Amplifying stories from the Rochester, MN entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Collider Launches Second CO.STARTERS Cohort
Local Starters to Participate in 10-Week Business Education Program
Rochester 501(c)3 nonprofit Collider Foundation is excited to announce the launch of their second CO.STARTERS cohort to assist local entrepreneurs on Tuesday, January 31st. This ten week program equips starters of all kinds with the insights, relationships, and tools needed to turn their business ideas into actionable results.
Throughout the course of this program, starters will enter into a local facilitator-led, collaborative process with a small and supportive group of like-minded peers. Working together, they will develop and fine-tune their ideas, critically examining every part and determining next steps through real-time feedback from people in the community. This approach enables entrepreneurs to rapidly uncover flaws in their concepts and find viable models more quickly. Each starter will leave the CO.STARTERS program with a deeper understanding of how to create a sustainable business and repeat the process with their next great idea.
Prior participants of the program have given us the following feedback regarding their experience:
“Collider is a critical resource in the Rochester Entrepreneur Ecosystem. They provide a centralized resource for education and mentoring. Collider (and the Co.Starter program) helped our startup solidify our messaging and prepare for a successful launch,” David Razidlo
“I took the Co-Starters program through Collider. It answered so many questions that I had about entrepreneurship and small business. I learned so much. I made friends with other local entrepreneurs and we are still keeping in touch to encourage and help each other,” Jamie West
CO.STARTERS participants at the Collider Cup, September 2022
CO.STARTERS Core will run every Tuesday night from 5:30-8:30PM at Collider Foundation’s coworking location within the Minnesota Biobusiness Center from January 31st through April 11th. The program will end with a public pitch celebration, called the Collider Cup, on April 18th. This 10-week program costs $150 per participant, which includes the curriculum, facilitation through Rochester-based certified CO.STARTERS Core facilitators, and access to a community of support. 11 individuals are currently enrolled in the program; space is still available for interested entrepreneurial starters.
Collider Foundation believes that the support, education, and growth of our entrepreneurial ecosystem is a pathway to a more prosperous and inclusive future for the Rochester community. We as an organization aim to identify and assist local innovators in overcoming barriers to success by empowering an impactful, inclusive, and entrepreneur-first ecosystem. We are excited to have had the opportunity to fulfill our mission through CO.STARTERS and offer assistance to local entrepreneurs through this cohort.
CO.STARTERS at Collider is supported by Think Mutual Bank, Fredrikson & Byron, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, and Launch Minnesota.
For additional information contact Amanda Leightner at amanda@collider.mn or call (507) 722-0306
More in common than you think. What for profit and nonprofits have in common.
When you live in the world of nonprofits, you can begin to think you have little in common with for-profit companies, but truth be told…the two types of organizations have far more in common than most people think.
Photo by Corrie Strommen
Both organizations need startup capital. While our for-profit brethren get it through investors who provide seed funding, our nonprofit leaders find their own angel investors (aka donors) who provide that same needed seed funding. Both organizations need to create a budget, stretch resources to meet mission, and use marketing to convince other groups that they bring unique value to the world around them. In fact, more and more for-profit companies are being founded as social ventures, creating a continuum of mission-driven venture structures and further blurring the lines.
This then begs the question, why does anyone assume nonprofits are not also thriving businesses with a goal of meeting the needs of their customers and providing value in the world? The answer is simple. Nonprofits have felt and acted as if they were different. With a focus on philanthropy and fundraising…and (let’s just go ahead and get it out there) a sometimes subtle distain for making money…. that created a different vocabulary around revenue, there has been a desire to differentiate based on mission.
Can we stipulate that generating revenue is needed in order for the mission to happen? If so, then the difference comes down to who is paying for what. In nonprofits the goal is often for donors and grants to cover the cost of the product or services, while for-profit organizations strive to have a product or service that people are willing to pay for. More nonprofits are beginning to see that the commercial freemium model can be applied to nonprofits. In that case the free service is provided for those who cannot (or should not) pay, while the same service can be offered and paid for by those who can. In the end, it comes down to finding the right customers, breaking them into the correct groups, and knowing what to offer to them.
So, why consider nonprofits differently? Well, because no matter how amazing they are, or how popular their service is, at the end of the day, the profits are not going back to an owner or shareholder. They go right back into the mission. Thus with no profit motivation, they are uniquely positioned to make sure they put the needs of the “customer” before all else. That type of focus can lead to wonderful discoveries and innovations in customer engagement.
With so much in common, perhaps it is time to value our commonalities and celebrate how we can learn from each other. Applying concepts like ideation, design thinking, business modeling, and user experience to our nonprofit business practices can serve our mission and expand our organizational capacity. Conversely, for-profit businesses can apply the principles behind nonprofit mission-driven models and customer focused delivery to improve their on-ground application of values in the workplace. They can use philanthropy models to appeal to for-profit investors, and run lean marketing efforts and rely more heavily on the public to support their message.
At the end of the day, it turns out we all bring assets to the table, and being open to learning from others is what will drive us forward. Entrenching in our old ways of doing business will only end up hurting the mission while those around us learn to leverage the best of both worlds.
Christine Beech
Collider is Hiring!
Collider Foundation is a Rochester, MN based nonprofit that activates, connects, and empowers early stage entrepreneurs. We believe in a community with zero barriers to entrepreneurship for anyone with a strong business idea and the passion to see it grow.
Collider is seeking two individuals who are passionate about the entrepreneurial community of Rochester to fill the roles of Collider’s Community Manager and Director of Navigation.
Community Manager:
Collider Foundation is now hiring a part time Community Manager for our location in downtown Rochester, MN. In this role, you’ll lead our coworking services, managing the day-to-day activities in the coworking space and serving as the main point of contact for our coworking members. This is a great opportunity for someone who is passionate about community and feeds off of interaction with others.
This position is 25 hours a week, Monday through Friday, 5 hours a day during normal business hours.
Job Description:
Operate the day-to-day activities in the coworking space, including giving tours, answering questions about the space, and problem solving any issues that arise during the course of the day.
Onboard and welcome new members to the coworking space.
Maintain monthly invoicing and payments from coworking members.
Co-create community building activities and events with coworking members.
Work with the Executive Director to develop messaging and outreach strategies to recruit and retain coworking members.
Important Attributes:
Strong attention to detail.
A passion for customer service.
Basic experience with Google Workspace tools.
Basic experience with point of sale software.
Prior sales experience (nice to have, but not required)
Pay range for this position is $15-17/hour based on experience and qualifications.
Director of Navigation:
Collider Foundation is now hiring a full time Director of Navigation position for our location in downtown Rochester, MN. In this role, you’ll lead our resource navigation services, a critical part of our organization, and connect Rochester entrepreneurs into community business resources to remove or reduce barriers they are facing. This position is 40 hours a week, primarily during normal business hours.
Job Description:
Meet 1:1 with local entrepreneurs to understand their needs and quickly connect them into community resources.
Keep a finger on the pulse of gaps and opportunities in the Rochester entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Maintain the day-to-day operations of our resource navigation work, including managing contractors and maintaining hourly logs and data entry.
Develop internal and external resources to support these services.
Serve as a liaison between the community and our organization.
Important Attributes:
Strong communication and organizational skills.
Prior management experience.
Basic experience with Google Workspace tools.
Strong active listening skills.
A passion for small business and entrepreneurship.
Prior grant or contract management experience.
Strong data entry and data management skills.
Ability to work independently and as part of a small team.
Prior business experience. (nice to have, but not required)
Bilingual. (nice to have, but not required)
Pay range for this position is $48,000-55,000/year based on experience and qualifications.
Collider is a young nonprofit with a growing team. If you are excited by the opportunity to work alongside entrepreneurs every day and want to make a real impact, this is the right place for you.
Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled. Interested individuals should send their resume and cover letter to hello@collider.mn.
Apply to join the Collider Team in serving
entrepreneurs in Rochester!
Photo by William Forsman.
Collider Has Moved!
The team here at Collider is excited to announce that we have grown and officially moved into a new coworking space! We are now located on the 6th floor of the Minnesota BioBusiness Center and share the space with several other organizations such as Rochester Area Economic Development Inc. (RAEDI), the Southeast Minnesota Small Business Development Center (SBDC), the African Development Hub, SCORE, Southeast Minnesota Capitol Fund, and the Black Entrepreneurship Team.
We have been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to expand into a larger space to better accommodate and serve the Rochester entrepreneurial community and anticipate that a lively and collaborative spirit will thrive here, surrounded by many like-minded individuals and organizations.
We hope that you will take the time to visit, join us for upcoming events, and enjoy the new space as much as we do! If you wish, please reach out with ideas and feedback regarding the space. We will always strive to create an inclusive, supportive, and welcoming space for all that come through our doors, whether that be as an entrepreneur seeking business assistance or someone looking for a coworking community!
Thank you for your ongoing support of Collider’s mission, team, and growing community!
If you’re interested in scheduling a tour or learning more about our coworking options, you can email us at hello@collider.mn!
Q&A with Kyle Glowa of A World of Scents Candle Co.
Collider is passionate about sharing the stories of entrepreneurs and small business owners in Rochester! Check out this Q&A with Kyle Glowa who makes and sells homemade candles through his business, A World of Scents Candle Co.!
Photo contributed by Kyle Glowa.
Q: What brought you to Rochester and what keeps you around?
A: I grew up just 20 minutes away in Mantorville, so I’ve spent most of my life in the Rochester area. After being away during college and for a job post college, I ended up moving back to be close to family and to enjoy the amenities Rochester has to offer. It’s pretty nice living in a city with very little traffic and small town, friendly vibes.
Q: In what year did you launch your business?
A: I technically launched my business in 2018 while living in Crookston, Minnesota. However, my first sales event was at Mantorville’s Marigold Days in 2017.
Q: How has your business grown and changed since first opening?
A: I started my business with a VERY small amount of money, so my operation and supplies were very limited at the start. Since then, I have snowballed everything back into the business, allowing me further testing of products, new fragrances, growth into local shops, and better supplies and branding. During the pandemic I had the time and drive that it took to create a website for myself as well!
Q: What are some challenges you faced while starting your business and during the pandemic?
A major challenge I faced starting my own business was becoming an amateur professional at everything. A small business owner that’s just beginning usually operates on a tight budget, so you learn to do a little bit of everything to save a dollar. Need labels? Learn some graphic design and printing. Need to charge taxes? Learn the laws and tax rates. Need a website? Learn how to build one. Every little decision and hurdle takes time to learn about and navigate. It can be quite a challenge to take on!
The pandemic was an interesting time for me. Sales really slowed down, luckily not having a storefront meant I did not have rent to pay or have operating expenses while not doing business. Being affected by the pandemic in a more minor way definitely opened my eyes to the struggles that our local businesses went through. I couldn’t imagine the stress on local shop and restaurant owners with monthly overheads! It was this that pushed me to support local more than ever during the pandemic, and I feel for all the businesses that unfortunately didn’t make it through.
Before the shutdowns, I only ever sold at in person shows and events. The pandemic pushed me to grow by creating a website for myself and promoting online sales. Since shows have started again, I have run into another interesting side effect… COVID can affect and change the sense of smell. At nearly every show over the last two years, I have met people who cannot smell my candles due to total loss of smell, or since getting COVID have not been able to find a candle that doesn’t smell like burning plastic, chemicals or some similar acrid smell.
Q: What initially drew you to candle making and inspired you to make it a business?
A: Candle making really came to me as a hobby while I was job hunting after college. I wanted to find a hobby for myself where I could create something tangible and usable. I was between soap making and candle making, but I’m glad I decided to go with candles. My whole life, any time I found candles in a shop, I had to smell every single one before I could leave. It was a natural choice I suppose!
Once I began creating candles, however, I found that I couldn’t burn them fast enough. My stock kept building and building, so for the first year I gave away as many as possible to family and friends. Eventually I decided that it was time to try to sell them, as I still had too many. Turns out you can’t really sell most products legally without registering with the state and charging taxes. So I unknowingly stumbled into becoming a business!
Photo contributed by Kyle Glowa.
Q: Tell me about the process! What are the steps to making a candle?
A: Share my trade secrets?! Well… okay, if you’re going to twist my arm. It’s a pretty straightforward process, but it does take a lot of testing to get it right consistently. On a basic level you are taking your raw wax and heating it up until completely melted, then adding your fragrance blend and dye (if you choose to use it), letting it cool a bit while mixing it all together, pouring it into your vessel, and finally letting it cool completely.
The testing comes in with needing to find the appropriate wicks for your vessel size, fragrance load and dyes. Every variable added can affect how the candle burns. You also need to adjust your mixing and pouring temperatures depending on the wax. The wax quality can vary quite a bit box to box when it comes to soy wax, so that part can be a little frustrating as well! We test-burn a lot of candles at home, and I’m constantly monitoring them and taking notes to make sure they’re burning properly and throwing the fragrance well.
Photo contributed by Kyle Glowa.
Q: How do you design your scents?
A: I take a unique approach to designing some, but not all, of my fragrances. I really enjoy pulling inspiration from my personal travels and experiences. While hiking, camping, or sightseeing, I will occasionally pick up on a unique fragrance and become inspired. Once home, I will blend oils trying to replicate the memory of the smell. My biggest success with this so far is my North Shore Nights fragrance, it was actually inspired by a camping trip spent in the Finland State Forest on the North Shore of Lake Superior. It’s a unique blend of pine, fir, cedar, and smoke that has become my top selling candle year after year.
Q: Where can people find your candles?
A: They can be found year-round on my website, www.worldofscentscandle.com which offers local delivery and pick up, as well as shipping. I also do many in person events throughout the year, mostly between September and December. Follow my facebook page for info on upcoming events, or check out the Upcoming Events section on my website!
I also rotate fragrances through a few local store fronts:
Threshold Arts - Downtown Rochester
Kismet Consignment - Downtown Rochester
The Cre8tive Place - Plainview
Q: Any big plans for the future?
A: Absolutely! I’m currently testing a whole new line of more premium candles that will differ completely from everything I’ve offered thus far. I’m also looking to expand into more stores in and around Rochester in the very near future!
Photo contributed by Kyle Glowa.
Q: What do you like to do outside of work and running your business?
A: When not working at Thesis Beer Project or making candles, I like to get outside for hiking, kayaking, and snowboarding depending on the season. I’ve also picked up rock climbing at Roca, which is an amazing climbing gym that we have right here in Rochester. I’ll admit that I spend more time playing video games than I probably should as well, I’m a pretty big gamer. We also got a kitten a month or two ago, so between cuddles and playtime, Obi eats up a pretty good chunk of my time.
Thanks so much for reading about Kyle and his business! For more information on his candles and upcoming events, click the link below!