ConnectUP! Institute proudly announces the return of the ConnectUP! Summit with the theme Capital Readiness Inside & Out, April 10-12, 2025 at the Wilder Center in St. Paul. Attracting over 200 underestimated entrepreneurs, investors and business support organizations from Minnesota and beyond. The Summit is the premier ecosystem event in Minnesota that brings together a curated group of 1. Women, people of color, LGBTQ+, and rural entrepreneurs 2. Investors, philanthropists, and 3. community development and ecosystem support organizations.
The Summit focuses on democratizing access to capital, challenging the exclusivity of traditional pitch competitions and the “winner-takes-all” model. It fosters investments in underrepresented founders, including Black, Indigenous, immigrant, Trans, and rural entrepreneurs.
“We know two things are true, we are the sum average of our networks, and our networks tend to look like us,” says ConnectUP! Institute Founder and Executive Director, Y. Elaine Rasmussen. “We also know the people invest in people – we know this because on average 9 out of 10 venture investments fail…that indicates you invested in the person, not just the business. Founders of color are often left on the sidelines of investor networks, but investors want to put money into their local communities. ConnectUP! solves both problems, connecting founders to investors and to other founders who look like them!” This event features culturally responsive, action-oriented workshops, purposeful relationship-building opportunities, and the exchange of ideas across diverse networks. The Summit also includes interactive sessions designed to inspire connection, collaboration, and learning. Together, we aim to forge partnerships and create local investment opportunities that nurture inclusive, thriving entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Celebrating its fifth year, the ConnectUP! Summit attracts leading business and community leaders across Minnesota and nationally. This year’s sessions range from “Leveraging the Power of Greater Minnesota” to “Exploring Entrepreneurship through Acquisition” to “Scaling the Investment Ladder”. Plus, the list of impactful speakers includes:
- Sarah Sengupta, St. Cloud State University
- NeTia Bauman, Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation
- Scott Marquardt, Southwest Initiative Foundation
- La Juana Whitmore, NextFemme Financial
- Ashley Oolman, Minnesota Department of Human Services
- Meg Steur, Minnestar
ConnectUP! Summits are a must-attend event, consistently selling out year after year while attracting visionary entrepreneurs and influential ecosystem leaders. An impressive 86% of past attendees reported forging new connections with investors, and 88% found these relationships invaluable for their business or personal growth.
ConnectUP! Institute has cultivated a strong collection of committed sponsors dedicated to racial equity and expanding access to capital and include: Opus Foundation, Target Foundation, CH Robinson Foundation, Carlson Family Foundation, St. Paul Minnesota Foundation, Hmong Chamber of Commerce, Costco and AM950.
Their support of the 2025 ConnectUP! Summit is a clear demonstration of this mission in action.
About ConnectUP! Institute
ConnectUP! Institute is powered by Social Impact Now! is a 501(c)3 social finance and enterprise
development studio focused on providing capital, commerce, community connections and consulting for founders, investors and ecosystem partners. ConnectUP! Institute closes the 180-degrees of separation between underestimated founders, investors, and the entrepreneur ecosystem by providing accelerators, bootcamps, investments, partnerships, technical assistance, workshops and more. Most notable is their Lunar Startups and Capital Readiness Accelerator and the Integrated Capital Fund which provide investments to selected program participants. Stay up-to-date on all ConnectUP! Institute events, news, and information. Follow us on Instagram @connectup_. www.connectupmn.org
