Welcome to the Minnesota SBDC Peer Resource Hub—a space built by the SBDC, for the SBDC. This online library is designed to be a living collection of tools, trainings, videos, and best practices to support our work across the state. Whether you're onboarding new staff, refining processes, or looking for fresh ideas, this hub is here to make collaboration easier and more effective.
One of our key initiatives, the Peer Consultant Exchange, fosters shared learning and collaboration among SBDC consultants. You'll find recorded sessions, insights, and resources that highlight best practices and innovative solutions from across our network. Additionally, we’ve developed custom AI-powered chatbots to assist Minnesota SBDCs with marketing, financial planning, and operations—helping us work smarter and serve clients more effectively.
I encourage you to explore, share, and contribute. If there’s something missing that would help you or your team, let us know! This resource hub will continue to grow with our network, strengthening our collective impact.
Let’s keep building something great together.
Your hub for all things KEP! This year’s event takes place in Rochester, MN, bringing together Minnesota SBDC professionals for three days of collaboration, learning, and inspiration. On this page, you’ll find the agenda, session materials, downloadable content, and updates related to the event. Whether you're attending in person or following along remotely, this is your go-to source for everything you need before, during, and after KEP 2025.
KEP is the Minnesota SBDC’s can’t-miss annual conference — and this year, we’re heading to Rochester!
Join consultants and staff from across the state for high-energy keynotes, interactive breakouts, AI tools in action, marketing and finance strategies, and peer-led sessions packed with real-world value.
It’s a time to recharge, reconnect, and leave with new tools, fresh ideas, and momentum to bring back to your region. Let’s grow together — and have a little fun while we’re at it.
Managing clients isn’t always easy—but it’s a skill that can make or break your effectiveness as a consultant. In this session, SBDC consultants share real-world techniques, mindset shifts, & communication strategies that have helped them strengthen client relationships, set healthy boundaries, & guide clients toward meaningful progress. Whether you’re new to consulting or looking to sharpen your approach, this session offers relatable stories and practical tools you can start using right away.
AI is transforming business, and as an SBDC consultant, you can stay ahead with America’s SBDC AI U. This quick certification will help you integrate AI into your advising, saving time and boosting impact. Get certified and level up your work today!
Fun fact: 83% of surveyed MnSBDC consultants plan to complete the AI certificate and use AI to better support small businesses.
Click here to get started.
Developed by Northland SBDC, Know Your Numbers helps small business owners understand their financials, manage cash flow, and make informed decisions for long-term success. Check out the video below from our January 2025 Peer Consultant Exchange, where Curt Walczak shares the background and development of this program. The workbook and worksheets are also available for download.
The North Central SBDC Small Business Basics Guide is a practical resource designed to help small business owners navigate key financial and lending concepts with confidence. It provides clear explanations of essential financial terms such as cash flow, balance sheets, credit scores, and various types of loans. The guide also introduces the 6 C’s of Credit, outlining what lenders consider when evaluating loan applications, and offers a step-by-step breakdown of financial statements, including balance sheets, profit and loss statements, and cash flow reports. With real-world examples and simplified explanations, this guide empowers entrepreneurs to improve their financial literacy, understand business financing options, and make informed decisions for long-term success.
This bot is designed to help internal users of the MnSBDC understand and follow the Minnesota Small Business Development Center (MnSBDC) policies and operational guidelines, ensuring high standards of client service and compliance with legal requirements.
This bot consolidates insights from six Speed Sharing sessions into one chatbot, enhanced by online sources, to assist consultants and clients. It covers trends, myths, succession planning, cybersecurity, client management, and budget solutions, ensuring quick access to vital information for better support and decision-making.
This assistant helps users craft client success stories by guiding them step-by-step, asking targeted questions to gather key details about the client's journey, challenges, and achievements. It focuses on creating a thorough and engaging story at a comfortable pace, with an option for a shorter version for social media.
Your guide to finding and customizing prompts from the "101 AI Prompts for SBDC Advisors" handbook. Helps business consultants select appropriate prompts, tailor them to specific client needs, and format them for use in ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini. *Click the welcome message within to begin!*
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