MniSota Fund

MniSota Fund is an Elevate Hennepin business advisor offering up to 25 hours of business and financial planning services at no cost, including:

Business strategy 

• Business and strategic plan development
• Mission, vision development, and goal setting
• Industry and market analysis and customer segmentation
• Unique value proposition and competitive positioning
• SWOT analysis
• Financial reports, projections, and forecasting
• Business profitability modeling 

Idea stage

• Coaching to refine the business idea
• Define the problem the product/service solves for
• Guidance through completing a business lean canvas
• Formulation of mission, vision, and unique value proposition
• Identify product(s)/service(s) offered
• Assistance understanding the market and industry
• Define target customer or creating a customer avatar
• Support client in testing and validating business concepts, size markets, & initial steps
• Equip client to evaluate the viability of their business idea
• Assist clients with entity formation, seeking legal and accounting advisor input as needed
• Refer to other advisors as appropriate

Established in 2011 as Bii Gii Wiin Community Development Loan Fund, Mni Sota Fund has continually worked to support the economic self-determination of Indigenous peoples in Mni Sota Makoce – the Land Where the Water Reflects the Clouds – and known today as Minnesota. Based in the Twin Cities, we support programs focused on small business development, commercial and consumer lending, and financial wellness. Our focus is on the development of holistic wealth-building that encompasses physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional wellness.