Agile, expert business support from Hennepin County

Agile, expert business support from Hennepin County

Through 2025, Elevate Hennepin continued to provide transformational support for businesses through no-cost consulting, cohorts, and a curated hub of vital resources. This work has guided nearly 4,648 entrepreneurs to start, grow, and scale their business.

Entrepreneur-first focus

The past year was another year of growth and evolution for Elevate Hennepin. Elevate continued with a close focus on the people behind the businesses, putting their changing needs first and foremost.

Hours of consulting services provided to business clients increased more than 33% in the past year to more than 20,000 hours with a cumulative total of more than 61,000 hours. Cohort programming also continued to expand, growing from one cohort class with 11 graduates in 2020 to 11 cohort classes and 156 graduates in 2025, reaching a total of 482 graduates since inception.

To match the needs of the Hennepin County business community, Elevate Hennepin staff works closely with advisors and entrepreneurs to ensure ideal outcomes. Last year, 94% of business owners and entrepreneurs said their Elevate consultants helped them take steps toward their business goals, and 93% felt more confident in their ability to start or run their business.

Key impacts in 2025 included:

• 1,341 entrepreneurs received no-cost consulting: To date, Elevate Hennepin advisors have supported more than 3,941 businesses with 61,000 hours of consulting. Advisors worked with business owners and entrepreneurs for 20,388 hours in 2025.
• Expanded capacity for job creation: Advisors and consultants provided guidance and support for businesses to add more than 1,584 jobs in Hennepin County since inception. Just last year, Elevate advisees reported hiring for more than 900 new jobs.
• Vital access to capital: Advisors helped Hennepin County businesses secure $11 million in 2025, reaching a total of $53.2 million in capital to expand, hire, start or support their business growth since inception
• A launchpad for new businesses: Since 2022, when Elevate Hennepin first started tracking business formation, advisors and resources have helped launch more than 345 new businesses across the county.

In 2026, Elevate Hennepin continues to work closely with the business community to provide exceptional, expert services to help build a more inclusive and thriving economy.

* Pictured above, year-over-year growth of advising clients served by Elevate Hennepin advisors.