Dennis Anderson helped startups succeed

Dennis Anderson, who founded Wayzata-based Andcor Companies 38 years ago, was a connector. His goal was to help Minnesota companies -- especially startups -- find the right people in order to grow.

After battling a heart condition and later a rare condition known as amyloidosis, Anderson died of complications of the disease, which attacks tissues and organs, on May 27. Anderson, who recently moved from Orono to Minneapolis, was 64.

People close to Anderson described him as being a competitive entrepreneur with a big personality. He was also extremely competitive in everything he did.

Even in his final months, Anderson was so convinced that he was going to beat amyloidosis that he recently purchased a treadmill and furniture for his new downtown Minneapolis home. A party for his 65th birthday was scheduled for this weekend.

"He was very engaging and so enthusiastic," said Kieran Folliard, the Twin Cities restaurateur who worked for Andcor before starting his own business. "His glass wasn't half full, it was overflowing."

Much of Anderson's focus was building and growing Minnesota companies. Anderson worked with such varied companies as Rollerblade, Breathe Right, Select Comfort and Simon Delivers.

As Andcor grew, it often took equity in companies rather than cash and became a partner rather than simply a service provider.

Over the years, many Andcor employees began their own companies.

"If you add up all the companies he worked with and the ones started by people who worked for him, he has huge footprints in lots of companies," said Jacquie Berglund, co-founder and president of Finnegans. "He really has made a huge impact."

After Anderson's wife, Suzy, died of pancreatic cancer in 1999, he invested much of his time, effort and resources in companies in Minnesota's biotech industry.

"He needed something to live for," said his son Ty. "He found the passion to work with companies in the life sciences."

Anderson was a principal in Pelegrin Partners, a venture capital company that provides seed money to Minnesota startups.

He was also involved with Muve, a company that is using Mayo Clinic research to help fight obesity, and Medisyn Technologies, a company that works to speed up the drug discovery process.

"I think he brought the best out in people," Ty Anderson said. "The flood of e-mails I've read has been moving."

Services were Saturday in Long Lake.

Jeff Shelman • 612-673-7478