It’s in our name. We help entrepreneurs in Minnesota and Wisconsin access fair and affordable financing to grow their business. It’s a big job, and we work diligently to get it done every day. But our commitment to small businesses goes much further than that, and it’s what sets us apart.
We call it our “secret sauce” (coined by our Director of Business Finance, Mike Lattery). Our secret sauce is what makes our organization and our client’s experience unique. Every day we partner with entrepreneurs by combining these key ingredients for growth and success:
Access to Capital + Strategic Business Advising = EFund
Most economic development organizations focus on either the loan side or the advising side, but at the Entrepreneur Fund we have a team of small business experts dedicated to each and housed under the same roof.
Doing this allows us to work with entrepreneurs at all stages and provide the capital and advice needed to reach their goals. We don’t just give you the money, and we don’t just give you the advice – it’s the two together that make the magic happen. And it’s why we have a 60% lower default rate on our loans compared to the national average.
“It’s hard enough to start and grow a business and to do it without support and help is even harder,” said Mary Mathews, who co-founded EFund in 1989. “That support and having somebody believing in them is really critical. And the capital and the financial resources on top of the technical assistance and peer support, it makes all the difference.”
We still stay true to our founder’s vision today. We pride ourselves on the relationships we build with our clients. Our goal is to come alongside you and provide quality lending and advising services with your best interest in mind.
As a nonprofit lender, we put our small businesses and our communities first. Combine our mission with our secret sauce and we’re out to make a BIG impact on small business in our region.
Don't just take our word for it, hear what our clients have to say...
“They care and they want you to succeed. If you want to put in the work, they will help you do it. They’ll put just as much work into finding the solution for you to succeed.”
- Randy Craft, Co-Owner of Animal Haven
“At one point, I called Mike Lattery, my advisor at Entrepreneur Fund, and said ‘This is a lot of money, and we’re spending a ton.' He told me: ‘You got this. You’re doing a good thing, and we believe in your business and what you’re doing.’”
- April Westman, Owner of Aunty's Child Care
"One of the things that is wonderful about the Entrepreneur Fund is that they're there with not only consultation, but with financing potentially to help my business grow. So it's a good feeling to have a partner along on that journey."
- Nicole Wilde, Owner of Love Creamery
“There were times I didn’t want to hear what they had to say. I respect them and may not have wanted to hear it, but I put the things they suggested into practice and it has made me a better person and a better businesswoman.”
– Deni Lorenzi, Owner of Serenity Tax & Bookkeeping
Ready to Grow?
We look forward to partnering with you on your goals for small business growth. To get started, please complete our Contact Us form and we will pair you with an EFund team member best suited to support you. Questions? Give us a call at (218) 623-5747 or email us at info@efund.org.
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