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Elevate Hennepin is Hennepin County's initiative to help businesses start and grow.
 Elevate Hennepin offers a wide range of cohort- based programs designed to help entrepreneurs learn, plan, and grow with peers.
Brandon Bell, who oversees cohort programming in Elevate Hennepin, broke down what makes cohorts so powerful and how to find the right one for you and your business goals.
 Through 2025, we continued to drive inclusive growth and prosperity by equipping small businesses and entrepreneurs with tools and resources that deliver results. Elevate Hennepin advisors served hundreds of business owners and entrepreneurs last year and dozens of graduates learned with peers in our cohorts.
Since inception, Elevate Hennepin helped launch 322 businesses, with 66% owned by people of color and 61% by women. We also facilitated $50 million in financing for small businesses, with over 70% directed to businesses owned by people of color. In all, we have provided more than 4,000 businesses and entrepreneurs expert consulting and cohort learning programs tailored to different stages of business growth.
We recognize that the current surge of federal immigration enforcement is affecting our communities, including our small businesses.
Explore our resource page at Elevate Hennepin, which will be updated with new developments and resources.
 Applications are now open for CEO Now. This cohort from Elevate Hennepin guides established, growth-minded business owners as they build systems and a three- to five-year growth strategy.
This program, an investment from Hennepin County, will guide participants through topics like leadership, company values, sales and marketing, and goal setting in collaboration with each other and from industry experts.
Participants will leave the program with an action-oriented strategy, an understanding of how to create systems of scale, and a network of peer business owners.
Spots are limited and fill quickly for this competitive program. Learn more, see eligibility guidelines and apply today. The next session of CEO Now will start March 25. In-person sessions will be held in Edina.
 Apply now for HR Next, an eight-month cohort that empowers business leaders with no-cost consulting, data-informed tactics, and strategies to solve workforce challenges and build a stronger company culture. This Elevate Hennepin cohort opportunity is designed to support established regional and midsize companies with custom human resources consulting and support.
HR Next goes well beyond HR compliance, bringing personalized one-on-one consulting, custom data and insights, and a proven curriculum. Spots are limited and fill quickly for this competitive program. Learn more, see eligibility guidelines and apply today.
It's your last chance to apply for CEO Start. This cohort from Elevate Hennepin is open to anyone in Hennepin County with a great business idea.
Over the course of 11 weeks, participants will closely examine their ideas with peers, through industry research, facilitated discussions, and interviews with potential customers.
Spots are limited and fill quickly for this competitive program. Learn more, see eligibility guidelines and apply today. The next session of CEO Start will run from March 10 to May 19, 2026. In-person sessions will be held in the City of Bloomington.
 The Minnesota Promise Act is accepting applications for business-support grants. This state-funded small business revitalization program provides grants and loans to disadvantaged businesses located in certain areas of Minneapolis, Saint Paul and greater-Minnesota.
These grants are available to select businesses in key areas of the state to support growth and manage business disruptions.
Find eligibility requirements and apply today.
 Join Get Started on February 18 at 6 p.m. This no-cost, 90-minute virtual interactive session is designed for anyone with a business idea looking for a jumpstart.
Participants will learn from expert facilitator, Angel Antje, and Elevate Hennepin Business Navigators on how to use the Business Model Canvas, an efficient method for building the initial draft of a business plan.
Participants will leave the program with materials, resources, and a process to assess their business idea.
Online event, February 18, 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Learn about the essentials of small business lending
This workshop from Elevate Hennepin education partner SCORE will provide participants with an overview of general lending qualification requirements for small business owners considering financing. This workshop will provide participants with an overview of the SBA Express and SBA 7a application process.
Online event, January 22, 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Cost: $10
Register today
Small business advocacy workshop
The 1,000 Main Streets Academy is a two-hour, hands-on training that equips entrepreneurs with the tools to influence policy and protect your business.
Online event, January 28, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Register today
Protect your ideas: trademarks, patents, & copyrights made simple
Do you know the difference between a trademark, a patent, and a copyright-and which one your business actually needs? Join Elevate Hennepin education partner SCORE for an engaging, interactive webinar that breaks down the essential concepts of intellectual property in a clear, practical way.
Online event, January 29, 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Register today
2026 WE Disrupt Conference
The WE* (Women Entrepreneurs) Disrupt Conference is an annual event focused on supporting Minnesota’s emerging entrepreneurs. Join for a day of insightful panel discussions, interactive workshops, and invaluable connections.
In-person event, February 4, 12 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
McNamara Alumni Center, 200 Southeast Oak Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455
Register today
By investing in business owners, Hennepin County is building a foundation to create a more inclusive and thriving economy that strengthens communities.
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