate MN, Matt and Jonell combine their unique perspectives—Jonell's leadership in education and Matt's product innovation expertise—to create a collaborative environment where ideas flourish and businesses thrive. Together, they’re committed to inspiring change, supporting local initiatives, and helping organizations unlock their potential through market-disrupting innovation.