Amplifying stories from the Rochester, MN entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Collider Quarterly Report
To our friends and supporters in the Rochester community, thank you so much for your continued support of Collider and the work we do here. As our second quarter of the year draws to a close, we wanted to take a moment to share with you our mission and the work we’ve been doing in the community for the past few months.
Collider Foundation is a Rochester, Minnesota based 501(c)3 organization. Our mission is to activate, connect, and empower early stage starters in Rochester, MN. Our vision is to create a community with zero barriers to entrepreneurship for anyone with a great idea and a passion to see it grow.
How do we do that?
Resource Navigation.
We connect early stage entrepreneurs to the resources they need with a highly personalized approach to help overcome business barriers for local starters. We especially seek to serve BIPOC and female entrepreneurs in Rochester, individuals who face the most barriers in starting or scaling their business.
Through this work, we’ve served 67 unique starters between April and June over the course of 105 hours of communication, support, and relationship building. Out of these 67 entrepreneurs assisted, 50% of them were women and 40% of them were BIPOC starters. 87% of these individuals had some barrier they were facing removed through this work to help move progress forward with their business.
Ecosystem Navigator, Manasseh Kambaki
Some exciting milestones reached over the course of the last few months have been completing our first successful 4 month contract with the SBDC as well as serving as navigators for DMC’s Main Street Grant.
Thank you so much to Mayo Clinic, Rotary Clubs of Rochester, City of Rochester, Small Business Development Center, Altra Federal Credit Union, Destination Medical Center, and Premier Banks for supporting this work in the Rochester entrepreneurial community.
2. Education and Peer Support.
Collider facilitates the meeting of two local peer networks, one for different food business founders and one for women founders, which each meet on a monthly basis to provide ongoing support and advice for these communities of business owners. These meetings provide a space to reduce the isolation associated with running a business as well as provide starters with an opportunity to connect with other business owners to learn from each other, celebrate their successes, and work together to think through challenges their businesses are facing. This quarter, this work supported 14 different starters.
We are grateful to both Rochester Area Economic Development Inc. (RAEDI) and The Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) for directly supporting our work with these support groups.
During May and June we were able to host four Critical Conversations panel discussions in collaboration with Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota School of Business and Technology to provide educational opportunities to the Rochester entrepreneurial community. These discussions were led by local starters and discussed topics key to all entrepreneurs including: buying a business, finding co founders, mental health, and hiring your first employees. Across all events we had 46 registrants, nearly all of which indicated through surveys that they found the events to be helpful to their business.
Critical Conversations: Buying a Business
We are also thrilled to be launching our CO.STARTERS programs this week! CO.STARTERS is a program that helps starters move from idea to action. This quarter our team spent a lot of time preparing to facilitate this program in the community, including being trained as certified CO.STARTERS facilitators. Starting July 5th, we will be launching CO.STARTERS Core, a ten week, cohort based education program to give starters the tools and support they need to take their ideas into action. We have ten local starters registered to participate in the program and we are so excited to work with each individual entrepreneur and help them move their business plans forward.
CO.STARTERS is specifically supported by Think Mutual Bank, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota School of Business and Technology, Launch Minnesota, Red Wing Ignite, and Fredrikson & Byron.
3. Storytelling
Our storytelling efforts have continued this past quarter. This work helps provide inspiration capital that shows that entrepreneurship consists of many different things and that there is not one pathway to get there. It also provides visibility to local small businesses and the incredible individuals who made their dreams a reality.
Over the past few months, we have released 9 articles and 3 podcast episodes, with many more in the works! It has been exciting connecting with so many different entrepreneurs from different backgrounds and walks of life. So far this quarter, we have had the opportunity to connect with 10 different business owners who are either women or BIPOC members of the Rochester community and are excited to share each of their stories.
Entrepreneurs whose stories we shared this quarter.
Through our storytelling efforts, we’ve also connected with Rochester Women’s Magazine to share the story of Paige Jehnke, local entrepreneur and owner of Janky Gear, for their June/July issue. We love the work that Rochester Women’s Magazine does to share the stories of women in our community and it was wonderful to be able to participate in that work this quarter.
We’re so grateful to Fredrikson & Byron for becoming an annual sponsor of our podcast this past quarter!
4. Coworking
Along with Collider’s work with the local entrepreneurial community, we also provide a coworking community to the Rochester area. Collider manages a low cost space for starters to connect and collide to spark new ideas. We currently have 48 members and are looking forward to seeing growth in our community in coming months as we plan to expand into a larger space (more details to come!). We also provide member specific programming, such as peer networks and other member-only activities, as well as networking and social opportunities for anyone in the community.
And a big thank you to our sponsors CliftonLarsonAllen, Hill Capital Corporation, Schad Tracy Signs, Noble Health, and our newest sponsor Cozen O’Connor for helping to fuel all of our work.
A big thank you to all of our sponsors!
We could not do any of this work without the help of our donors and by great community members LIKE YOU who give back to this community in many different ways.
If you find value in the work that Collider is carrying out in the Rochester community, consider supporting us in one of these ways!
Like and share our social media content! This helps more people see what Collider is doing and spreads awareness about our work in the community.
Come to an event! We would love to connect with you!
Leave a review! If you’ve had a positive experience with Collider, leaving a review on Google can really help increase visibility of our non-profit.
Volunteer your time or share your skills! Please reach out to us if you feel that you can personally assist our organization with your time.
A monetary donation! Donations of any amount help us continue to serve the Rochester entrepreneurial community. You can donate through 4giving.
Thank you so much for reading about our work over the past quarter and for your support of Collider!
Much thanks from the Collider Team for your support!
Q&A with Peter Bianco
Check out this Q & A with one of our coworking members, Peter Bianco!
Q: What brought you to Rochester and what keeps you here?
A: I was born and raised in Rochester. I’m a Mayo High School graduate. My parents stayed in Rochester after my Dad retired from Mayo Clinic and I have a sister and three brothers that live here as well so as much as I left Rochester for a long time, there has always been a strong pull back to my roots. I started working on OsteoApp.ai just before the announcement of the establishment of the Mayo Clinic AI Platform. As soon as I heard that, I reached out and started working with their team on how to access the data we needed to advance our artificial intelligence driven x-ray based bone mineral density tools. Its been a perfect match and a terrific partnership and has enabled our ability to develop our products with the most comprehensive training data sets in existence. We’ve been gearing up to begin active development and we are just about ready to go. I’m adding to the local team and we are coming to critical mass quickly. It’s the relationships with the Mayo Platform and our Clinical partners at Mayo Clinic that make Rochester the only real choice for OsteoApp.ai to become the groundbreaking effort its destined to be.
Q: What are some of your hobbies and interests?
A: I’ve been a guitar player since I was a wee lad. I played in bands in Rochester all through High School. As I’ve gotten older, I developed an addiction for vintage guitar collecting, which is a deep passion of mine. It’s a true sickness for which there is no cure, and I love it. I also started playing tennis and paddle tennis since I’ve lived on the east coast. Paddle tennis is a great outdoor cold weather sport and It helps keep me in shape and my brain sharp. It has a whole culture and community that has been fun to be part of.
Q: What do you do for work?
A: I'm the Founder, President, and Board Chair of OsteoApp.ai. that’s enough for the moment.
Q: Why did you choose Collider for your workspace?
A: Collider has been instrumental and extremely welcoming in providing a landing site for Osteoapp.ai. Everyone I’ve encountered there have been truly accommodating and bent over backwards to help us as we begin the gradual migration towards establishing the company’s human and physical infrastructure in Rochester. I’m not sure I could pull off this phase of the company’s formation in Rochester without it. We are just getting started but Collider has already been a huge reason why I’m so adamant that OsteoApp.ai will be recognized as a proud, cutting edge Rochester, MN based start-up that is poised to have a significant impact on the detection and early intervention for millions of patients with low bone mass who are at risk for debilitating bone fractures.
Collider Foundation Brings CO.STARTERS Startup Business Program to Rochester
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 6/9/22
Amanda Leightner
Executive Director, Collider Foundation
https://www.collider.mn/ amanda@collider.mn (507) 722-0306
Collider Foundation Brings CO.STARTERS Startup Business Program to Rochester
Rochester, Minnesota: Collider Foundation, a local 501c(3) nonprofit, is bringing the national program CO.STARTERS to Rochester to help “starters” turn their business ideas into action. Collider’s first CO.STARTERS 10-week cohort, called CO.STARTERS Core, is currently enrolling participants. In-person sessions will begin on July 5th.
CO.STARTERS helps communities build vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystems by equipping them with the best tools and resources needed to support starters of all kinds. Building on initial grassroots efforts in Chattanooga, Tennessee, CO.STARTERS now has a global reach with thousands participating in its programs annually.
CO.STARTERS keeps starting a business simple, accessible, and collaborative with community in mind.
The 10-week CO.STARTERS Core program equips starters of all kinds with the insights, relationships, and tools needed to turn business ideas into action. With the support of peers and other guest business owners in the community, participants will spend this time fine-tuning their business ideas and determining next steps they need to move that idea forward.
CO.STARTERS Core is a fit for a starter with a new business idea, a starter with an early-stage business who wants to think more deeply about their business model, or a starter with a big idea they want to move forward with within another business or organization.
CO.STARTERS Core will run every Tuesday night from 5:30-8:30PM at Collider Foundation’s coworking location within the Minnesota Biobusiness Center from July 5th through August 30th. The program will end with a public pitch celebration on September 6th at the Saint Mary’s University-Rochester campus. This 10-week program costs $150 per participant, which includes the curriculum, facilitation through Rochester-based certified CO.STARTERS Core facilitators, and access to a community of support.
Individuals can learn more and register here: https://www.collider.mn/costarters
CO.STARTERS at Collider is supported by Think Mutual Bank, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, and Fredrikson & Byron.
June 6, 2022: This week in the Rochester entrepreneurial ecosystem
Welcome to another week in our entrepreneurial ecosystem.
This week, we roll into the second half of our Critical Conversations series, in partnership with Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. This Tuesday, the conversation will center around hiring employees. Spend some time with us this week to learn how other business owners in the community have added intentionally to their team. You can learn more and register here.
This Wednesday is the next Walk in Wednesdays at Collider! Walk in Wednesdays is a low pressure, no appointment needed way for starters in the community to connect with service Entrepreneurial Support Organizations at once to get questions answered about their business or business idea. This month, our team at Collider will be joined by representatives from the Small Business Development Center, CliftonLarsonAllen, the City of Rochester, and Altra Federal Credit Union. Feel free to just pop in, or you can register here as well.
And lastly, we are pleased to announce the we are Navigator's for the "Main Street Grant," which is being administered through Destination Medical Center.
The Main Street Grant program intends to provide no-cost grants for capital improvement projects that result in improvements to any permanent structure or other asset added to a property that adds to its value. The grant awards can cover up to 30% of the project costs with applicants securing other sources of funding to match any funds granted by this program.
Any person or organization planning to invest in eligible capital projects in the DMC district may apply. Businesses and organizations that represent Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE), veteran, disabled, Black, Indigenous, or people of color whose projects will build wealth, create jobs, and stabilize communities in the district are strongly encouraged to apply.
Anyone interested in learning more about these grants or needing assistance with any part of the grant application can contact Collider for a 1:1 consultation.
-Amanda
This week in your ecosystem
Date: Tuesday June 7th
Location: 2900 19th Street NW (Saint Mary's University-Rochester Campus)
Critical Conversations is a 4 part series covering topics every starter needs to think about for their business. Join in to hear advice based on the experience of local business owners and connect with a community of like-minded individuals to help start or scale your idea.
This event is open to anyone in the community.
This third event in the series will talk about key issues you should think about when hiring your first employees and will walk you through the journey of local starters who have been there, and done that!
Learn more and register HERE.
Date: Wednesday June 8th
Walk in Wednesdays are a monthly event to bring together people with business ideas or people already running businesses with individuals and organizations that can help in Rochester, MN! Join us each month to talk through your business and let's get you connected to resources in the community to help it grow.
Learn more and register HERE.
Ecosystem Storytelling
Bringing a Love of Art into Hair and Make-up Styling with Amber Berry
Longtime hair and make-up artist, Amber Berry, always intended to pursue a creative career path, though cosmetology was not what she initially had in mind.
Amber was born and raised in Southeast Minnesota. After she graduated from high school she had plans to attend college for fine art, but at the suggestion of a close friend, she enrolled at the Aveda Arts and Sciences Institute in Minneapolis. Over the next three years she immersed herself in school.
“It just clicked. The education was great and I was able to meet and learn from people of so many different backgrounds and cultures. I really embraced the experience and learned so much.”
Read more HERE.
May 2, 2022: This week in the Rochester Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
Welcome to another week in our entrepreneurial ecosystem.
And welcome to May!
First off, I wanted to thank everyone who came out for our latest drop-in day of coworking and happy hour this past Thursday. It was so nice to interact with others in the community in this way and really get the chance to connect. If you're interested in coworking but just not ready to jump "all in" yet, this is the perfect way to interact with our coworking members and experience our space. We host a drop in day every month, so be sure to keep checking our newsletter and social media feeds for updates!
Second, I want to call each of your attention to our storytelling. These efforts focused on entrepreneurship and the true early stage starters in this community launched with our brand Rochester Rising in 2016. Over the years, we've been honored to gain the trust to share hundreds and hundreds of stories of starters in this community (and over 255 podcast episodes to date). It has been so rewarding to see these efforts take on new life and direction under the guidance of our Director of Community, Corrie Strommen. This work takes someone who truly understands the value and impact these stories can have in being carefully and truthfully told to inspire all types of entrepreneurship and elevate the expertise and incredible talent we have in this community. I encourage you all to take a few moments this morning to read the latest incredible story with Brooke Burch and learn more about this Rochester starter.
And make sure you are subscribed to the Rochester Rising podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen in so that you never miss any of these stories of innovation and entrepreneurship.
-Amanda
Custom Sewing, Alterations, and Vintage Fashion with Brooke Burch
Brooke Burch, who runs a custom sewing and alterations business and sells vintage clothing out of her studio, attributes a longtime love of sewing and creativity to her grandmother, who she moved to Rochester to live with at an early age.
“I wouldn’t say that I was a hyper child, so much as inquisitive. To occupy that, my grandmother gave me all kinds of crafts to do. I was always playing with glue and yarn. I don’t know how, but at some point I got a hold of a needle and thread and took an interest in sewing. I would cut things up and tie and sew them back together. Eventually she must’ve gotten tired of me doing that because she got me a sewing machine and taught me the basics. So I grew up just experimenting with sewing.”
Although she loved sewing and designing, when she pursued further education at University of Wisconsin-Stout she was contemplating a degree in biology. But, a year into her studies when she declared her major, her childhood passion won out and she pursued Apparel Design and Manufacturing.
->Read more HERE.