Pinnacle Gala 2026
Empowering Asian-Indian Commerce in Minnesota
Join us on Friday, March 20th, 2026, at 7 PM for the inaugural Pinnacle Gala — a premier celebration of business excellence, innovation, and leadership.
This formal evening will bring together executives, entrepreneurs, and emerging professionals for an unforgettable experience of elegance, inspiration, and connection. The night will feature the presentation of the Pinnacle Awards, honoring trailblazers and outstanding leaders shaping Minnesota’s business community.
Pinnacle Leadership & Impact Awards
The Pinnacle Excellence Awards honor outstanding business leaders, entrepreneurs, and organizations that are shaping Minnesota’s economic and community landscape. Presented annually at the Pinnacle Gala, these awards recognize excellence across multiple dimensions — business performance, innovation, emerging leadership, community impact, and lifetime achievement. The awards celebrate those who lead with vision, integrity, and purpose, and whose work creates measurable impact beyond their organizations. Nominations are open to chamber members and the broader business community, providing an opportunity to recognize individuals and businesses that exemplify leadership, growth, and service.
Business of the Year
Recognizes an established business that demonstrates exceptional performance, steady growth, strong leadership, and positive community impact. This award honors companies that set the benchmark for operational excellence, ethical standards, and strategic innovation in their industry.
Emerging Business Award (Under 3 Years)
Celebrates new and growing businesses that have shown rapid progress, innovative thinking, and a promising vision for the future. Ideal for startups or young enterprises under three years old that are making a strong mark in their field through creativity, adaptability, and leadership.
Community Impact Award
Acknowledges businesses or individuals who go beyond profit to give back to society. This award highlights significant contributions to social welfare, philanthropy, civic engagement, or initiatives that improve lives — whether through donations, volunteer programs, or long-term community partnerships.
Innovator of the Year
Honors groundbreaking innovation in products, technology, services, or business models. This award is for entrepreneurs or organizations that have introduced new ideas, processes, or solutions with measurable impact and scalability, redefining success within their sector.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Reserved for individuals whose long-standing leadership, service, and achievements have left an enduring legacy in Minnesota’s business and cultural landscape. This award recognizes decades of excellence, mentorship, and influence across the broader community.
Official Nomination Form
This nomination form is intended for individuals or organizations seeking to nominate business leaders, entrepreneurs, or companies for recognition at the 2026 ICOC Minnesota Business Excellence Gala. Nominations may be submitted by family members, friends, colleagues, employees, clients, or community partners. A separate form must be completed for each nominee and award category, and nominee consent is required prior to submission. All information provided will be treated as confidential and used solely for judging and award administration purposes. Click the link below to begin the nomination process.