Cohort Application Announcement

September 16, 2025

North Star Cannabis Consulting today announces the opening of applications for its Q4 accelerator cohort, expanding beyond its successful 16-participant beta program to support Minnesota's emerging craft cannabis industry.

The accelerator is the first cannabis business accelerator in the state of Minnesota. It addresses the critical challenge facing small cannabis businesses: an 80% failure rate among micro-businesses in newly legalized markets.

"We created this program because we saw talented entrepreneurs drowning in regulatory complexity while lacking the resources to compete with multi-state operators," said Jen Randolph Reise, founder of North Star Cannabis Consulting and head of the accelerator program. "Our 'we all win together' philosophy creates a collaborative ecosystem where small businesses can pool resources and expertise to succeed."

The accelerator serves as both an economic development initiative and an industry navigation service, providing entrepreneurs with regulatory guidance, vendor networks, community support, and accountability systems designed specifically for Minnesota's cannabis market.

The program's initial 16 participants—primarily first-time entrepreneurs and small business owners, including social equity applicants and people of color—are advancing through city licensing processes, securing real estate property, and navigating Office of Cannabis Management final licensure paperwork. The first participant business openings are anticipated within weeks.

"The accelerator connected me with the exact vendors I needed and helped me understand which city requirements to tackle first," said Christopher Benben, a social equity applicant working toward opening a retail store in Minneapolis. "Without this guidance, I would have spent months and thousands of dollars figuring out the process alone."

Minnesota's craft-inclusive approach to cannabis legalization prioritizes small businesses and social equity over large multi-state operators. However, the state has issued only 22 microbusiness licenses to date, highlighting the ongoing challenges entrepreneurs face in navigating the complex regulatory environment.

"Unlike other industries where entrepreneurs can learn from established markets, Minnesota's cannabis entrepreneurs are building from seeds up with no interstate product flow," explained Reise. "Our accelerator provides the collaborative infrastructure these businesses need to launch successfully and sustainably."

The accelerator offers weekly educational webinars, peer networking, trusted vendor referrals with exclusive discounts, resource libraries, and reduced-rate private consulting access. Participants benefit from built-in accountability systems and shared industry intelligence that individual consultants cannot provide—and at a price that bootstrapping, pre-revenue entrepreneurs can afford.

The program explicitly excludes multi-state operators, focusing instead on entrepreneurs committed to Minnesota's craft cannabis vision of community-centered, locally-owned businesses.

Minnesota's Office of Cannabis Management has finalized the regulatory framework for the state's adult-use cannabis industry, and more than 3,500 business license applications were submitted. After the licensing lotteries scheduled for May and June 2025, there continue to be more than 1,500 applicants working towards a microbusiness license in Minnesota.

Applications for the North Star Cannabis Accelerator’s next cohort are due September 30, 2025– timing that allows participants to submit applications following the Legacy Cup event. Acceptance announcements will be communicated by October 8th, 2025.

Apply by September 30th

Click Here to Apply