Celebrating Diverse Businesses 🎉

Want to join us in building a better MSP? Become a member. Volunteer as a work-trade member. Mentor an impact venture. Recommend us to a potential partner or funder. Or simply donate what you can!

Latino Business Week Pop-Up

Chameleon Shoppes, in partnership with Target, is proud to announce a pop-up shopping experience in celebration of Latino owned businesses during Latino Heritage Month, hosted by Target’s Hispanic Latino Business Council.

From September 13-17, this pop-up will showcase Latino businesses and be located at various locations in Gaviidae Commons on Nicollet Mall.

The pop-up will also provide vendors the opportunity to interact with Target Corporation Diversity Supplier leadership focused on developing relationships with new potential company partners.

To learn more or apply for this pop-up, click here! Applications close August 31.

Impact Hub Boston + Impact Hub Madrid Community of Practice Opportunity

Are you a small, for profit business that had to pivot during the COVID-19 pandemic? Are you willing to share your journey and advice with Spanish businesses to help them learn to adapt and succeed during difficult times? Are you interested in getting your brand out there in a global forum or possibly expanding into the European market?

Boston & Madrid are looking for 7 American startups to participate in 3, one hour long community of practice zoom sessions with 15 Spanish SMEs around the topic of resilience. The American startups ideally have pivoted their business in some way to demonstrate resilience during the pandemic. The program will take place in the fall.

Interest Form

Take your impact venture from IDEA to ACTION!

Join Social Entrepreneurship expert, Terri Barreiro, in this customized accelerator designed to help new entrepreneurs like you build successful social ventures. In just 9 weeks, you will gain the tools necessary to launch or expand your business!

The Fall Cohort starts October 17
Apply by September 27!

Apply Now

“No one knows more in the Twin Cities context on social entrepreneurship and motivation – plain and simple, Terri is a connector and a joy to be a student of.” - student from anonymous survey

Upcoming Events

Twin Cities Startup Week 2021

We couldn’t be more excited to host a session at #TCSW21!

Join us as we highlight innovative startups responding to COVID and the convergence of efforts working towards the broader 2030 Sustainable Development Goals goals on Monday, 9/20, 1:15-2:15pm.

Your ticket gets you access to a whole week of arts & culture, local innovation, and more!

#TCSW21 #Innovation #FoundersFirst

Member News

Best Buy Commits up to $10M Investment in Brown Venture Group’s Inaugural Fund

Brown Venture Group LLC, a venture capital firm formed to fund Black, Latino and Indigenous technology entrepreneurs, announced today that Best Buy (NYSE: BBY) has committed up to $10M to its inaugural fund.

Brown Venture Group, a majority Black-led organization, was founded in 2018 with the goal of raising $50 million to invest in entrepreneurs of color who in the past have not had access to venture capital and have experienced economic barriers to contribution.

The commitment by Best Buy builds on its recent announcement that it will spend at least $1.2 billion with BIPOC and diverse businesses by 2025 with a focus on leaders in the tech industry.

Learn more!

Vote for Harvest Nation for the People's Choice Prize

Harvest Nation’s indoor aeroponic farm concept is in the Semi-Finals for the Pow Wow Pitch 2021 Native business competition! They are one of ~150 semi-finalists selected out of 1600 pitches, and only one of 13 from the US! HN is 100% Women owned by 4 enrolled tribal members of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa.

Please vote for Harvest Nation as the People’s Choice Prize for Pow Wow Pitch 2021. To submit your vote, click here! From the drop down menu, select “Danielle Pieratos, Harvest Nation.”

If they win, we will receive $500 and advance directly to the Finals! Voting closes on 9/26/21.

Miigwech / thank you

To see their pitch video, visit this post on our Facebook Page by clicking here Harvest Nation 60 Sec. Pow Wow Pitch Video 2021

An Affinity Space to Connect, Affirm, & Network

Join us for our annual event to celebrate the 2nd Edition of the UpLIFT publication, celebrate our two cohorts, Legacy Cohort & Impact Cohort and UpLIFT black male educators from across the country.

Jonathan is recruiting five volunteers to support vendors at the UpLIFT conference. Volunteers will help run the store for vendors who are selling their products at the event. Shifts are four hours long, and volunteers must also attend an orientation at 6-7pm on Friday August, 20. Volunteers receive Caribou gift cards and dinner on September 4 in exchange for their help. Anyone interested should contact intern, William at uplift2021thegathering@gmail.com. THANK YOU!

Launch Minnesota Coworking Spaces

We're excited to be part of a statewide network of coworking spaces that share ideas to serve small businesses and create COVID-safe spaces.