Growth Loan Fund

How it Works

The Growth Loan Fund program provides direct loans to eligible seed and early-stage businesses. The business must be planning to raise equity in order to qualify. The applicant first completes an enrollment application in which they state how much equity they intend to raise. Once enrolled in the program, they have 12 months make at least 70% of their goal with a minimum raise of $400,000. If they achieve this goal, they complete the proof of investment and loan application. The approved loan amount will be based on 20% of the total amount of equity investment raised in the funding round. Investments made prior to the defined 12-month period do not qualify. Loans may be up to $400,000.

Eligible Applicants

Businesses must meet one of the following criteria: 1) been certified to participate in the Angel Tax Credit (ATC) Program; 2) be identified by a venture or angel fund for investment; 3) be identified by an individual accredited investor for investment. Launch Minnesota grantees are strong candidates for this funding. The business must meet the ATC standard being engaged in or committed to engaging in technological innovation in Minnesota. See the Apply tab for additional details.

Equity Investment Requirements

At least one equity investment must be made by an investor that is qualified as an accredited investor per the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under Rule 501 of Regulation D or by a venture or angel investment fund. The accredited investor or fund must make the investment subsequent to loan approval. The total equity investment attained for the round is not exclusive to investments made by accredited investors or venture or angel investment funds. Businesses that are not ATC certified, working with a venture capital or angel fund, or working with an accredited investor are not eligible for the program. The investment round must remain under $20 million for the business to remain eligible for the loan.

Loan Amount and Terms

Loan amounts are based on 20% of equity raised in a single round, not to exceed 12 months after program enrollment. Equity investments made prior to enrollment are ineligible. Loans may be up to $400,000.

Loans bear 1% interest, on a 7-year term. Principal payments are deferred until year 4. At year 4, loan payments begin based on 50% of the principal. At maturity, the outstanding balance is due in a balloon payment. Upon sale of the business during the loan term, the loan balance is due in full, plus an additional 10% of the original loan amount.

Proof of Investment

DEED will issue the loan once the business provides proof of investments made during the defined funding round. Enrolled businesses should see the Proof of Investment tab for detailed requirements.
The following minimum documentation will be required:

• A copy of the signed investor subscription agreement, or other underlying transaction document, evidencing the investment;
• If the investment is in the form of a convertible note or a simple agreement for future equity (SAFE), evidence of the mandatory conversion date, which must be within 36 months of the date of the investment;
• A copy of the investor's or fund's check made out to the business or wire transfer showing the accounts of the originator and beneficiary;
• A copy of the business' deposit receipt or bank statement showing the deposit of the check during the approved 12-month period.

Investments made by the following are ineligible for consideration as part of the proof of investment:

• An officer (a person elected or appointed by the board to manage the business), or
• A principal (a person having authority to act on behalf of the business), or
• A person who owns, controls, or holds the power to vote 20% or more of the outstanding securities of the business, individually or combined with family members, or
• A family member (siblings, spouse, ancestors and lineal descendants) of the above

Eligible Uses of Funds

Funds are to be used for an eligible business purpose, including startup costs, working capital, equipment, inventory, services used in the production of the business's goods or services, or tenant improvements. Funds may not be used for passive real estate or to repay any previous investment made in the business, including capital contributed by founders.

Apply

To apply, please complete the online enrollment application. You will need to provide details about the business and its planned equity raise, including proposed use of funds for the loan from the program and the investments identified as eligible matching funds. 

Businesses need to meet the following criteria to apply for a loan: 

• Headquartered in Minnesota; 
• Fewer than 50 employees; 
• Operating less than 10 years (20 years if FDA approval is required);
• Engaged in, or committed to engaging in, technological innovation in Minnesota;
• Seeking equity investments from private investors during the next 12 months; 
• Interest of an accredited investor or recent certification in the Minnesota Angel Tax Credit program; 
• No more than $8 million in equity raised prior to program enrollment; 
• Not disqualified from investment under Minn. Stat. 80 A.50 (b)(3), the Small Corporation Offering Registration disqualifications; 
• No securities traded on a public exchange; and 
• Ability to comply with U.S. Treasury SSBCI guidelines, including eligible use of proceeds, that no conflicts of interest exist, and that no principal of the business a sex offender.

The following uploads are requested as part of the enrollment application:

• Articles of Incorporation or Organization
• Minnesota Secretary of State business filing
• Financial statements:
  • Year-to-date financials for the current fiscal year
  • Three years of historical financials, as available (balance sheet, profit and loss statement and cash flow statements; audited or reviewed preferred). 
• Business plan
• If not included in your business plan:
  • Detailed management background for principal(s) and members of the board of directors 
  • List of advisors and their qualifications, including legal and accounting firms as applicable 
  • Investment plan for securing follow-on capital 
  • Proof of patent, license, or other proprietary intellectual property (IP) protection as appropriate, or narrative indicating how IP or proprietary processes or software will  be protected.
  • Strategy demonstrating a strong sustainable competitive advantage in growing market, including any barriers to entry 
  • Exit strategy for State investment and/or debt repayment 
  • Description of partnerships, collaborations or experiences that will enable commercialization and growth of the company 
  • Financial projections 
• Current capitalization table presented on a fully diluted basis; investor names, number of shares, and cost of investment are required to evaluate potential conflicts of interest and program eligibility criteria
• Sample investment contract, for example subscription agreement, convertible note or SAFE
• Letter of Interest from an accredited investor or fund that has identified the business or potential investment OR recent Angel Tax Credit (ATC) acceptance email

Enrollment applications will be processed upon receipt of all requested information, including the application attachments listed above.

Please see the list of Frequently Asked Questions available under the FAQ tab for answers to common questions about the program.

If you have questions about whether your business is eligible to apply, please consult the SSBCI Unit team at GrowthLoan.DEED@state.mn.us or call John Endris at 651-259-7452. 

Proof of Investment

Enrolled Businesses

DEED will issue the loan once the business provides proof of investments made during the defined funding round. The business should complete the Proof of Investment and Loan Request form. To request the loan, the business should submit that completed documents, as well as required supporting documentation, to GrowthLoan.DEED@state.mn.us. The Equity Investments Tracking Form portion of the document is available as an Excel spreadsheet upon request.

Supporting Documentation

For each investment, the enrolled business should submit the following supporting documentation:

• A copy of the signed investor subscription agreement, or other underlying transaction document, evidencing the investment;
• A copy of the investor's or fund's check made out to the business or wire transfer showing the accounts of the originator and beneficiary;
• A copy of the business' deposit receipt or bank statement showing the deposit of the check during the approved 12-month period.

Convertible Notes and Simple Agreements for Future Equity (SAFEs)

If convertible loans or simple agreements for future equity (SAFEs) have a non-conditional, mandatory conversion requirement, they are considered equity. It is mandatory that the convertible note or SAFE must convert, without condition, to equity within 36 months of the date the investment was made.

Businesses are encouraged to submit a proposed convertible note or SAFE to DEED for review before the investment is made to ensure the Notes or SAFEs meet program requirements.

DEED recognizes there may be additional instruments in the market that have similar equity conversion clauses. If you would like to inquire whether such an alternative instrument qualifies, please email GrowthLoan.DEED@state.mn.us or call John Endris at 651-259-7452.

Ineligible Investments

Investments made by the following are ineligible for consideration as part of the proof of investment:

• An officer (a person elected or appointed by the board to manage the business), or
• A principal (a person having authority to act on behalf of the business), or
• A person who owns, controls, or holds the power to vote 20% or more of the outstanding securities of the business, individually or combined with family members, or
• A family member (siblings, spouse, ancestors and lineal descendants) of the above.

FAQ

How do I get the maximum loan available?

The loan amount will be 20% of the stated raise. To be approved for a $400,000 loan, the applicant must raise at least $2,000,000.

Can I request a larger loan than approved in the enrollment letter if I raise more equity than anticipated?

The business may request a larger loan upon submission of its proof of investment and loan request. Any change must be approved by DEED and is subject to available funds. The loan amount shall not exceed $400,000.

What if I cannot raise the anticipated amount of equity funds?

The applicant will state the amount of equity they intend to raise. If the applicant cannot raise at least 70% of the estimated raise during the 12-month period subsequent to approval, the business will not be eligible for the loan.

If the business raises at least 70%, but less than the full amount, the loan amount will be lowered to 20% of the amount actually raised.

Are convertible loans considered equity investments?

If convertible loans have a non-conditional, mandatory conversion requirement, they are considered equity. It is mandatory that such debt must convert, without condition, to equity within 36 months of the date the note.

Are simple agreements for future equity (SAFEs) considered equity investments?

If simple agreements for future equity (SAFE) have a non-conditional, mandatory conversion requirement, they are considered equity. It is mandatory that the SAFE must convert, without condition, to equity within 36 months of the date of the agreement.

Can I get more than one loan from the GLF?

The applicant may receive up to two loans from the program, but the total loan amount may not exceed $400,000.

If I received a loan from the Angel Loan Fund (ALF), can I get a loan from the GLF?

Yes. However, the total loan amount may not exceed $400,000 between programs.

What if my business is based in Minnesota, but incorporated in Delaware or elsewhere?

The business must be headquartered in Minnesota to be eligible for a loan. It may be incorporated in another state. Evidence of the business filing with the Minnesota Secretary of State and a physical Minnesota address are required to apply.

Can anyone be an investor in my business?

At least one investment must be made by an investor that is qualified as an Accredited Investor per the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under Rule 501 of Regulation D or an angel or venture capital fund as defined in 17 CFR 275.203(l)-1. Not all investments made during the funding round are required to meet the accredited investor or venture capital fund criteria.

Are investments from owners, directors or family members qualified as part of the equity raise?

SSBCI must be a cause and result for private financing and is meant to facilitate new funding that would not occur without the assistance of SSBCI. No investment from an officer, principal, owner of 20% or more of the outstanding securities of the business (individually or combined with family members), or family member of the aforementioned individuals will count toward the equity raise.

What can the loan be used for?

Allowable loan uses include startup costs, working capital, equipment, inventory, the purchase, construction, renovation, or tenant improvements of an eligible place of business that is not for passive real estate investment purposes, and the purchase any tangible or intangible assets except goodwill. All uses must be exclusively for Minnesota operations.

What restrictions exist for the use of the loan?

Per 12 USC 5704(e)(7)(A)(i)(II) the loan proceeds cannot be used to:

• Repay delinquent federal or state income taxes unless the eligible business (as defined by SSBCI Policy Guidelines) has a payment plan in place with the relevant taxing authority; or
• Repay taxes held in trust or escrow, e.g., payroll or sales taxes;
• Reimburse funds owed to any owner for startup costs, including any additional equity injection for business continuance; or to purchase any portion of the ownership interest of any owner; or to buy out ownership shares of any limited or general partners;
• Purchase any portion of the ownership interest of any owner of the business, except for the purchase of an interest in an employee stock ownership plan qualifying under Section 401 of Internal Revenue Code, worker cooperative, or related vehicle, provided that the transaction results in the employee stock ownership plan or other employee-owned entity holding a majority interest (on a fully diluted basis) in the business.

Can I use the loan to reimburse myself for startup costs, pay off any debt or credit cards I've used to build the business, or buy out a partner?

No. The loan may not to be used for any purpose that falls under SSBCI's definition of refinancing, including retiring a debt, investment or other capital injection previously made by a founder or partner to start the business.

Can I use the loan to repay an investor to replace their ownership with another or reimburse an early investor?

No. The loan may not be used to repay any previous investor or debt. Capitalization tables evidencing that no prior investor debt was retired are required.

Can I use the loan to pay a dividends on preferred stock to investors?

No. SSBCI rules do not allow such payments.

What kind of businesses are not eligible for the GLF?

The program is limited to businesses engaged in, or committed to engaging in, technological innovation in Minnesota. In addition, the program is subject to SSBCI restrictions on type of business, which prohibit:

• Businesses engaged in speculative activities that profit from fluctuations in price, such as wildcatting for oil and dealing in commodities futures;
• Businesses that earns more than half of their annual net revenue from lending activities;
• Businesses engaged in pyramid sales, where a participant's primary incentive is based on the sales made by an ever-increasing number of participants;
• Businesses engaged in the production, manufacturing, processing, or distribution of controlled substances or products/services connected to be used in connection with an illegal activity. this category of businesses also includes direct and indirect marijuana businesses, as defined in SBA Standard Operating Procedure 50 10 6; and
• Businesses deriving more than one-third of gross annual revenue from legal gambling activities, unless the business is a Tribal SSBCI participant as defined as Class II and Class III gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), 25 USC 2703.