Collider

05/28/2026

Supporting entrepreneurs has never been so refreshing! Join us for a pint at Little Thistle Brewing on June 4th. While you're sipping and socializing, please buy some raffle tickets for a chance to win prizes donated by generous local businesses.

Thank you Bleu Duck Kitchen, Tavern 22, Jimmy's Dressings and Dips, Official Vanicream and The Adventurous Sip for your contributions!

Link for more info in comments.

05/27/2026

Have a business idea you want to explore -- or an early stage venture you want to strengthen? Join Collider's 4-week, in-person CO.STARTERS bootcamp on Tuesday nights, 5 - 8 p.m. each week from August 4th to 25th.

Learn more and register today!

Turn Your Idea Into Action with a Proven Program and a Supportive Community

05/26/2026

Good vibes and an engaged crowd were the perfect way to kick off the week at Collider!

Our "Vibe Coding: Building Software Product Prototypes That Work" workshop featured practical tips, rapid prototyping and great conversation. Huge thanks to everyone who showed up ready to experiment, ask questions and dive in.

Similar workshops and collaborative learning sessions are definitely on the horizon, so stay tuned!

05/21/2026

There's still time to sign up for our free, beginner-friendly workshop "Vibe Coding: Building Software Product Prototypes That Work." It's on Tuesday, May 26 from 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. at Collider. Learn more and register here: https://www.collider.mn/events2/2026/5/26/vibe-coding-building-software-product-prototypes-that-work

05/18/2026

Since 2018, Collider has served as Rochester’s front door for early-stage entrepreneurs — connecting founders to mentorship, programming, relationships and the resources they need to grow.

Why does our current team love working with entrepreneurs?

🔶 Peter Burghardt, Executive Director: “I’m a builder by nature, and I love helping entrepreneurs figure out how the puzzle pieces fit together for a successful business. Rochester is full of talented people, innovation and opportunity, and it’s exciting to help new ideas take shape here.”

🔶 Megan Malugani, Interim Director of Communications: “Entrepreneurs are my people. There’s always a new idea, new challenge, new adventure — and never a dull moment! It takes an inspiring mix of courage, creativity and persistence to build something from scratch.”

🔶 Laura Elwood, Director of Community Engagement: “I love working with entrepreneurs because they live in possibility. They’re builders, risk-takers, visionaries in motion — and I come alive helping people turn ideas into something real, connected and meaningful.”

🔶 Juliana Silva, Director of Startup Services: “For me, it’s about helping people turn ideas into something real that can reshape their plans and create new opportunities for income and growth. I also love pushing them to take risks and try something new.”

Learn more about our team: collider.mn/aboutus.

05/13/2026

Any way you slice it, the camaraderie between the members of our coworking community and our staff can't be topped! 🍕

We enjoyed gathering for pizza and conversation today. Collider has added three new staff members in the past two months, and it was great for them to connect with our coworkers.

Our coworking community now includes 70 members — five added in the last two months —- and we value each one! It was also a pleasure to welcome to the party our floormates from the Southeast Minnesota Small Business Development Center - SBDC and Rochester Area Economic Development, Inc. (RAEDI).

Cheers to connecting!

05/08/2026

This beginner-friendly, energizing workshop is free and open to the public! Find out more and register: https://www.collider.mn/events2/2026/5/26/vibe-coding-building-software-product-prototypes-that-work

05/07/2026

Listen to the story of Denise Frey, founder of 4 Youth LLC , a professional drug prevention education program focused on helping families navigate difficult conversations with confidence and compassion.

After a long engineering career at IBM and a stint in custom cabinetry, Denise found herself drawn to nonprofit work and eventually to supporting those in the recovery community. She began by selling apparel featuring artwork created by people in recovery, then took the next step — developing workshops and educational programs that help parents talk with youth ages 8 to 12 about drug use, addiction, emotions, and creating safe spaces for honest questions.

“People don’t talk about drugs,” Denise says. Through 4YouthLLC, she’s working to change that.

This episode is sponsored by Fredrikson. Learn more at www.4youth.life.

https://www.collider.mn/rochesterrising/2026/4/22/episode-323

Collider is passionate about sharing the stories of local entrepreneurs and small business owners! Today we chat with Denise Frey, of 4Youth LLC, a professional drug prevention program. If you find value in this podcast, please consider donating and lending support to Collider’s efforts to share t

05/05/2026

Join Collider for a pint at Little Thistle Brewing on June 4th!

Raise a glass with us as we celebrate Rochester's emergence as a magnet for entrepreneurship in Minnesota!

🔶 A portion of the proceeds from this event will support Collider's work with the Rochester entrepreneurial community.

🔶 Collider's new team members -- Executive Director Peter Burghardt, Director of Community Engagement Laura Elwood and Interim Director of Communications Megan Malugani -- will be there to connect and toast what's ahead. (Director of Startup Services Juliana Silva will be there in spirit.)

Cheers to Rochester's entrepreneurs and supporters!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1987854705937?aff=oddtdtcreator

04/30/2026

Big things are happening at Collider 🚀

In Q1, our team:
• Supported 28 entrepreneurs through 132 hours of 1:1 guidance
• Welcomed new founders into our programs and coworking community
• Celebrated another successful CO.STARTERS cohort and Collider Cup
• Continued building Rochester’s front door for entrepreneurs

And the beginning of Q2 has also been busy -- we welcomed new leadership and team members, setting the stage for what’s ahead.

This work is only possible because of our partners, sponsors, and the incredible entrepreneurs who trust us to be part of their journey.

👉 Take a look at our full Q1 report and see the momentum in action.