Hear from leaders in Minnesota’s innovation ecosystem about why they believe the state is rich with opportunity for founders—and why everyone should take a closer look at the strength and momentum of our startup and small business community.
Minnesota Small Business Landscape
- Amount of venture capital: 2,000+ venture capital deals to 1,000+ companies totaling nearly $11.5 billion in funding over the past five years (2020-2024). (Note: Includes all stages of venture capital investment)
- # of business applications: 453,576 new business filings (2020-2024)
- #of companies: 560,428 small businesses
- #of employees: 1.3 million
- Minnesota small businesses comprise 99.5% of all businesses in the state
- Small businesses employ 45.8% of all the state's employees
Sources:
Venture capital: DEED analysis of PitchBook Data, Inc. (2024).
Number of business applications: Minnesota Secretary of State.
Number of small companies, employees, percentages of small businesses and employees in the state: SBA Minnesota Small Business Profile (2025).
Note: Small businesses are generally defined by the Small Business Administration (SBA) as firms with fewer than 500 employees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a few additional resources to help founders get started.
- FAQs
- Business guidebooks
- 5 Steps to Start Your Business This checklist helps business owners move from idea to operation
- Business Compliance Checklist Make sure your business meets all legal and regulatory requirements in Minnesota.
Contact the Minnesota Small Business Assistance Office (a program of MN DEED) or Minnesota Small Business Development Centers (an SBA federally accredited program) for individual no cost consultation services.
The MN DEED offers a Minnesota Small Business Call on the second Tuesday of every month at 2:00 p.m. It allows owners to learn from business experts and peers on a variety of subjects.
In addition, check out the startup and small business calendar of partner events and webinars. Founders and business owners across any industry can find free events, trainings and networking opportunities.
The Support for Startups page is your go-to resource. This statewide effort is dedicated to the growth of tech startups in Minnesota and offers initiatives to connect the state tech startup ecosystem.
Accessible quality child care is critical for not only strong child development but also the economic stability of families and communities. Investing in Minnesota's communities opens doors for families, employers, businesses, and community organizations that need childcare to thrive so their community and economy can thrive.
The Office of Child Care supports and promotes the expansion of quality child care statewide and accessibility to child care for underserved communities. Minnesota's families deserve equal access to high-quality, affordable child care and early education.
Contact Minnesota's APEX Accelerator program, which provides technical and marketing assistance to all Minnesota businesses interested in selling their products and services to the government. We provide the necessary tools to be competitive in the contracting arena.
Founded in 1991, the APEX Accelerator is a program available through the Minnesota Department of Administration and is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the Department of Defense.
DEED offers loans, grants, tax credits and other resources to help small business owners funding their early-stage companies. Explore our resources
Yes. Starting January 1, 2026, Minnesota requires employers to provide paid leave to most workers. Learn who's eligible and how it works on the Minnesota Paid Leave website.
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See each of our individual program’s information by clicking the corresponding wedge in the graphic below:
