In the far reaches of the mind, many people dream of leaving it all behind to lead a simpler life off-the-grid. For Linda Newman, owner of Points Unknown, the idea of packing up her Twin Cities-based life for rural Cook County, Minnesota, was all-encompassing.

After 23 years as a real estate appraiser, she hung it all up to share her passion for sled dogs, wilderness adventure and an off-the-grid lifestyle with others – but she didn’t go it alone.

That’s the beauty of owning and operating a business in northern Minnesota, central Minnesota or northern Wisconsin. You never have to go it alone. There is a wealth of business-focused resources and support available to help entrepreneurs live their dreams, grow their businesses and find success in their own way.


Linda found a network of business owners in Cook County who understood her challenges, celebrated her successes and shared resources for business growth. Linda grew her business knowledge significantly once she partnered with the Entrepreneur Fund. Linda opened doors for growth opportunities and business diversification with the support of her Entrepreneur Fund team. She worked with a business advisor, completed the ASCeND Leadership Development Program and received one-on-one technical marketing training. She also worked with a financial advisor and received an SBA Microloan to expand the wilderness guiding arm of Points Unknown. Today, she’s living her dream of operating a growing business from her very own land.

Learn more about Linda's path to success.

The Entrepreneur Fund Becomes a CNote Partner

The Entrepreneur Fund was pleased to welcome CNote as a new partner and capital source in September 2019. Together, the Entrepreneur Fund and CNote will help more local entrepreneurs access the financing they need to grow.

CNote is an award-winning, first-of-its-kind financial platform that allows anyone to make money investing in causes and communities they care about. With the mission of closing the wealth gap, CNote directs every dollar invested toward funding female- and minority-led small businesses, affordable housing and economic development through its nationwide network of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) community lenders.

CNote partners with CDFIs like the Entrepreneur Fund in communities across America, funding loans to small businesses and empowering local entrepreneurs like Linda Newman.

Linda’s success story was featured on the CNote blog in October 2019, to read more click below.