Entrepreneurs, Changemakers Invited to Aug. 27 Summit
Building a successful business takes more than a great idea—it takes connections, resources and opportunities to learn from others. To help entrepreneurs and organizations build stronger ventures and stronger communities, the Initiative Foundation will co-host the Do Business With Purpose Summit with ConnectUP! Institute on Thursday, Aug. 27, at Resource Training & Solutions in Sartell.
This one-day summit will bring together entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders and businesses that address community needs for a day of learning, networking and collaboration. Using ConnectUP! Institute’s model, participants will explore new ideas, share experiences and connect with resources that can help strengthen their work.
Registration is now open at ifound.org.
Building Business Readiness
Attendees will experience keynote presentations, interactive breakout sessions and networking opportunities focused on business readiness, access to capital, leadership and sustainable growth. They’ll leave with practical ideas and new connections they can use to strengthen their organizations and expand their impact.
The summit is presented through the Initiators Fellowship, an Initiative Foundation program that supports entrepreneurs across Greater Minnesota who are building businesses and organizations that address local challenges and create opportunities in their communities.
“The Initiators Fellowship exists to support people who see a need in their community and want to build a business or organization that helps address it,” said Christine Metzo, co-director of the Initiators Fellowship. “The Do Business With Purpose Summit extends that mission by creating a space where entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders can learn from experts, build relationships and gain practical tools to strengthen their work.”
Throughout the day, participants will hear from experienced practitioners, exchange ideas with peers and build relationships with others committed to creating stronger businesses and communities.
A Different Kind of Summit
“When people with different experiences come together to share ideas and build relationships, everyone benefits,” said Tyler Vogel, co-director of the Initiators Fellowship. “This summit is designed to foster those connections while helping participants become more prepared for growth, more competitive for capital and more equipped to lead organizations that serve their communities and solve local challenges.”
ConnectUP! Institute has a track record of helping entrepreneurs move from promising ideas to sustainable, investment-ready ventures. Through this partnership, summit participants will gain practical strategies, tools and connections to help community-focused organizations grow and expand their impact.
“With our proven methodology, we are directly investing in the future of Greater Minnesota’s founders who are ready to level up,” Y. Elaine Rasmussen, founder and CEO of ConnectUP! Institute. “We aren’t just here to talk about purpose; we are here to provide scalable strategies that turn community-focused startups into durable, investable businesses.”
To learn more and register, visit ifound.org.
About the ConnectUP! Institute
ConnectUP! Institute connects “underestimated” founders with the resources, capital and networks required to scale. It specializes in supporting the “Missing Middle,” helping businesses transition from early-stage ventures to capital-ready enterprises. Learn more at connectupmn.org.