Elevate Your Business
We connect Hennepin County business owners to advisors, training, and resources.
We stand with our business community.
Connect with a Navigator
Identify the best resources for your needs with one-on-one advising.
See all resources
Get connected to professional resources, tools, and guidance from business experts.
Schedule a consultation
Meet with a Business Navigator to assess your best next step.
Jill Cain offers empathy, marketing expertise
For Jill Cain, Elevate Hennepin advisor and founder of Arch Empathy, helping small business owners with marketing isn’t just about social media strategies or brand colors, it’s about finding the spark that customers are looking for.
Latest announcements
Build your knowledge and process to test your business idea
Build your value proposition in a free course from DEED and University of Minnesota.
Reminder: Elevate Hennepin small business loan funds available
As part of the Elevate Hennepin small business capital strategy, financing opportunities are available for small businesses.
Hatch Bloomington 2026
In 2026, the City of Bloomington reimagined the program as Hatch Bloomington Loves Local, shifting its focus to supporting existing Bloomington businesses, a strategic move that reflects the city’s commitment to strengthening the businesses that already serve as anchors in the community.
CEO Start group learning
This group-learning opportunity from Elevate Hennepin was designed to guide entrepreneurs with a business idea through the process of validating and launching that idea. Apply today to test your business idea and build a plan to launch.
Events
Get Started with Elevate Hennepin
This 90-minute no-cost, virtual workshop is designed for anyone looking to jumpstart their idea for a business.
Lunch break business boost
Grab your lunch and learn the secrets to getting SBA funding and boosting your credit game in this casual session!
Minnetonka Thriving Thursdays: Elevate Hennepin pop-up office hours
Join us in Minnetonka for our monthly pop-up series designed to bring expert business support directly into communities across Hennepin County.
Niche markets for writers - kidlit, comics, nonfiction and more
This virtual workshop explores some of the niche markets that writers can break into, including children’s literature, comics, work-for-hire IP projects, and general interest nonfiction books.