Helping founders find community and connections
Free or low-cost one-on-one business coaching and advisory sessions at Impact Hub Minneapolis connecting social impact entrepreneurs with expert advisors to help take mission-driven ventures to the next level.
Coaching/Consulting
in
Minneapolis
Impact Hub Minneapolis
Free one-hour one-on-one consultations with professional Artist Career Consultants, offering individualized guidance on the business side of an artist's career including marketing, grants, web presence, and career planning.
Coaching/Consulting
in
Saint Paul
Springboard for the Arts – Saint Paul
Free one-hour one-on-one consultations with professional Artist Career Consultants in rural Minnesota, offering individualized guidance on the business side of an artist's career, with priority for rural artists.
Coaching/Consulting
in
Fergus Falls
Springboard for the Arts – Fergus Falls
Six-month paid fellowship for young tech-focused entrepreneurs ages 18–25 in Saint Paul, prioritizing youth of color and low-income youth; provides a $1,200/month living stipend, $5,000 business development fund, mentorship, and a rigorous startup curriculum.
Accelerator
in
Saint Paul
Full Stack Saint Paul
Free, confidential one-on-one business consulting for new and existing businesses in the Owatonna area through the SBA-sponsored Small Business Development Center (SBDC), covering business planning, financial analysis, marketing, and more.
Coaching/Consulting
in
Owatonna
Owatonna Area Business Development Center
Free small business advising and microloan services for low-income immigrant and refugee entrepreneurs in the Twin Cities, including one-on-one advising, business plan review, and CDFI microloan access.
Service
in
Saint Paul
Hmong American Partnership
Free ongoing workshops and one-on-one advising for Lake Street corridor businesses, covering marketing, legal, insurance, accounting, HR compliance, and more; bilingual (Spanish and Somali).
Service
in
Minneapolis
Lake Street Council / Visit Lake Street
Free one-on-one business technical coaching and advising for entrepreneurs in Stevens County, covering startup guidance, business planning, and access to revolving loan fund financing.
Coaching/Consulting
in
Morris
Stevens County Economic Improvement Commission
Business training workshops, bootcamps, and courses for Owatonna-area entrepreneurs and small business owners using the CO.STARTERS curriculum, offered in partnership with Owatonna Community Education and the Southeast MN SBDC.
Training/Course
in
Owatonna
Owatonna Area Business Development Center
Free or low-cost business training workshops, seminars, and bootcamps for entrepreneurs and small businesses in west central Minnesota covering startup basics, AI for business, marketing, finance, and growth strategy.
Training/Course
in
Moorhead
West Central Minnesota SBDC (M State – Moorhead)
Private accelerator focused on Minnesota's recreational cannabis market, providing veteran-focused entrepreneur support with licensing guidance, operational support, education, funding access, and networking in exchange for minor equity.
Accelerator
in
Accelerate Minnesota
New 24,000 sq ft commercial kitchen incubator on West Broadway Ave in North Minneapolis, providing shared and private kitchen space, food prep, storage, packaging equipment, retail stalls, and training space.
Incubator
in
Minneapolis
Northside Economic Opportunity Network (NEON) – Collective Kitchens
Six-month professional development and mentorship cohort for early- and mid-career community development professionals, focused on networking, policy advocacy, and building equitable communities.
Community/Networking
in
Minneapolis
Minnesota Consortium of Community Developers (MCCD)
10-month hands-on program for Twin Cities community members facing economic hardship who want to start or grow a business, including a 6-week business bootcamp, one-on-one mentorship, student consulting, and a microgrant opportunity.
Training/Course
in
Minneapolis
Twin Cities SBDC (University of St. Thomas)
Annual two-day conference and field trips connecting community champions, economic developers, and entrepreneurs to share models supporting rural entrepreneurship.
Community/Networking
in
Saint Paul
University of Minnesota Extension – Community Development
Annual cohort matching 4–6 energy and cleantech startups with Minnesota corporate partners, utilities, and institutions for paid real-world pilot demonstration projects; seed funding up to $100K per project via SAFE or convertible note.
Accelerator
in
Minneapolis
Minnesota Energy Alley
Free economic empowerment and entrepreneur training for Latino community members in Minneapolis through CLUES's Lake Street office, covering financial literacy, business development, and job skills in Spanish and English.
Training/Course
in
Minneapolis
CLUES – Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio (Minneapolis)
Free economic empowerment and entrepreneur training workshops for Latino community members in St. Paul covering financial literacy, business development, homebuyer education, and job skills in a culturally and linguistically relevant setting.
Training/Course
in
Saint Paul
CLUES – Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio (St Paul)
Free economic empowerment and entrepreneur training for the Latino community in Willmar, MN covering financial literacy, business development, and workforce skills delivered bilingually by CLUES.
Training/Course
in
Willmar
CLUES – Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio (Willmar)
Free economic empowerment and entrepreneur training for Latino community members in Austin, MN covering financial literacy, business development, and workforce skills delivered bilingually.
Training/Course
in
Austin
CLUES – Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio (Austin)
Free online self-paced learning platform from the American Heart Association offering business and innovation resources for health-focused founders who want to strengthen their ventures outside of formal accelerator cohorts.
Training/Course
in
Eagan
EmPOWERED to Serve
American Heart Association's 6-week virtual accelerator investing in social entrepreneurs and health tech founders in Minnesota addressing health disparities; includes training, grant funding, and a finale showcase event.
Accelerator
in
Eagan
EmPOWERED to Serve
Free small business consulting, training, and technical assistance for entrepreneurs across Northwest Minnesota through the Northwest SBDC, plus access to CDFI business loans and financing.
Service
in
Bemidji
Northwest Minnesota Foundation
Holistic entrepreneur development program for African immigrant entrepreneurs combining business training, one-on-one mentorship, peer networking, workshops, webinars, and wraparound support.
Service
in
Brooklyn Park
Minnesota Africans United (MAU)
Programming for energy professionals and entrepreneurs exploring startup opportunities, including industry-specific training, workshops, networking events, and connections to Grid Catalyst's Innovators Network.
Community/Networking
in
Minneapolis
Minnesota Energy Alley
Annual one-day entrepreneurship conference held in Austin, MN, featuring keynote speakers, peer networking, and a student business plan competition with $10,000 in prizes for entrepreneurs across southern Minnesota.
Community/Networking
in
Owatonna
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF)
9–10 week online cohort program of 6–10 participants teaching social entrepreneurs best practices for launching or expanding a social venture, culminating in a deep understanding of the business canvas, logic model, financials, and investor pitch.
Training/Course
in
Minneapolis
Impact Hub Minneapolis
Monthly convening of leaders of MSP-area accelerators, incubators, and entrepreneurial support organizations to address shared challenges, advance equity priorities, and collaborate on building a stronger startup ecosystem.
Community/Networking
in
Saint Paul
Forge North – MSP Startup Community Coalition
Minneapolis hub supporting Latina entrepreneurs in launching licensed family-based childcare businesses with bilingual training, technical assistance, licensing guidance in Spanish, and community support through CLUES's Lake Street office.
Incubator
in
Minneapolis
CLUES – Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio (Minneapolis)
Austin, MN hub supporting Latina entrepreneurs in rural southern Minnesota in launching licensed family-based childcare businesses, providing bilingual training, technical assistance, and licensing support.
Incubator
in
Austin
CLUES – Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio (Austin)
Pilot incubator hub in St. Paul supporting Latina entrepreneurs in launching licensed family-based childcare businesses, with training, technical assistance, pre-licensing support in Spanish, and culturally relevant classroom space.
Incubator
in
Saint Paul
CLUES – Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio (St Paul)
Willmar, MN hub supporting Latina entrepreneurs in rural central Minnesota in launching licensed family-based childcare businesses, providing bilingual training, technical assistance, and licensing support.
Incubator
in
Willmar
CLUES – Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio (Willmar)
One-on-one farm business coaching for African immigrant and beginning farmers in Minnesota, providing individualized guidance on business planning, farm recordkeeping, market strategy, land access, and cooperative development.
Coaching/Consulting
in
Hammond
Kilimo Minnesota
6,000 sq ft founder-exclusive coworking incubator space in NE Minneapolis' historic Grain Belt Brewery District for tech startup teams; fosters community, collaboration, and cross-pollination among founders from 'solopreneur' to 8–10 person teams.
Incubator
in
Minneapolis
Twin Ignition Startup Garage
Free, confidential one-on-one business mentoring from experienced volunteer executives for startup and established small business owners in the Twin Cities metro, covering all aspects of starting, growing, or exiting a business.
Coaching/Consulting
in
Minneapolis
SCORE Twin Cities
Free, confidential one-on-one business mentoring available statewide through the SCORE Minnesota District network, which includes chapters in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Burnsville, St. Cloud, Owatonna, Rochester, and Red Wing.
Coaching/Consulting
in
Minneapolis
SCORE Minnesota District Office
Young professionals program of the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce connecting and empowering emerging leaders ages 20–40 through networking events, experience-based learning, educational offerings, and community involvement opportunities.
Community/Networking
in
Duluth
Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce
Free, statewide government contracting technical assistance and counseling helping Minnesota businesses of all sizes identify and win federal, state, and local government contracts through registration assistance, market identification, and compliance guidance.
Service
in
Saint Paul
MN APEX Accelerator
Free, specialized procurement technical assistance for Native American-owned businesses and tribal enterprises in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan to help them identify and win federal, state, local, and prime contractor government contracts.
Service
in
PEDCO Native APEX Accelerator
Monthly workshops on government contracting topics for Minnesota businesses, covering introduction to government contracting, SAM registration, capability statements, GSA schedules, and advanced strategies for winning government contracts.
Training/Course
in
Saint Paul
MN APEX Accelerator
Annual regional business pitch competition for SE and southern Minnesota entrepreneurs; top winners receive cash prizes and an automatic semifinalist seat at the statewide MN Cup competition.
Community/Networking
in
Owatonna
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF)
Ongoing virtual business support service for medtech entrepreneurs providing virtual office solutions, administrative assistance, access to service provider networks, and expert business consulting throughout the startup journey.
Service
in
Stillwater
Chrysalis Incubator
Comprehensive 10-month community leadership development program by the Duluth Area Chamber bringing together professionals from business, government, nonprofits, and education to build critical thinking, community awareness, and leadership skills in Duluth.
Training/Course
in
Duluth
Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce
Free 10-week virtual lean startup cohort teaching the ILT Innovation Framework to help entrepreneurs validate ideas, conduct customer discovery, and build a lean canvas; culminates in a virtual pitch event before investors.
Training/Course
in
Saint Cloud
ILT Academy
Minnesota's leading life science incubator offering 33 full-size wet labs, dry labs, office and conference space to 45+ early-stage companies in life science, biotech, healthcare, medtech, and agriculture; includes SBIR/STTR support and networking.
Incubator
in
Saint Paul
University Enterprise Laboratories
Digital cohort and coaching platform for BIPOC, women, LGBTQ+, and non-binary founders outside the Twin Cities or unable to attend in-person Lunar programming; provides on-demand resources, events, and operational excellence tools.
Community/Networking
in
Saint Paul
Lunar Inc. dba Lunar Startups
Six-month customized cohort accelerator for 12–15 high-growth Minnesota startups led by BIPOC, women, LGBTQ+, and non-binary founders; includes 1:1 coaching, 90+ expert mentors, legal services, and capital readiness milestones.
Accelerator
in
Saint Paul
Lunar Inc. dba Lunar Startups
Rochester-based accelerator providing collaborative incubator space, Lean Startup and Design Sprint training, pitch coaching, and business connections for health care-related companies; 60+ companies launched since 2013 with $38M+ raised.
Accelerator
in
Rochester
MCBA – Mayo Clinic Business Accelerator
Comprehensive four-phase medtech startup incubator based in Stillwater, MN offering FDA-focused coaching, mentorship, and expert guidance from initial assessment through market launch for medical device and health tech entrepreneurs.
Incubator
in
Stillwater
Chrysalis Incubator
NSF I-Corps site at the University of Minnesota providing technology commercialization education and coaching to STEM students, researchers, faculty, and post-docs through courses, bootcamps, and workshops.
Training/Course
in
Minneapolis
Gary S. Holmes Center for Entrepreneurship (University of Minnesota)
Annual statewide startup competition — the largest in the nation — open to any MN entrepreneur with under $1M revenue, offering mentorship, pitch coaching, and $400,000+ in non-dilutive cash prizes across 9 divisions.
Community/Networking
in
Minneapolis
Gary S. Holmes Center for Entrepreneurship (University of Minnesota)
Free online tool enabling MSP entrepreneurs to search and navigate 500+ programs, funds, events, mentor networks, and resources across 340+ organizations in the Twin Cities startup ecosystem, powered by EcoMap.
Service
in
Saint Paul
Forge North – MSP Startup Community Coalition
Resource and connection hub for Minnesota food and agriculture entrepreneurs, offering events, networking, education, and the Bold Growth Program accelerator for late-stage food/ag companies.
Community/Networking
in
Minneapolis
Gary S. Holmes Center for Entrepreneurship (University of Minnesota)
Farm incubator cooperative near Dilworth, MN providing refugee, immigrant, and other beginning farmers with affordable leased land, shared equipment and facilities, training, market connections, and business planning support to launch vegetable farm businesses.
Incubator
in
Moorhead
New Roots Farm Incubator Co-Op
Rochester's only nonprofit business incubator, hosting up to 12 emerging or budget-constrained nonprofits at a time with turnkey shared office space—desk, wifi, copier, conference rooms, and utilities—at a fraction of commercial rent so organizations can focus resources on mission.
Incubator
in
Rochester
Rochester Area Foundation
Free, confidential one-on-one business consulting for startups and existing small businesses in west central Minnesota (9-county region), provided by professional consultants at the SBDC hosted on M State's Moorhead campus.
Coaching/Consulting
in
Moorhead
West Central Minnesota SBDC (M State – Moorhead)
Free, confidential professional business consulting for startups and established businesses in the Twin Cities, provided by paid expert consultants at the SBDC within the University of St. Thomas Schulze School of Entrepreneurship.
Coaching/Consulting
in
Minneapolis
Twin Cities SBDC (University of St. Thomas)
Free, confidential one-on-one business consulting for startups and existing businesses in south central Minnesota, provided by experienced professional consultants at the SBDC hosted by Minnesota State Mankato.
Coaching/Consulting
in
Mankato
South Central Minnesota SBDC (Minnesota State Mankato)
Free, confidential professional business consulting for entrepreneurs and small businesses across southwest Minnesota, provided by SBDC consultants at Southwest Minnesota State University campuses in Marshall and Hutchinson.
Coaching/Consulting
in
Marshall
Southwest Minnesota SBDC (SMSU – Marshall & Hutchinson)
Free one-on-one small business advising and technical assistance for entrepreneurs across the Twin Cities metro and 141 suburban communities, with focus on BIPOC, women, immigrants, and underserved groups.
Service
in
Minneapolis
Minnesota Consortium of Community Developers (MCCD)
3–5 year hands-on organic farming incubator for African immigrant and emerging farmers in Minnesota, providing leased farmland, shared equipment, crop production training, business management education, marketing experience, and cooperative development support.
Incubator
in
Hammond
Kilimo Minnesota
12-week entrepreneur training program offered twice yearly at 20+ community locations across the Twin Cities, covering business fundamentals and culminating in a complete business plan; offered in Spanish as ¡Planifique!
Training/Course
in
Saint Paul
Neighborhood Development Center (NDC-MN)
Education, training, and certification assistance for Native American-owned businesses and tribal enterprises seeking to navigate government procurement, obtain certifications, and develop competitive bids for federal and state contracts.
Training/Course
in
PEDCO Native APEX Accelerator
Inclusive entrepreneurship and business growth coaching program serving entrepreneurs from racial/ethnic minority groups, women, veterans, persons with disabilities, low-income individuals, and LGBTQIA+ persons across SMIF's 20-county region.
Coaching/Consulting
in
Owatonna
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF)
SMIF's flagship rural economic development program providing coaching, resources, and connections to entrepreneurs in small towns across 20 counties of southern Minnesota to launch or grow a local business.
Coaching/Consulting
in
Owatonna
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF)
20,000 sq ft manufacturing business incubator in Hutchinson, MN offering extremely low-cost space (~$2/sq ft), free business coaching and mentoring via on-site SBDC, and a cash graduation grant for eligible companies.
Incubator
in
Hutchinson
Hutchinson Enterprise Center (Hutchinson EDA)
Physical office and manufacturing space incubator for startup and early-stage businesses in Owatonna, MN, offering affordable flexible leases paired with free on-site SBDC business consulting, technical assistance, and access to EDA loan programs.
Incubator
in
Owatonna
Owatonna Area Business Development Center
Ongoing professional development and business training opportunities for Chamber members in Central Minnesota, including Lunchtime Learning sessions, NEXT young professionals program, and supervisor skills training workshops.
Training/Course
in
Saint Cloud
St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce
Self-paced online business startup course by the University of St. Thomas SBDC and Opus College of Business, teaching aspiring entrepreneurs how to research, plan, launch, and legally operate a small business.
Training/Course
in
Minneapolis
Twin Cities SBDC (University of St. Thomas)
Annual 9-month community leadership development program hosted by the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce bringing together business, government, education, and nonprofit professionals to build leadership skills and deepen connections in Central Minnesota.
Training/Course
in
Saint Cloud
St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce
Tailored, founder-centric startup advisory and mentorship from Twin Ignition's experienced team of former tech executives and entrepreneurs, providing ongoing customized strategy, capital planning, and individualized guidance for Twin Cities tech startups.
Coaching/Consulting
in
Minneapolis
Twin Ignition Startup Garage
Business development workshops and one-on-one advising for North Minneapolis entrepreneurs, covering HR, technology, marketing, accounting, and business planning; 90% of clients are BIPOC.
Service
in
Minneapolis
Northside Economic Opportunity Network (NEON) – Collective Kitchens
Holmes Center initiative supporting scalable women-led startups in Minnesota through annual conferences, events, mentorship programs, and community building; open to all, centered on female founders.
Community/Networking
in
Minneapolis
Gary S. Holmes Center for Entrepreneurship (University of Minnesota)
Early-stage wet-lab incubator in Minneapolis–Saint Paul providing hard-tech and life science startups with shared lab space, equipment, and resources to advance physical and biological innovations from proof-of-concept to market.
Incubator
in
MSP Lab Collective
Signature professional development workshop series teaching business skills to artists across rural West Central Minnesota, covering career planning, marketing, pricing, grants, portfolio development, and legal basics.
Training/Course
in
Fergus Falls
Springboard for the Arts – Fergus Falls
Signature professional development workshop series teaching business skills to artists of all disciplines, covering career planning, marketing, pricing, grant writing, portfolio development, and legal basics.
Training/Course
in
Saint Paul
Springboard for the Arts – Saint Paul