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
