Technology Companies

Open RFP Solicitation for Technologies

AscendRural, a program of Sourcewell — a State of Minnesota local government unit and service cooperative — is requesting proposals for the  AscendRural Innovation Challenge: Bridging Distance to Rural Care & Services, to result in a procurement solution for use by Sourcewell Participating Entities.

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Your innovation. Rural proven.

We partner technology companies ready to pilot in real communities, with real users, across rural America.

Whether you're building for health, infrastructure, education, or connectivity, our accelerator is your launchpad for rural markets.

Get the support, insight, and credibility you need to design and test rural-ready solutions.
As part of the Accelerator, you'll:

Pilot your tech in collaboration with a rural community cohort

Gather real-world feedback and usage data

Receive communications support and visibility

Learn what works (and what doesn’t) in rural markets

Build relationships with national innovation and rural policy networks

AscendRural Accelerator

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"AscendRural not only brings structure and funding, but also brings access to stakeholders in rural communities. One of the most unique things is that they've assembled community partners who are ready to work with you."

Aaron Molloy, Paralign Health

Why pilot with AscendRural?

Community-Led Engagement
You’ll work alongside trusted local leaders—not in a lab, but on the ground.

National Visibility
From social spotlights to pilot showcases, we help share your story.

Field-Tested Credibility
Your pilot becomes proof of concept for scaling in rural settings—and beyond.

Dedicated Support
You get a dedicated point of contact, clear timelines, and structured pilot design.

Expert Mentorship That Drives Results

Each company is paired with mentors who blend startup savvy and rural insights —helping technology companies refine their value proposition and product-market fit.

100% of participating technology companies indicated that the mentorship they received was “extremely” or “significantly valuable”.
87.5% of mentors said companies were more rural ready after the program.
80% of companies received mentor recommendations to proceed to a pilot.
87.5% of mentors were “extremely” or “significantly confident” in participants’ ability to succeed in rural markets.

Actionable Learning and Real Connections

The accelerator blends tailored rural programming, expert feedback through practice pitches, and an in-person experience to deepen understanding of rural communities.

All participants rated the practice pitches and feedback sessions as “extremely” or “significantly valuable.”
Participating companies indicated that the in-person event enhanced connection and understanding of the local region, and validated or challenged their assumptions.