The Minnesota tech community’s biggest day of the year is back, baby!
First held in 2006, Minnebar is an annual technology conference held in Minneapolis. Minnebar, like other BarCamps, is an (un)conference that is participant-led and has a very loose structure.
BarCamps are held around the world from Swaziland to Seattle; Minnebar is rumored to be the largest in the Western Hemisphere. There are no formal or curated workshops (although we sometimes host minor web celebrities), and all sessions are led by people from the tech and business community.
Minnebar is free and open to anyone with an interest. We look forward to seeing you Sat, May 3, 2025!
Before the Event
1. Sign up to lead a session
Minnebar is a participatory event and everyone is encouraged (but not required) to sign up to lead discussions, talks, and panels on any subject in which they are interested. No matter what, come ready to jump into great sessions!
2. Vote for sessions you would like to see
We use votes to determine popularity of sessions and plan rooms accordingly, so make sure to vote for your favorites! Check back in the weeks leading up to the event, as new events get added every day.
3. Get tickets
If you’ve ever attended Minnebar, you know that tickets sell out FAST. Snag yours here: Minnebar19 Tickets. If you are a Community Supporter or Sponsor you champion the MN tech community and get reserved tickets to the event (go you!). Learn about how to join these groups and get automatic entry to our events: Become a Community Supporter / Become a Sponsor / Become a Minnebar19 Volunteer
Day of Event
Schedule
Minnebar19 will be held Saturday May 3, 2025 at Best Buy’s Corporate Campus. Complete sessions schedule will be posted the day before the event on sessions.minnestar.org. Schedule for the day:
8:00 | Registration & Light Breakfast
8:30 – 8:50 | Kickoff
8:50 – 9:20 | Session 0
9:35 – 10:15 | Session 1
10:30 – 11:10 | Session 2
11:25 – 12:05 | Session 3
12:05 – 1:05 | Lunch
1:05 – 1:45 | Session 4
2:00 – 2:40 | Session 5
2:55 – 3:35 | Session 6
3:50 – 4:30 | Session 7
4:30 – 6:30 | Second Annual Charles Edge Social Hour
Minnestar is dedicated to providing a welcoming, inclusive, and harassment-free conference experience for everyone. Make sure you read our Code of Conduct before arriving.
If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of the conference team immediately either in person at the check-in table, or by calling/texting a member of the Minnestar board at (612) 564-5111.
In case of emergencies, Best Buy security will be on site and stationed across from the check-in table.
First held in 2006, Minnebar is an annual community technology conference held in Minneapolis.
Minnebar, like other BarCamps, is an (un)conference that is participant-led and has a very loose structure.
BarCamps are held around the world from Swaziland to Seattle; Minnebar is rumored to be the largest in the Western Hemisphere. There are no formal or curated workshops (although we sometimes host minor web celebrities), and all sessions are led by people from the tech and business community.
Minnebar19 will be held Saturday May 3, 2025 at Best Buy’s Corporate Campus. Complete schedule of event will be posted on http://sessions.minnestar.org.
Schedule of the day:
8:00 – 8:30 – Registration & Light Breakfast
8:30 – 8:50 – Kickoff
8:50 – 9:20 – Session 0
9:35 – 12:05 – Morning Sessions
12:05 – 1:05 – Lunch
1:05 – 4:30 – Afternoon Sessions
4:30 – 6:30 – Second Annual Charles Edge Social Hour
Best Buy Corporate Campus 7601 Penn Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55423 Google Maps
IN A MOTOR VEHICLE
Feel free to park in the parking ramp (it's free) that can be accessed via Penn Ave. No parking in visitors parking lot, entrance to the event is only available via the parking ramp. Once in the ramp, enter the building using doors on the north side (doors marked P1N, P2N, or P3N). Signs will be posted.
ON THE BUS
Penn Ave. – If you are dropped off on Penn Ave., follow the sidewalk that is to the left side of the driveway leading into the parking ramp tunnel. The sidewalk will bring attendees to the Wellness entrance where they can press the intercom to contact security to get in.
76th Street – Follow the sidewalk from the street to the Transit entrance. You will need to call on the intercom.
Knox Ave. – The patio entrance is closed at this time and getting in will be difficult. While there is an intercom at the entrance in case someone gets stuck, it is an entrance that should be avoided.
ON A BICYCLE
If anyone is riding a bicycle to the conference, please use the entrance by the basketball courts on the Penn. Ave side of the building (this is the Wellness Zone entrance). We have a large bicycle rack that you can use.
Check-in tables will be found right at the entrance to the Best Buy event space, on the 2nd floor.Parking, entrance, and venue map can be found on this page under 'How do I get there?'
When you arrive, volunteers will check you in using your name (no need for a ticket or QR code).
At the check-in tables, you will pick up:
Your name tag, and customize it
Your Minnebar t-shirt
Swag from Minnebar sponsors
If you have questions during the day, return to the check-in tables.
With hosting 100s of Minnebar talks each year, Best Buy HQ is an incredible (and BIG) space – this year, we've put together a new map to help you find you way around!
Click here to view our Minnebar Map. Additional information on room locations for sessions can be found at sessions.minnestar.org/schedule.
Lost? Not sure how to find your session room? We have volunteers stationed to help at registration (near the entrance), newbie table (near the arcade) and other various locations throughout the event.
We know that at times large events can seem overwhelming, especially if you are new and/or coming on your own. So, we at Minnestar wanted to do something about it.
At Minnebar, near the arcade you will find our Newbie Table – staffed with friendly volunteers who have signed up to be available to attend sessions with you, have lunch with you, answer your questions, introduce you to your next friend or recommend a session based on your interests.
We are hoping that it goes a long way to help folks who are new and/or coming alone feel connected, welcome and excited about your day!
In an effort to reduce plastic waste, water stations will be provided throughout the facility. Bring a water bottle to fill up and stay hydrated throughout the day!
BREAKFAST
Light breakfast will be available starting at 8:00 AM in the cafeteria area (bagels, donuts, fresh fruit, granola bars, yogurt).
SNACKS
Complimentary water and soft drinks will be available all day in the cafeteria. There will be free regular Caribou coffee (while supplies last). Caribou will be open 8:00 AM-3:00 PM to purchase any other drinks you like.
LUNCH
Lunch from Pizza Luce is included with your event ticket, and can be found in the Best Buy Cafeteria (Sandy’s Place). Vegetarian, Vegan and Gluten-Free pizza options will be available.
During lunch, the outdoor area near Sandy's will be open and accessible during the lunch hour for anyone who would prefer to eat outside (weather permitting). During the rest of the day, these doors will remain closed for security purposes.
CHARLES EDGE SOCIAL HOUR
Joins us back in Sandy's Place from 4:30-6:30pm to mingle, network and celebrate the MN tech community! Minnebar attendees will receive one free drink ticket and light apps will be provided – additional drinks will be available for purchase.
No Smoking — Best Buy is officially a non smoking campus. Any smoking or vaping must take place in your car or off campus.
Info Desk — Best Buy staffs an information desk with information about the convention center (bathroom locations, lost & found, bike entry, etc). The Info Desk will be located near Sandy’s Place.
Coat Racks — Visitor lobby has space for 1000 coats; first come, first served.
Lost and Found — Bring all lost and found items to the Info Desk. A contact within Best Buy will pick up all items the next day and will be the point of contact for missing items. Contact us at support@minnestar.org for post-event information.
Child Care — We are working to secure childcare for the event. Spots will be limited – if you are interested in securing a spot for your child, email support@minnestar.org prior to April 7th.
Nursing Room/Lactation Suite — Check in at the security desk for access to the nursing suite, complete with four private lactation rooms, fridge for milk storage, and lockers for pump/personal item storage.
Prayer Room — Check in at the security desk for access to the prayer room (prayer rugs provided).
Minnebar is an (un)conference, which means that all sessions submitted will be approved unless they:
don’t comply with the code of conduct, or
are super salesy
Otherwise, they’re in!
We use the votes as an indicator of demand to put people in appropriate sized rooms. We close the session submission tool a few days prior to the event (to run our scheduling algorithm), but folks are still welcome to even show up day of and write a session they’ll be giving on the board (it just wouldn’t be featured on the official schedule).
Early submission is the best way to get lots of folks excited about your session and aware of it, but we do take submissions right up until early the week of the event.
Also important to note: all presenters get a reserved ticket that will be sent to them – we look forward to seeing you there!
Great question! We've got you – all presenters and volunteers will be sent their very own special ticket link about a week prior to the event. Register using that link, and you won't have to worry about if the event sells out 🙂
At Minnebar, we have a saying: ‘vote with your feet’, meaning that this is an (un)conference – if you’re in a session and want to check out a different one, feel free! Folks will be popping in and out of sessions – we just ask that you be respectful to the presenter and make your transitions quiet.
If you can no longer attend and have already reserved a ticket, please go to http://www.eventbrite.com/mytickets/ to find instructions to cancel your ticket so another person can attend
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