 Elevate Hennepin has provided transformational impact for businesses of all sizes through no-cost consulting, a growing foundation of group learning, and a curated hub of vital resources enabling small businesses to start, grow and scale.
 The past year was an exceptional one for Elevate Hennepin with new resources, thousands of hours of support for businesses from more than 30 consultants, and another successful year for the growing CEO Growth Series of group-learning opportunities.
Over the past several years, we have provided:
-
Expert consultants, serving over 1,200 entrepreneurs in 2024: Since inception in 2020, Elevate Hennepin advisors have supported more than 3,600 businesses with 41,000 hours of consulting.
-
Peer-to-peer connection to help businesses expand both locally and regionally: In 2024, 40 new businesses graduated from the new CEO Start group-learning opportunity and 30 businesses graduated from our CEO Now program. A further 24 connected and worked through our longstanding CEO Next cohort, expanding the economic impact in the county and beyond.
-
Community-lead programming: Based on community need, Elevate Hennepin staff piloted 10 new offerings including HR Next, customized HR support to attract and retain employees; CEO Start, fundamental training to help idea-stage entrepreneurs launch and grow; and CEO Now, strategic frameworks for growth-oriented businesses.
-
More capacity for job creation: Advisors and consultants provided guidance and support for businesses to add more than 600 jobs in Hennepin County through financing since inception, and 283 new jobs in 2024 alone.
-
Equitable access to capital: Advisors helped Hennepin County businesses secure over $35.8 million in capital to expand, start, or grow their businesses. Last year alone, Elevate Hennepin business owners secured $16.3 million in business financing.
-
A launchpad for new businesses: Advisors provided guidance for more than 220 business across the county to launch. In 2024, 51 Elevate Hennepin businesses said this support helped them launch their new venture.
As we look to 2025:
- We will continue to deliver transformative resources to develop thriving, resilient business by adding new advisors, programs, areas of support, and vetted resources to take businesses to the next step.
- We will help Hennepin County businesses plan and mitigate economic and environmental disruptions by helping them access capital through a partnership with NextStage in new programming that will be officially announced in early 2025.
- We will continue to actively dismantle obstacles that limit historically excluded communities from starting their businesses and offer programs that fill gaps in human resources, certification, and idea-stage exploration.
- We will continue to build our entrepreneurial community by telling your stories to inspire and provide visibility.
Watch how Elevate Hennepin provided support to four very different businesses last year, and how all Hennepin County residents can do the same.
We want to hear from you. Share your story or talk with your favorite business owners and entrepreneurs about Elevate Hennepin. Connect with a Business Navigator, advisors or with elevate@hennepin.us to share your journey or need.
And if you know someone who could utilize transformational business support, share this email with them today!
 Applications are now open for HR Next.
Apply today or share this email with someone in your network that could benefit from this opportunity.
This group-learning opportunity from Elevate Hennepin empowers business leaders with no-cost consulting, data-informed tactics, and strategies to solve workforce challenges and improve overall business health.
Anne Andrus, owner of Honey & Rye, joined the inaugural group to address human resources challenges in her company.
“The amount of resources and tools provided, far beyond what most small business owners would typically have access to, have immensely helped our team to improve the way we train, manage, and lead our teams,” said Anne.
Spots are limited and fill quickly for this competitive program. Learn more, see eligibility guidelines and apply by February 25. The next session of HR Next will run from April through November.
 Business development essentials
Join Elevate Hennepin education partner SCORE to get a firm idea of what it takes to start a business or rethink your existing business.
This workshop will provide guidance on the basic components of building your business. We’ll focus on understanding what product or service you want to take to market, who’s your customer, who’s your competition and how you’re unique. We’ll then look at what action plans to consider, understanding basic finance and funding and what resources are available to help in your journey.
Online event, March 4, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
No cost
2025 capital access workshop
Are you an entrepreneur looking to explore more options for funding your business? Dive into this capital access education workshop that will cover the wide array of funding options that are appropriate for each stage of a company, from pre-revenue to over $1 million.
In-person event, February 12, 9 a.m. 3 p.m.
SHAKE at the Coliseum 2708 East Lake Street Suite 200A Minneapolis, MN 55406
Register today
America's seed fund week
America's Seed Fund Week is a series of virtual events representing a collaborative outreach effort that will connect entrepreneurs working on advanced technologies and the organizations that support them to the country's largest source of early-stage funding.
Online event, February 13, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Register today
Small business content marketing
Content marketing is a powerful tool for attracting and engaging your ideal audience, but success requires a clear strategy. In this webinar Elevate Hennepin education partner SCORE, digital marketing expert Nicole McCullum will walk you through the key elements of an effective content marketing strategy, how to produce engaging content and how to measure performance to enhance your tactics.
Online event, February 18, 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.
Register today
Thanks for following along with us! If you know someone who could use any of the resources above, please forward this newsletter or tell them to sign up!
We’ll be back in your inbox in a couple weeks. Until then, you can follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram! Be a part of our online community by sharing your #ElevateHennepin stories and tagging @ElevateHennepin in your posts.
Have a great week!
|
