Work with strategic planning experts
A variety of trusted professionals are ready to support you through the essential steps of strategic planning and beyond, 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 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.
Strategic planning 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
African Economic Development Solutions (AEDS)
Wealth building via coaching and business advising in African immigrant communities.
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Specialties
African American or Black; Immigrant
Idea stage businesses; Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English; Speaks another language; Speaks Somali
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
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
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
Guidance and connection for Minnesota-based tech startups.
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Specialties
Idea stage businesses
Speaks English
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
Community-based wealth creation and financial literacy advising.
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Specialties
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English
ConnectUp! Institute Capital Readiness Accelerator Program
ConnectUP! Institute Capital Readiness Accelerator prepares small business to receive capital. <br/>
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Specialties
African American or Black; Asian and Pacific Islander; Indigenous / Native American; Latinx; Women
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees)
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
Cohort opportunity to guide Women of Color-owned businesses through certification to work with governments and enterprises.
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Specialties
Disadvantaged businesses; Women; African American or Black; Latinx
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English
Advising to promote economic equity in the Latino business community.
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Specialties
Immigrant; Latinx; Nonprofit sector
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English; Speaks Somali; Speaks Spanish
Central Minnesota Development Company (CDMC)
Certified lender for business loans and financing advice for Minnesota business owners.
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Specialties
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); 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
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
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
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
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)
Grow Minnesota - MN Supplier Match
Database of supply partners seeking to connect with the Minnesota supply chain.
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Specialties
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English
Hennepin County Environment & Energy Hazardous Waste Training and Resources
Training, tips, templates, resources, and licensing information to help businesses that work with hazardous waste. <br/><br/>
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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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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