NextStage for Entrepreneurs

Communities Available: All of Scott County

Need a trusted advisor? Help to obtain funding to start or expand your business? We can help!

Small businesses provide the economic lifeblood for the communities we serve. These small firms generate the jobs and income that make an important difference for families and neighborhoods throughout our metropolitan region.

NextStage for Entrepreneurs provides one-on-one consulting, small group learning, and access to loan capital for businesses and entrepreneurs throughout Scott County, including within the full city limits of New Prague.  This program is provided free of charge to Scott County residents and businesses. It is closely integrated with other local programs aimed at providing assistance to Scott County entrepreneurs and businesses, including programs like the Scott County CDA Recovery Loan program, the Center for Entrepreneurship business Accelerator program located in Shakopee, and the Scott County FAST-TRACK Challenge.

NextStage is a local non-profit corporation that provides support, training, and financing assistance to Twin Cities metro area entrepreneurs through their planning, start-up, and growth phases. Lee Hall, NextStage founder and Scott County business advisor, has worked in the entrepreneurial development space for over 20 years, providing one-on-one coaching to thousands of early-stage entrepreneurs and growing small business ventures. His work outside of the non-profit field includes work for regional and community banks, where he learned the techniques- and limitations- of traditional commercial underwriting and consulting work as a fractional CFO for businesses in the restaurant, travel, fitness, and retail fields where he consulted with owner/operators who had founded successful small businesses but were challenged to manage growth, capital, and cash flow.  In addition, Lee has himself been an entrepreneur- owning and operating ventures in the retail and hospitality industries.

As a Business Advisor for NextStage, Lee brings the lessons and perspectives learned to assist early-stage and non-traditional entrepreneurs, helping them navigate and access capital/financial markets and apply practical, real-world business solutions to start-ups and smaller-scale ventures.

Get started by contacting Lee:
Lee Hall
612-331-0207
lee@nextstagemn.org

For other questions about this program, please contact Michael Werneke:
952-395-5122 or mwerneke@scottcda.org