Organization · Community
Forge North
Forge North is a coalition based in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota, focused on enhancing the startup ecosystem by uniting entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders. It aims to increase access to early-stage capital and promote racial equity within the startup community.
Overview
What Forge North does
What Forge North is
Forge North is a coalition based in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota, focused on enhancing the startup ecosystem by uniting entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders. It aims to increase access to early-stage capital and promote racial equity within the startup community.
How it participates in the startup ecosystem
The current public profile supports community and event host and publisher capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.
Operational profile
Organization status and context
Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.
- Operational status
- Active
- Organization type
- Community
- Founded
- Founded in 2017
- Approximate age
- About 9 years
- Structured capabilities
- Community · Event host · Publisher
- Last reviewed
- March 19, 2026
Official channels
Find Forge North elsewhere
Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.
Capability profile
Forge North as a community
Community overview
Forge North is a coalition based in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota, focused on enhancing the startup ecosystem in the region. It was established to unite entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders, and community members to foster a supportive environment for starting and scaling ventures.
Community focus
Forge North invests in early-stage startups across various sectors, including enterprise technology, food and agriculture, and health and medicine. The coalition aims to increase the number of startups raising early-stage capital and ensure that large enterprises in the region engage meaningfully with local startups. Additionally, it emphasizes racial equity by supporting startups led by founders of color.
Member value
Members benefit from access to a network of entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders, as well as educational resources and programs aimed at increasing diversity in angel investing.
Membership
- Pricing models
- free
Format and cadence
- Modality
- in-person
- Schedule
- rolling-admissions
- Commitment
- light
Availability
- Membership state
- Accepting
Audience and fit
- Audience
- Founders · Investors · Corporate Innovators
- Benefits
- network-access and mentorship
- Program types
- community
- Selection criteria
- open
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed
- Sectors
- Food & AgricultureHealthcare
- Regions
- United States
Community activity
Events and activity
Forge North hosts several events, including Angel Fest, an annual conference that connects and empowers angel investors in the region, and Twin Cities Startup Week, a major event that showcases the local startup ecosystem.
Notable members
Key members of the Forge North Leadership Council include Jessica Berg, Director of Minnesota Cup; Jason Breen, Senior Director, Enterprise Accelerators, Target; Brett Brohl, Managing Director, Techstars Farm-to-Fork Accelerator; and Mary Grove, Partner, Revolution’s Rise of the Rest Seed Fund.
Capability profile
Forge North as an event host
Event focus
Forge North invests in early-stage startups across various sectors, including enterprise technology, food and agriculture, and health and medicine. The coalition aims to increase the number of startups raising early-stage capital and ensure that large enterprises in the region engage meaningfully with local startups. Additionally, it emphasizes racial equity by supporting startups led by founders of color.
Format narrative
Forge North hosts several events, including Angel Fest, an annual conference that connects and empowers angel investors, and Twin Cities Startup Week, which showcases the local startup ecosystem.
Participant value
Forge North fosters a supportive environment for starting and scaling ventures by uniting entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders, and community members.
Format and cadence
- Event types
- conference and summit
- Recurrence
- annual
- Modality
- in-person
- Startups can present
- No
Availability
- Registration state
- Not currently accepting
Audience and fit
- Selection criteria
- open
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed
- Audience
- Founders · Investors · Corporate Innovators
- Sectors
- Food & AgricultureHealthcare
- Regions
- North AmericaUnited States
Speakers and past editions
Speakers
Key members of the Forge North Leadership Council include Jessica Berg, Jason Breen, Brett Brohl, Brett Carter, Mary Grove, Brian Gustafson, Amy Langer, Anisha Murphy, Sam Ndely, and Damola Ogundipe.
Past editions
Notable initiatives include the MSP Equity Fund, which targets investments in high-growth startups led by Black, Brown, and women founders, and the Catalyst Angel Program, which aims to increase the number of underrepresented angel investors in Minnesota.
Capability profile
Forge North as a publisher
Editorial focus
Forge North is a coalition dedicated to strengthening the startup ecosystem in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul region. It unites entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders, and community members to create a supportive environment for launching and scaling ventures. The coalition focuses on increasing the number of startups raising early-stage capital and fostering meaningful engagement between large enterprises and local startups, with a strong emphasis on racial equity by supporting startups led by founders of color.
Audience value
Forge North offers a collaborative platform for entrepreneurs and investors, focusing on early-stage capital access and promoting diversity within the startup community. By connecting various stakeholders, it aims to create a thriving ecosystem that supports innovative ventures and fosters economic growth.
Format and cadence
- Content formats
- blog
- Primary platform
- Website
Availability
- Guest pitch state
- Not currently accepting
Audience and focus
- Audience
- Founders · Investors
- Sectors
- Food & AgricultureHealthcare
- Regions
- North AmericaUnited States
Flagship work and coverage
Flagship properties
Key initiatives include the MSP Equity Fund, which invests in high-growth startups led by diverse founders, and the Catalyst Angel Program, aimed at increasing the number of underrepresented angel investors in Minnesota. Additionally, Forge North provides resources through the Angel Basecamp and publishes the MSP Hot List, a curated list of startups raising capital in the region.
Common questions
What to know about Forge North
Upseed classifies Forge North under the Community organization type. Its current public profile includes community, event host, and publisher capabilities.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
March 19, 2026
Known limits
Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.