No-cost expertise for 25 hours per advisor
Hennepin County contracts with more than 30 business advisors to provide group learning opportunities and professional consulting services. Advisors bring cultural understanding to their practice, as well as deep expertise across various business types and sizes. Advisors collaborate with you to determine a plan or strategy so that you can take the next step.
Elevate Hennepin advisors offer strategic guidance for your business to get to the next step. While they may support some implementation activities, business owners are responsible for ongoing maintenance and day-to-day operations. Businesses should be prepared to engage their own resources for complex projects that are anticipated to take more than 25 hours.
Contact an advisor below to help you identify and plan for your next critical step.
Not sure where to start? Schedule a one-on-one consultation with a Business Navigator.
Advisors resources
General business coaching and grant navigation with cultural competence to serve the African diaspora.
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Specialties
African American or Black; Immigrant; Disadvantaged businesses
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Idea stage businesses; Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English
The African Development Center (ADC) is the first community development corporation in the U.S. started by and for African immigrants.
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Specialties
African American or Black; Immigrant
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English; Speaks another language; Speaks Somali
One-on-one general business advising and human resource support.
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Specialties
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees)
Speaks English; Speaks Hmong; Speaks Spanish
Asian Media Access and the Chinese American Chamber of Commerce of Minnesota have joined hands and worked together to support Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) entrepreneurs with cultural/linguistic appropriate technical assistance.
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Specialties
Asian and Pacific Islander; Immigrant
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Idea stage businesses; Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English; Speaks Hmong; Speaks another language
For over 25 years I have worked with entrepreneurs, career professionals and Fortune 100 companies to increase their profitability and maintain their sanity.
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Specialties
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Idea stage businesses; Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English
Better Business Bureau of MN & ND
Marketing, social media training, marketing skills development for startups through second-stage businesses.
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Specialties
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees)
Speaks English; Speaks Spanish; Speaks Hmong
Technical support, professional development and financial assistance to help Black women business owners build generational wealth.
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Specialties
African American or Black; Women
Idea stage businesses; Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English
Kathy Pyle with Clear Talk Accounting is an accounting specialist that offers financial literacy, cost analysis, financial management, and bookkeeping training.
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Specialties
Women; LGBTQIA+
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English
ConnectUP! Institute is a social finance and enterprise development center. We provide education, consulting and collaboration on innovative social finance.
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Specialties
African American or Black; Asian and Pacific Islander; Social impact businesses; Women
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Idea stage businesses; Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English; Speaks Hmong; Speaks another language
Co-operative Technical Assistance Program (C-TAP)
The Co-operative Technical Assistance Program offers support for the development of new Minneapolis co-operatives.
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Specialties
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees)
Speaks English
Armed with this experience and knowledge of legal solutions used by large entities, Davis Law Office set out to bring the same level of service to smaller organizations and individuals.
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Specialties
Construction; LGBTQIA+; Nonprofit sector
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Idea stage businesses; Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English
Enviro-Tech Construction Services
Enviro-Tech Construction Services offers up to 25 hours of advisory services free of charge to eligible Hennepin County contractors.
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Specialties
African American or Black; Construction
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English
Hmong American Partnership Economic & Community Development Corporation is a non-profit organization that promotes economic and community development in Minnesota's Hmong and other refugee and immigrant communities.
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Specialties
Asian and Pacific Islander; Disadvantaged businesses; Immigrant; Nonprofit sector; Social impact businesses
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Idea stage businesses; Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English; Speaks Hmong; Speaks another language
We collaborate with clients to manage risk and prepare their businesses for robust growth.
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Specialties
Disadvantaged businesses; Immigrant; Latinx
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Idea stage businesses; Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English; Speaks another language; Speaks Spanish
We serve our clients by providing access to resources and capital to empower their businesses.
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Specialties
African American or Black; Women
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Idea stage businesses; Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English
Impact Hub Minneapolis-Saint Paul is a locally rooted, globally connected, 501c3 nonprofit organization that inspires, connects and empowers people working to solve social problems in our city and beyond.
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Specialties
Social impact businesses
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Idea stage businesses; Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English; Speaks Spanish
JLLB Media is an Elevate Hennepin advisor offering up to 25 hours of marketing services at no cost.
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Specialties
Disadvantaged businesses; Immigrant; Latinx
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Idea stage businesses; Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English; Speaks Spanish
Kharis Consultants, LLC, lends support to existing small and micro, especially minority businesses, organizations, and individuals desiring to start their own organizations, by helping them establish sustainable, competitive, accountable and profitable institutions, geared toward the betterment of their families and communities.
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Specialties
Idea stage businesses; Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English
Khoo Consulting, LLC, helps organizations solve their business problems through 20 years of comprehensive marketing and communications experience.
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Specialties
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English; Speaks Hmong; Speaks another language; Speaks Spanish
Advocacy and support for businesses along the Lake Street business corridor.
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Specialties
Nonprofit sector; Social impact businesses
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English; Speaks Somali; Speaks Spanish
Latino Economic Development Center
The Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC) was created in 2003 and is the only Latino-led and Latino-focused economic development organization as well as CDFI in Minnesota and the upper Midwest.
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Specialties
Disadvantaged businesses; Immigrant; Latinx
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Idea stage businesses; Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English; Speaks Spanish
Led by TRUTH invests in founders of color by co-creating a learning experience that provides an inclusive space for founders to be the catalyst that turns their dreams into reality.
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Specialties
African American or Black; Disadvantaged businesses
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English
To increase access to the legal system LegalCORPS assists entrepreneurs, small businesses and nonprofits, especially those that strengthen low-income communities, by providing individuals and organizations with business law services they could not otherwise afford.
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Specialties
Disadvantaged businesses
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English; Speaks Hmong; Speaks another language
Education, support and connectivity for BIPOC, women, and LBGTQ founders building high-impact ventures.
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Specialties
LGBTQIA+; Nonprofit sector; Women
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English
MaKee Company is a construction-focused advisor that supports construction companies with systems and processes to grow sustainably.
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Specialties
Construction; Disadvantaged businesses
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English
Metropolitan Economic Development Association
<br/>Wrap-around services for management education, finances and market trends.
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Specialties
African American or Black
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees)
Speaks English; Speaks Spanish
MBMentors is an Elevate Hennepin advisor offering access to mentoring, webinars, business planning, a women's collective, and more.<br/><br/>
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Specialties
Women
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Idea stage businesses; Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development Small Business Support Resources
Lending resources, one-on-one advising, and events to support emerging small business owners.
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Specialties
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Idea stage businesses; Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English
New American Development Center
New American Development Center builds a strong and vibrant community through sustainable community and economic development programs by levering resources and addressing cultural needs. NADC provides business development and financial literacy through culturally appropriate mechanisms to serve the East African Immigrant community.
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Specialties
African American or Black; Disadvantaged businesses; Immigrant; Nonprofit sector
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Idea stage businesses; Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English; Speaks another language; Speaks Somali
NewPublica is a full-service public relations and strategic communications firm focusing on new audiences and new communications.
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Specialties
Disadvantaged businesses; Latinx
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English; Speaks another language; Speaks Spanish
NextStage is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to support entrepreneurs at every stage.
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Specialties
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Idea stage businesses; Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English; Speaks Hmong; Speaks another language; Speaks Somali
MCCD Open to Business is an association of nonprofit community development organizations committed to expanding the wealth and resources of neighborhoods through housing and economic development initiatives.
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Specialties
Disadvantaged businesses
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Idea stage businesses; Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English; Speaks Hmong; Speaks Somali; Speaks Spanish
At Raven Construction Inc, our work is fueled by our passion for strengthening small construction businesses, non-profit organizations.
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Specialties
Construction; Women
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English
Sigma Consulting & Training is a consultancy and training provider specializing in advising and guiding BIPOC-owned small businesses and entrepreneurs.
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Specialties
African American or Black; Immigrant
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Idea stage businesses; Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English; Speaks another language; Speaks Somali
Springboard for the Arts' mission is to support artists with the tools to make a living and a life, and to build just and equitable communities full of meaning, joy, and connection.
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Specialties
Disadvantaged businesses
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Idea stage businesses; Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English; Speaks Hmong; Speaks another language; Speaks Somali; Speaks Spanish
Technologist Computers is a leading provider of high-quality computer hardware, software, ecommerce, websites and cybersecurity services. We are a social enterprise that delivers customized IT solutions.
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Specialties
African American or Black; Disadvantaged businesses
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English
Victor Jones is a business coach and strategist who specializes in concept development, management, planning, operations, human resources, and finances.
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Specialties
Restaurant sector; African American or Black; Disadvantaged businesses
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Idea stage businesses; Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English
Neighborhood Development Center
Helping business owners enhance their technology skillset for general business, accounting, and marketing.
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Specialties
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English; Speaks Hmong; Speaks another language; Speaks Somali; Speaks Spanish
Northside Economic Opportunity Network
Training, workshops, financing, and marketplaces designed to build wealth for entrepreneurs across North Minneapolis.
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Specialties
African American or Black
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Idea stage businesses; Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English
Helping create community wealth by providing success planning support and guidance on forming employee-owned cooperatives.
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Specialties
Co-op businesses
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Idea stage businesses; Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English
Providing capacity-building services and empowering nonprofits to achieve their missions.
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Specialties
Nonprofit sector
Speaks English
Mentorship, business support, and technical assistance to promote a vibrant small-business community.
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Specialties
Nonprofit sector
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Idea stage businesses; Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English
Scott County Center for Entrepreneurship
Supporting growth of emerging businesses in Scott County.
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Specialties
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Idea stage businesses; Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English
Nonprofit community developer dedicated to living-wage jobs, affordable housing, and a vibrant local economy.
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Specialties
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Idea stage businesses; Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English; Speaks Somali; Speaks Spanish
Small Business Development Center
Statewide network of professional business consultants that offer advising and funding assessment to businesses from startup to growth.
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Specialties
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Idea stage businesses; Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English
Small Business Technical Assistance Program (B-TAP)
Consulting and technical assistance to support Minneapolis entrepreneurs and established businesses.
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Specialties
Co-op businesses; Restaurant sector; Social impact businesses
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Idea stage businesses; Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English
Small Developers Technical Assistance Program (D-TAP)
Technical assistance for small, women-owned, and minority-owned business in Minneapolis.
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Specialties
Women
Speaks English
West Bank Business Association
Agency supporting economic development of the West Bank district via advising and connecting.
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Specialties
Nonprofit sector
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English; Speaks another language; Speaks Somali; Speaks Spanish
West Broadway Business and Area Coalition (WBC)
Technical assistance and financial resources to support businesses along the West Broadway Corridor in North Minneapolis.
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Specialties
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Tools to help women-owned businesses achieve economic success through planning and assessment, accounting best practices, and financial advising.
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Specialties
Women
Idea stage businesses; Startup businesses (0 employees); Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees)
Speaks English