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

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

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

Access to capital, Business strategy, Certification, Lending resources, Advisors and consultants, Hennepin County, Minnesota,

Specialization
Disadvantaged businesses; Immigrant; Latinx; Construction; Restaurant sector; Social impact businesses; Indigenous / Native American; LGBTQIA+; Women

Stage
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Idea stage businesses; Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)

Language
Speaks English; Speaks Spanish

NextStage

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

Access to capital, Business strategy, Financial management, Advisors and consultants, Hennepin County,

Specialization
Nonprofit sector

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; Speaks Spanish

MCCD 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 & Training

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

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

Knowing your market

Understanding your target market is essential for growth. This session will cover market research techniques, customer segmentation, what investors are looking for, and much more. Learn strategies for leveraging data to meet customer needs, secure funding and outperform competitors.

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Certified Access Academy application information session

Do you want to increase revenue and expand your customer base? Have you thought about certification but lack the time and the know-how to complete the paperwork?

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Business development essentials

This workshop will provide some terrific guidance on the basic components of building your business. We’ll focus on understanding what product or service you want to take to market, who’s your customer, who’s your competition and how you’re unique.

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