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Area of Support — Access to Capital

Connect with access to capital advisors

Get ready for investment and growth

Our trusted finance experts can help you identify financing and grant opportunities. Our advisors have experience in:

  • Preparing the necessary paperwork to apply for bank loans and other financing
  • Exploring financing strategies like small business loans, crowdfunding, etc.
  • Creating sustainable budgets 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 critical next step accessing capital or visit our Resource Directory to find more options or resources across all our support categories.

Not sure where to start? Schedule a one-on-one consultation with a Business Navigator.

Access to capital resources

ConnectUP! Institute

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

Access to capital, Financial management, Business strategy, Advisors and consultants, Coaches and mentors, Hennepin County,
Specialization
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
Stage
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Idea stage businesses; Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Language
Speaks English; Speaks Hmong; Speaks another language

IFRI-TRYV

We serve our clients by providing access to resources and capital to empower their businesses.
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Specialties

Access to capital, Business strategy, Financial management, Advisors and consultants, Coaches and mentors, Hennepin County,
Specialization
African American or Black; Women
Stage
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Idea stage businesses; Startup businesses (0 employees)
Language
Speaks English

NextStage

NextStage is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to support entrepreneurs at every stage.
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Specialties

Financial management, Access to capital, Business strategy, Coaches and mentors, Advisors and consultants, Hennepin County, Minnesota,
Stage
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Idea stage businesses; Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Language
Speaks English; Speaks Hmong; Speaks another language; Speaks Somali

Open to Business

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

Access to capital, Business strategy, Coaches and mentors, Advisors and consultants, City specific resource,
Specialization
Disadvantaged businesses
Stage
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Idea stage businesses; Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Language
Speaks English; Speaks Hmong; Speaks Somali; Speaks Spanish

Sigma Consulting

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

Financial management, Business strategy, Certification, Access to capital, Accounting, Advisors and consultants, Hennepin County,
Specialization
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
Stage
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees)
Language
Speaks English; Speaks Somali

WomenVenture

Tools to help women-owned businesses achieve economic success through planning and assessment, accounting best practices, and financial advising.
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Specialties

Access to capital, Business strategy, Marketing, Advisors and consultants, Lending resources, Hennepin County, Minnesota,
Specialization
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
Stage
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees)
Language
Speaks English

Upcoming access to capital events

WomenVenture overview

WomenVenture will go over the training programs they have available, their small business loan services, and how to access one-on-one advice from their pool of volunteer experts. 

 

Intro to state contracting for Hmong entrepreneurs

Minnesota Department of Administration is hosting a Networking Day for Hmong small business owners. The State of Minnesota is committed to leveraging talents creativity in building and sustaining the state’s supply chain. We will discuss how to work with the government, steps to certification, application and supplemental forms, navigating the technology, finding opportunities, and contract compliance.

 

 

TG/ED/VO small business program certification for the state of MN

As your small business at least 51% owned, operated and controlled by women, ethnic minorities, veterans or persons with disabilities? Or is your small business located in an economically disadvantaged Minnesota county? If so, attend this session to learn about the state’s Small Business Procurement Program and the benefits of certification, including receiving preferences when responding to state opportunities, being hired without going through a competitive procurement process by state agency buyers for use on certain contracts under $100,000 and being listed in the public Directory of Certified Businesses. Learn more about the Program and how to apply for certification in this workshop.