Work with business strategy experts
A variety of trusted professionals are ready to support you through the essential steps to develop a business strategy, including:
- Assessing mission, vision, and aspirations
- Creating or reviewing your business’s core values; strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT)
- Fine-tuning your objectives, strategies, and operations
- Develop or update your business plan, and more.
Elevate Hennepin advisors (noted with a blue checkmark) 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 strategic next step or visit our resource directory to find more strategic planning options or resources across all our support categories.
Not sure where to start? Schedule a one-on-one consultation with a Business Navigator.
Strategic planning resources
Antonelli Lindsay has been at the forefront of creating and developing successful businesses across various industries
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Specialties
Nonprofit sector; Restaurant sector; African American or Black; Asian and Pacific Islander; Disadvantaged businesses; Indigenous / Native American; Women; Immigrant; Veteran
Startup businesses (0 employees); Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees)
Speaks English; Speaks another language
Ascent Online Digital Learning Platform
A digital, on-demand platform designed to help women entrepreneurs learn critical information.
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Specialties
Women
Speaks English
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
African American or Black; Asian and Pacific Islander; Disadvantaged businesses; Indigenous / Native American; Latinx; LGBTQIA+; Nonprofit sector; Social impact businesses; Women
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees)
Speaks English
Guidance and connection for Minnesota-based tech startups.
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Specialties
Idea stage businesses
Speaks English
CEO Next Business Institute is a regional county partnership program that provides practical tools and techniques for CEOs, designed specifically for growing regional second stage businesses.
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Specialties
Second stage businesses (10+ employees)
Speaks English
CEO Now is a new cohort-based opportunity for established, growth-minded business owners and founders with employees to build and strengthen systems to keep growing.
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Specialties
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English
Explore, validate, and develop a plan to turn your idea into a viable business.
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Specialties
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Idea stage businesses; Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English
Over two days, CEO Start Bootcamp will provide an intensive, hackathon-style learning experience that challenges entrepreneurs, offers them vital business tools, and propels their growth.
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Specialties
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Idea stage businesses; Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English
City of St. Paul small business resources
Saint Paul is a vibrant city and a fantastic place to do business. The Department of Planning and Economic Development (PED) provides a variety of financial and technical assistance programs and resources to help businesses of any size start, grow and thrive across all neighborhoods of Saint Paul.
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Specialties
African American or Black; Asian and Pacific Islander; Disadvantaged businesses; Immigrant; Indigenous / Native American; Latinx; Social impact businesses; Restaurant sector; Veteran; Women; LGBTQIA+
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Idea stage businesses; Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English
Community Entrepreneurship Program
Community Entrepreneurship Program
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Specialties
Idea stage businesses; 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; Construction; Nonprofit sector; Disadvantaged businesses; Indigenous / Native American; LGBTQIA+; Latinx; Immigrant; Veteran; Co-op businesses
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Idea stage businesses; Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English
Contracting with Hennepin County
Hennepin County buys goods and services through a cost-effective, competitive, and fair process accessible to all businesses.
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Specialties
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English
The Dendros Group helps small businesses build capacity and navigate growth with tailored strategies that address mission-driven leadership, operations, and planning.
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Specialties
Construction; Co-op businesses; Nonprofit sector; Restaurant sector; Social impact businesses; African American or Black; Asian and Pacific Islander; Disadvantaged businesses; Indigenous / Native American; LGBTQIA+; Women; Immigrant; Latinx; Veteran
Idea stage businesses; Startup businesses (0 employees); Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees)
Speaks English
Reduce your cost of doing business internationally through the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ #119).
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Specialties
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Hennepin County Environment & Energy Hazardous Waste Training and Resources
Training, tips, templates, resources, and licensing information to help businesses that work with hazardous waste.
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Specialties
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English
Hennepin County Food, Beverage, and Lodging Inspections
Hennepin County Environmental Health Services provides food, beverage, and lodging inspections as well as informational resources for those programs.
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Specialties
Restaurant sector
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English
Resource bank for patents and trademarks, industry reports and consumer profiles. Also find business planning tools. Hennepin County librarians additionally are available to help business owners access and navigate these resources.
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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
HR Next empowers business leaders with no-cost consulting, data-informed tactics, and strategies to solve workforce challenges and improve overall business health.
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Specialties
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English
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; Nonprofit sector; LGBTQIA+; Women
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Idea stage businesses; Startup businesses (0 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees)
Speaks English
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; Construction; Restaurant sector; Social impact businesses; Indigenous / Native American; LGBTQIA+; Women
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; Asian and Pacific Islander; Indigenous / Native American; Latinx
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees); Idea stage businesses
Speaks English
Minnesota American Indian Chamber of Commerce
Promoting American Indian businesses with advising and connection.
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Specialties
Indigenous / Native American
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); 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
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); Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English; Speaks Hmong; Speaks another language; Speaks Somali; Speaks Spanish
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); Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English; Speaks Hmong; Speaks Somali; Speaks Spanish
Sigma Consulting and 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; Co-op businesses; Nonprofit sector; Social impact businesses; Disadvantaged businesses; Asian and Pacific Islander; LGBTQIA+; Women; Veteran; Latinx; Indigenous / Native American
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees)
Speaks English; Speaks Somali
The Coven is an Elevate Hennepin specialist offering Hennepin County businesses no cost memberships to professional development courses and live events through their virtual and in-person community that provides entrepreneurs with education and support.
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Specialties
Women; LGBTQIA+; Disadvantaged businesses
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees); Idea stage businesses
Speaks English
Procurement support for economically disadvantaged or veteran-owned businesses working with Minnesota government.
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Specialties
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English
Fund that provides training and access to capital to promote entrepreneurship among American Indian people across Minnesota.
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Specialties
Indigenous / Native American
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees); Idea stage businesses
Speaks English
MNUCP Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program
An organization dedicated to creating equal opportunity for Disadvantage Business Enterprises in highway, transit, and airport projects.
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Specialties
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English
SBA Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Program
Loans and grants to fuel small business growth in historically underutilized business zones.
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Specialties
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English
SBA Small Disadvantaged Business
Federal contracts for small disadvantaged businesses.
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Specialties
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English
SBA T.H.R.I.V.E - Emerging Leaders Reimagined
Executive-level training to accelerate the growth of high-potential small businesses.
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Specialties
Disadvantaged businesses
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees)
Speaks English
SBA Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contracting Program
Federal contracts for small, women-owned businesses.
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Specialties
Women
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ 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
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
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; Construction; Social impact businesses; Asian and Pacific Islander; Indigenous / Native American; Latinx; LGBTQIA+; Women; Veteran; Immigrant
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Idea stage businesses; Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
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; Construction; Nonprofit sector; Restaurant sector; Social impact businesses; African American or Black; Asian and Pacific Islander; Disadvantaged businesses; Indigenous / Native American; LGBTQIA+; Immigrant; Latinx; Veteran
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees)
Speaks English