Amplifying stories from the Rochester, MN entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Program Update: CO.STARTERS at Collider
CO.STARTERS at Collider continues to be a powerful catalyst for entrepreneurship in our region. This January, we launched our 8th cohort—our first to offer participation free of charge through a competitive application process. Over 10 weeks, participants built critical business skills, grew their confidence, and ended with public pitches at our Collider Cup event, where Emerald Edge Builders took home the $1,000 grand prize.
Our most recent cohort was one of our most diverse yet, spanning industries from construction to tech and tourism. Their progress was remarkable—not only in their business skills but also in the sense of community and confidence they gained. These entrepreneurs now join a growing network of 48 alumni, 60% of whom remain actively engaged with the organization and are advancing their businesses through monthly meetups and new milestones in development.
Our CO.STARTERS at Collider graduates are creating a range of businesses, with the most common being in the technology, personal services, food and beverage, or business service spaces.
Our graduates have also made some major headlines this year. Three of our CO.STARTERS at Collider alumni competed in the final round of the Ignite Cup this March, a feeder system into the Minnesota Cup, the largest state run business plan contest in the country. The competition winner, Hope Technologies, was a graduate of our inaugural cohort in summer 2022 and is currently advancing through the Minnesota Cup competition.
Christy and Aaron Chan of Hope Technologies.
Other CO.STARTERS alumni made the news with Winter 2024 graduates Gina Marcucci and Abram Krause of Goldberry Common getting a profile in Voyage Minnesota's Hidden Gems series and recent graduate Denise Frey of 4 Youth LLC being feature by KIMT3 news.
With support from the Rochester community, barriers have been removed for these starters and they are continuing to push forward, bringing their dreams to life in this community. Thank you for your continued belief, support, and action to make entrepreneurship a reality for so many who want to make a difference.
Thank you to all of our CO.STARTERS at Collider supporters, including:
Minnwest Bank
Southeast Minnesota Small Business Development Center
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development's Small Business Technical Assistance Program
Otto Bremer Trust
Mayo Clinic Department of Business Development
Fredrikson & Byron Foundation
Think Mutual Bank
Entrepreneurs First (E1) Network
Collider Foundation Receives Grant Through the Mayo Clinic Community Contributions Program
Collider Foundation was recently awarded a grant through Mayo Clinic’s Community Contributions Program. This generous funding will support Collider’s ongoing mission to empower early-stage entrepreneurs throughout Rochester, Minnesota.
Collider Foundation is dedicated to helping local innovators break through the barriers to success by fostering a supportive, inclusive, and entrepreneur-first ecosystem. With this funding, the foundation will be able to continue its work, offering both programmatic and operational support throughout 2025.
Collider Foundation supports its mission to make entrepreneurship more accessible and inclusive through a variety of initiatives, including events, education, a coworking space, and community storytelling. Collider Foundation believes that the support, education, and growth of our entrepreneurial ecosystem is a pathway to a more prosperous and inclusive future for the Rochester community.
Originally launched as a for-profit coworking space in 2016, the Collider team realized that the real value the organization brought to the community lay in education, mentorship, and storytelling for local entrepreneurs. This insight led to Collider's transformation into a nonprofit in 2019, focusing specifically on supporting early-stage entrepreneurs and making business ownership more approachable for everyone, especially those facing the greatest barriers to entrepreneurship.
Today, Collider Foundation offers personalized startup support, a comprehensive framework for business development through free or low cost business education, a welcoming coworking environment, and a platform to highlight the inspiring stories of Rochester entrepreneurs.
“It takes the work of many individuals, organizations, and systems of support to create a healthy entrepreneurial ecosystem with economic mobility for all. We are constantly grateful to have Mayo Clinic as a collaborator and supporter of our work at Collider Foundation to provide pathways to entrepreneurship for anyone in the community with a solid business plan and the passion to see that business grow,” said Amanda Leightner, Collider Foundation Executive Director.
If you have any questions about Collider or our work within the community, please contact Amanda Leightner at amanda@collider.mn or call (507) 722-0306.
Q&A with Juliana Silva - Collider Community Incubator
Q: What is the incubator program and what can participants expect to learn?
A: The Incubator is a structured program designed to support early-stage entrepreneurs by equipping them with the foundational knowledge, resources, and mentorship needed to grow their businesses. Over the course of the program, participants engage in workshops, peer learning, and one-on-one coaching that covers essential business topics such as customer discovery, business model development, financial literacy, branding, and pitching. The program fosters a collaborative environment where entrepreneurs can build confidence, connect with the local startup ecosystem, and refine their ideas into sustainable ventures.
Q: Collider launched the incubator program in April of last year, how would you say the program has developed and changed over the past year?
A: Since its launch, the incubator program has evolved based on participant feedback and community needs. We’ve refined our curriculum to be more hands-on, incorporating more real-world applications and guest speakers from diverse industries. We’ve also expanded support beyond the structured workshops, offering more mentorship opportunities and networking connections to help entrepreneurs navigate challenges specific to their industries. Additionally, we’ve seen a greater diversity of participants, which has enriched discussions and broadened the impact of the program.
Q: Who would you say are the ideal candidates for the program?
A: The ideal candidates for the incubator are early-stage entrepreneurs who have a business idea or an emerging startup and are looking for guidance to refine and grow it. We welcome individuals from all industries and backgrounds, whether they are first-time founders or experienced professionals transitioning into entrepreneurship. The program is especially beneficial for those who are eager to learn, open to feedback, and committed to taking action on their business goals.
Q: What lesson from the program do you find most impactful?
A: The most impactful lesson is learning to embrace the iterative process—refining a business model based on real-world insights rather than just assumptions.Beyond that, the structured nature of the program provides a logical, step-by-step guide to building a business, ensuring that participants address all critical aspects—such as customer discovery, financial planning, branding, and market positioning—in a cohesive way. This structured approach prevents entrepreneurs from overlooking key elements and helps them build a strong foundation, increasing their chances of long-term success. Instead of piecing together knowledge from different sources, participants receive a clear roadmap that ties everything together, making the journey from idea to execution much more efficient and strategic.
Q: What are the details for the upcoming incubator cohort?
A: The next incubator cohort will run from April 17th to July 2nd, culminating in a Demo Day where participants will have the opportunity to showcase their businesses. The program requires a time commitment of approximately 3 hours for workshops, along with additional mentorship opportunities.Workshops will cover key topics such as business model development, financial management, marketing and branding, sales strategies, and preparing for funding opportunities. Participants will also benefit from access to guest speakers, networking events, and peer support sessions, ensuring they receive a structured, comprehensive roadmap to building and growing their businesses.
Does the Collider Community Incubator Program sound like the right fit for you and your business journey? Learn more here and apply today!
Collider to Host Community Celebration for Fifth Cohort of CO.STARTERS Graduates
Collider Foundation is excited to announce that we are hosting our fifth Collider Cup pitch event, which was designed in 2022 to celebrate our CO.STARTERS graduates, give them the opportunity to share their unique business ideas with the Rochester community, and compete for a cash prize, provided by CO.STARTERS sponsor, Minnwest Bank. Seven participants will be graduating from the cohort based program, having spent the past ten weeks fine tuning their business ideas and determining next steps they need to take to move forward.
This event will additionally include a community expo, featuring seven local business owners and giving them an opportunity to showcase their products and services to the community. The community expo is funded by the City of Rochester through their Community Building Funds Grant.
The Collider Cup and community expo will take place on Tuesday, March 25th at Collider’s space in the Minnesota BioBusiness Center from 5:00-7:30pm. This event will serve as a business pitch competition as well as a community celebration for these emerging entrepreneurs in Rochester. Five of our CO.STARTERS graduates will be verbally pitching their business ideas. A panel of judges will determine the winner of the pitch competition. Interested individuals can learn more and register for the event here.
Collider Foundation believes that the support, education, and growth of our entrepreneurial ecosystem is a pathway to a more prosperous and inclusive future for the Rochester community. We as an organization aim to identify and assist local innovators in overcoming barriers to success by empowering an impactful, inclusive, and entrepreneur-first ecosystem. We are excited to have had the opportunity to fulfill our mission through CO.STARTERS and offer assistance to local entrepreneurs through this cohort.
CO.STARTERS and the Collider Cup are supported by Mayo Clinic Department of Business Development, Otto Bremer Trust, Fredrikson & Byron Foundation, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, Small Business Development Center, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development’s Small Business Technical Assistance Program, Minnwest Bank, Entrepreneurs First, Think Bank, and the City of Rochester’s Community Building Fund.
For additional information contact Amanda Leightner at amanda@collider.mn or call (507) 722-0306
