ConnectUP! 2024 Year-End Fundraising Campaign

ConnectUP! Institute’s mission is to curate connections among entrepreneurs, investors, and the business ecosystem to advance equitable access to capital, resources, and networks to underestimated founders. 

Our culturally responsive business support programs exemplify the power of addressing the underlying system rather than merely symptoms that afflict the entrepreneurial ecosystem. 

We integrate year-round, culturally responsive programming tailored for first and second-stage BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and rural founders. 

We specifically focus on supporting the non-tech businesses typically started by Black/Brown founders, and our approach encompasses four key elements: capital, community, content, and connections. 

You have the power to help us reach our goal of $10,000 to support the entrepreneurs you know and love in the community. Here’s the impact that your donation will have:

$250 will provide a founder with two hours of executive coaching.

$500 will provide a founder with five hours of mindset coaching.

$1,000 will allow a founder to implement a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system.

$2,500 will cover the cost of travel and registration to key industry trade shows.

$5,000 will support five founders in our Garage StartUP! program, which provides micro-grants to MN BIPOC businesses.

$7,500 will support 3 months of CEO circles for founders to meet, network, and solve business challenges with industry-adjacent founders and subject matter experts.

$10,000 will enable a founder to purchase equipment for scaling or support our general operations to grow our innovative programs supporting Black and Brown founders.

All of ConnectUP!’s work is led by Black women. Our programming prioritizes women of color and is informed by the lived experiences of Black women - but all are welcome. We believe when we work for the most marginalized, we do better for all. This has been our secret to success.

Together, we will set the standard for transformative and empowering entrepreneurial support for underestimated founders and produce positive outcomes at scale.