Hennepin County Library hosting Entrepreneur Expo at Minneapolis Central Library Oct. 11

  • September 18, 2023
the words "entrepreneur expo" on a purple and blue background

Small business owners are invited to attend Hennepin County Library’s Entrepreneur Expo Wednesday, Oct. 11, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Minneapolis Central Library. The event returns for its 5th year after a three-year hiatus.

The Entrepreneur Expo connects micro-entrepreneurs and new business owners -- especially those who are women, Black, Indigenous, people of color, and immigrants -- with organizations dedicated to supporting their success. Returning collaborators include African Economic Development Solutions (AEDS), Springboard for the Arts, WomenVenture, Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio (CLUES), MEDA, and Neighborhood Development Center (NDC).

This full-day event features:

  • Panelists discussing trends and opportunities
  • Hands-on online marketing workshops
  • Local exhibitors
  • One-on-one consultations on business legal, technical, and financial matters
  • Free professional headshots, by photographer Anna Min, that can be used on business websites and social media accounts

Enjoy free lunch catered by Afro Deli. The deli is owned by Abdirahman Kahin, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2023 National Small Business Person of the Year.

Event highlights

Native American Community Development Institute (NACDI) will share information about selling products at farmers markets. WomenVenture and Think Small will team up to reveal everything to know about launching and sustaining a successful childcare business. ConnectUP! Institute will show how due diligence can help entrepreneurs access capital and find investors early to build a strong business foundation.

In the afternoon, Hennepin County Library joins forces with We Sparkle and Seattle Public Library for a hybrid (remote and in person) panel exploring how the entrepreneurial ecosystem in these two metro areas nurtures small businesses for economic growth.

Finally, Springboard for the Arts dives into how to go beyond grants to find sustainable, regenerative, and community-driven funding options especially for BIPOC artists.

Register for event

Register for this free event online or by calling 612-543-8000.