August 1-15th Twin Cities Networking Events

What's coming up in the Twin Cities the next few weeks + Workshop Updates and More inside!

Hi friends — welcome to the first Twin Cities Collective issue of August! Whether you’re a longtime subscriber or this is your first issue, this newsletter is your local guide to entrepreneur-focused events, networking, and community connection across the Twin Cities, out 1–2x a month.

Also: August marks 10 years of Twin Cities Collective. 🥹 What started as a way to bring local creatives, entrepreneurs, and small business owners together has taken a lot of forms over the years — events, podcasts, workshops, awards, community spaces, and now this newsletter.

Refocusing on Substack and this event roundup has honestly been amazing. I’ve realized how much I love highlighting local businesses and groups, attending networking events, and sharing where to go next — without needing to host every room myself. I still love teaching marketing, Notion, content creation, and systems, but this version of TCC feels really aligned: supporting the people already building community here, showing up in the rooms, and helping more Twin Cities folks find each other.

🎥 New Video Series: Collective Connections

I’ve tried a few different video series over the years. The first was Trails and Tales, where I interviewed people on walks — and honestly, people seemed to really love that one. But it was also a lot of work to go out of my way to interview one person, and then there was a lot of editing afterward.

I also tried another series called Come Network With Me, which I still love. This new series is kind of based on that idea, but I’m giving it a new name: Collective Connections.

The idea is simple: as I go to Twin Cities networking events, I’ll show you what the events actually look like — the room, the vibe, who it might be good for, and whether it’s worth putting on your calendar next time. I’m hoping to start doing this more consistently as I attend events, mostly as long as I remember to capture it while I’m there. 😅

Here’s a recent event recap

You can follow the series here — and I’ll also include videos in this newsletter as I make them:

• Instagram: @twincitiescollective

• TikTok: @twincitiescollective

• LinkedIn: Jenna Redfield

✨ Paid membership update

Quick note: I’m merging the perks for my two Substack memberships.

That means if you join the Twin Cities Collective paid plan for $5/month, you’ll get:

• 2 live workshops per month

• Monthly Notion office hours

• Access to the same member perks whether you subscribe here or through my other Substack, The Red Thread Toolbox

So if you’re already a paid subscriber on either Substack, you’re covered. If you’ve been thinking about joining, the $5/month plan now gets you both the local marketing / visibility side and the Notion + AI systems side.

I’ll be putting the Paid Members Links at the bottom of the page

🗓 August member workshops

Here’s what’s coming up next. If you are a member, scroll to the bottom to get discount codes below the paywall.

• Notion Office Hours — Wednesday, August 5 · online

• $10 for Non-Members, Free for Paid Subscribers

  Bring your messy Notion questions, workspace cleanup needs, or “how would you build this?” questions.

• Task Paralysis Is a Lie: Building a Daily System That Works With Your ADHD Brain — Wednesday, August 12 · 12 PM CT · online
  $10 for Non-Members, Free for Paid Subscribers

  A Notion + AI systems workshop for building a daily workflow that actually supports your brain instead of shaming it.

  

• AI for the Rest of Us: How to Use AI Tools to Market Your Business Without Losing Your Voice — August 19th 2026 · 12 PM CT · online
  $10 for Non-Members, Free for Paid Subscribers

  A practical marketing workshop for using AI without sounding generic, robotic, or off-brand.
  

  

Turns out the first half of August is busier than it looks — chamber breakfasts, a couple of women’s networking events, a golf outing, a clay target social, and even a two-day marketing conference, all before the State Fair and Renaissance Festival take over the back half of the month.

📅 Upcoming Twin Cities Events: August 1–15

Saturday, August 1

TeamWomen: Dress For Success | Volunteer Day

🗓 Saturday, August 1 · 10:30 AM–1:30 PM

📍 Dress for Success Twin Cities

🎯 TeamWomen members and anyone who wants to give back

🎉 A hands-on volunteer morning — a feel-good way to meet other TeamWomen members while supporting a great local cause.

💵 Free

🔗 More info

Tuesday, August 4

Wayzata Chamber: Morning MemberNet

🗓 Tuesday, August 4 · 7:30–9:00 AM

📍 Wayzata American Legion, Wayzata

🎯 Chamber members

🎉 An early-morning networking series on the first Tuesday of the month — light breakfast fare and a great way to start the day connected.

💵 Free

🔗 More info

TEDxMinneapolis 2026: Climate of Change

🗓 Tuesday, August 4 · 6:00–9:00 PM (lobby opens 5 PM)

📍 Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis

🎯 Anyone who loves big ideas — entrepreneurs, creatives, curious minds

🎉 A night of live TEDx talks exploring how we adapt to shifting emotional, social, professional, and cultural climates. This year’s theme: “Climate of Change — Shifting conditions spark new ideas.”

💵 Paid

🔗 Register

Minneapolis Speed Networking | NetworkNite

🗓 Tuesday, August 4 · 6:30 PM

📍 Red Rabbit, 201 N Washington Ave, Minneapolis

🎯 Business owners and professionals who want a structured way to meet new people

🎉 A fast-paced speed networking night — good if you want to skip awkward small talk and actually make a handful of new connections.

💵 Check ticket page for pricing

🔗 Register

Excelsior-Lake Minnetonka Chamber Monthly Member Meeting

🗓 Tuesday, August 4 · 8:30–9:30 AM

📍 Excelsior, MN (see chamber listing for host location)

🎯 Chamber members and prospective members

🎉 A casual morning meetup to network with fellow members and hear updates from the City and Chamber leadership. Good low-key way to start building west-metro connections.

💵 Free

🔗 Register

Wednesday, August 5

I-94 West Chamber: Coffee & Conversation at Rush Creek

🗓 Wednesday, August 5 · check listing for time

📍 Rush Creek, Maple Grove area

🎯 Chamber members, local business owners, and northwest-metro professionals

🎉 A casual coffee-and-networking gathering — easy, low-pressure, and a nice option if you’re building connections in the Maple Grove / I-94 corridor.

💵 Check listing for pricing

🔗 Register

COMPETE26: Building Minnesota’s Next Economy Together

🗓 Wednesday, August 5 · 8:00–10:00 AM

📍 McNamara Alumni Center, Memorial Hall, 200 SE Oak St, Minneapolis

🎯 Business, civic, nonprofit, higher ed, and cross-sector leaders interested in Minnesota’s economic future

🎉 A big-picture breakfast program for people who like strategy, regional development, and cross-sector collaboration. Expect thoughtful conversation about the future of Minnesota’s economy plus networking with leaders across sectors.

💵 Check registration page for pricing

🔗 Register

AGC Talks Minneapolis: What Does It Really Take to Be a Business Owner?

🗓 Wednesday, August 5 · 5:00–7:00 PM

📍 Brick x Mortar, 314 N 1st Ave 4th Floor, Minneapolis

🎯 Business owners and entrepreneurs

🎉 Arrive to network over hors d’oeuvres and drinks, then hear a TED-Talk-style talk from Kim Larson on the realities of business ownership before mingling to set future appointments.

💵 Free

🔗 Register

Eden Prairie Chamber: SBR — Networking + LinkedIn w/ BeeMuse

🗓 Wednesday, August 5 · 8:00–9:30 AM

📍 Eden Prairie, MN (see chamber listing for host location)

🎯 Small business owners who want AI/LinkedIn tools to feel less overwhelming

🎉 A Small Business Roundtable session on using LinkedIn and AI for sales and marketing — practical, not jargon-heavy.

💵 Paid

🔗 Register

ELMCC Quarterly Volunteer & Chamber Ambassador Social

🗓 Wednesday, August 5 · 8:30–9:30 AM

📍 Excelsior, MN (see chamber listing for host location)

🎯 Chamber volunteers, ambassadors, and anyone curious about getting more involved

🎉 A relaxed morning meetup to connect with fellow volunteers and Chamber staff while celebrating the work that goes into Chamber events.

💵 Free

🔗 Register

1 Million Cups Minneapolis/St. Paul

🗓 Wednesday, August 5 (and again Wednesday, August 12) · 9:00 AM

📍 Alternates weekly between Minneapolis and St. Paul (James J. Hill Center, St. Paul, and a Minneapolis location — check the site for that week’s spot)

🎯 Local entrepreneurs and anyone who wants to support them

🎉 A free weekly gathering where a local founder pitches their startup to the community and gets real feedback. Low-pressure, high-value if you love hearing what people are building.

💵 Free

🔗 More info

Thursday, August 6

Eden Prairie Chamber: Clay Target Classic

🗓 Thursday, August 6 · 12:00–3:30 PM

📍 See chamber listing for shooting range location

🎯 Business owners and community members, no experience necessary

🎉 Presented by EPC and Scheels — a stress-free clay target shooting event with a brief lesson beforehand. A fun, activity-based way to network instead of a standard mixer.

💵 Paid

🔗 Register

AGC Minnetonka: Professional Partners Visitor Day

🗓 Thursday, August 6 · 8:00–9:30 AM

📍 Keller Williams Premier Realty, 13100 Wayzata Blvd Suite 400, Minnetonka

🎯 Entrepreneurs and business owners curious about referral-based networking

🎉 A visitor day to see an AGC POD in action — meet members, observe how it works, and learn about referral-sharing and accountability. Coffee and bagels provided.

💵 Free

🔗 Register

Friday, August 7

Purpose Fueled Community: Friday Gathering

🗓 Friday, August 7 · 7:00 AM

📍 Multiple Twin Cities locations: Saint Paul (Dual Citizen Brewing), Plymouth (Luce Line Brewing), Eden Prairie (Fat Pants), Viking Lakes (Eagan) — pick your closest

🎯 Founders, leaders, and anyone craving connection that isn’t just business-card small talk

🎉 First-Friday-of-the-month gathering: someone shares a real, unpolished story, then you sit in small groups for a guided conversation that actually goes somewhere. Not your typical networking format.

💵 Paid

🔗 Register

Monday, August 10

2026 ELMCC Golf Outing

🗓 Monday, August 10 · 11:00 AM–6:30 PM

📍 Deer Run Golf Course, west metro / Lake Minnetonka area

🎯 Business owners and community members, seasoned golfers or not

🎉 A full day of networking and fun on the course, presented by TreeLine Wealth Management. A great option if you’d rather connect over a shared activity than a standard mixer.

💵 Paid

🔗 Register

TeamWomen: Headshots & Connection Hour at The Kickernick Building

🗓 Monday, August 10 · 4:00–6:00 PM

📍 Sarah Edwards Studios @ The Kickernick Building, Minneapolis

🎯 TeamWomen members who need an updated headshot

🎉 Get a fresh professional headshot and connect with other members over drinks and conversation — a stylish, low-key way to combine two to-dos in one.

💵 $50

🔗 Register

Tuesday, August 11

Innovate MN: AI Innovation for Business — Build Day

🗓 Tuesday, August 11 · 8:30 AM–4:30 PM

📍 University of St. Thomas — Minneapolis Campus, 1000 La Salle Ave, Minneapolis

🎯 Minnesota professionals, entrepreneurs, and business owners who want hands-on practice using AI at work

🎉 A full-day, in-person AI build day hosted by Innovate MN, Applied AI, and the Schulze Institute — designed to help people move from ideas to actual AI-powered workflows and experiments.

💵 Check ticket page for pricing

🔗 Register

Excelsior Chamber: Membership 101

🗓 Tuesday, August 11 · 9:00–10:00 AM

📍 Excelsior, MN (see chamber listing for host location)

🎯 Newer Chamber members or anyone curious what membership includes

🎉 A focused session on how to actually maximize your Chamber membership instead of letting the perks go unused.

💵 Free

🔗 Register

Eden Prairie Chamber: HR Roundtable

🗓 Tuesday, August 11 · 10:00 AM–12:00 PM

📍 Eden Prairie, MN (see chamber listing for host location)

🎯 HR professionals

🎉 An interactive roundtable focused on connection and shared learning — a welcoming, discussion-based format rather than a lecture.

💵 Paid

🔗 Register

Eden Prairie Chamber: Ladies in Leadership Luncheon — Leading Through the Noise

🗓 Tuesday, August 11 · 11:00 AM–1:00 PM

📍 Eden Prairie, MN (see chamber listing for host location)

🎯 Women in business in the Eden Prairie area

🎉 A quarterly networking and education luncheon series designed to inspire women and connect them with other professionals.

💵 Paid

🔗 Register

MnTech: Women Leading in Technology (WLiT) Happy Hour

🗓 Tuesday, August 11 · 4:00–7:00 PM

📍 Pinstripes, 3849 Gallagher Drive, Edina

🎯 Women in tech (or tech-adjacent) roles

🎉 A casual happy hour for the WLiT community — relaxed, after-work energy with a room full of women building careers in Minnesota tech.

💵 See listing for pricing

🔗 Register

Wednesday, August 12

Digital Summit Minneapolis 2026

🗓 Wednesday, August 12 – Thursday, August 13

📍 Minneapolis Convention Center, 1301 Second Ave S, Minneapolis

🎯 Marketing leaders, brand managers, digital strategists, and agency professionals

🎉 A two-day marketing conference with keynotes, breakout sessions, a Mastermind Hub, an exhibitor showcase, and a networking reception. A bigger-ticket option if you want a full conference experience instead of a single event.

💵 Paid ($795)

🔗 Register

Eden Prairie Chamber: Business@Breakfast Networking w/Junk King

🗓 Wednesday, August 12 · 7:15–8:30 AM

📍 Eden Prairie, MN (see chamber listing for host location)

🎯 Chamber members and local business owners

🎉 Every attendee gets a 60-second commercial to share about their business — a structured, come-as-you-are breakfast format.

💵 Paid

🔗 Register

NextUp Twin Cities: Paint & Sip

🗓 Wednesday, August 12 · time TBD — check listing

📍 See listing for location

🎯 Women in leadership (NextUp members and guests)

🎉 A creative, low-pressure way to connect — paint, sip, and get to know other women leaders in the room.

💵 Paid

🔗 More info

Hops and Handshakes: Monthly Networking Event

🗓 Wednesday, August 12 · 4:00–7:00 PM

📍 AXELS Restaurant, 2540 Cleveland Ave N, Roseville

🎯 North-suburbs business owners and professionals looking for a lower-pressure alternative to “pay to play” networking

🎉 A laid-back monthly happy hour — no pressure to register, guests always welcome, come as you are.

💵 Free

🔗 More info

Thursday, August 13

NIA Twin Cities E. Metro Member Meeting: Reclaiming Time Through Community

🗓 Thursday, August 13 · 3:00–5:00 PM

📍 Pathway Cowork, Lake Elmo

🎯 Business owners and professionals in the east metro

🎉 This month’s theme is leverage — sharing resources, borrowing trust, and using your network to multiply your time instead of doing everything solo.

💵 Free

🔗 Register

TCFF Film Industry Speed Networking

🗓 Thursday, August 13 · Doors 6:30 PM, speed networking 7:00–8:00 PM, continued conversation until 8:30

📍 Twin Cities Film Fest office, 5315 West 16th Street, St. Louis Park

🎯 Filmmakers, directors, producers, writers, actors, and other film-industry professionals

🎉 A fast-paced evening of timed networking rounds for people building teams and collaborations in the local film world. Bring business cards and a quick intro of what you’re working on.

💵 $15–20, free for TCFF members

🔗 Register

Friday, August 14

AGC Business & Bagels: Saint Paul

🗓 Friday, August 14 · 9:00–10:30 AM

📍 The University Club of Saint Paul, 420 Summit Ave, Saint Paul

🎯 Business professionals looking to close out the week with connections

🎉 A Friday morning mixer with coffee and bagels, plus a structured networking exercise built to help you meet the max number of fellow attendees.

💵 Free for members / $20 non-members at the door

🔗 Register

💬 Personal Note

August always sneaks up on me — one minute it’s the Fourth of July, the next the State Fair banners are up and Renaissance Festival ads are everywhere. This first half of the month is a good stretch to get ahead before things get busy again: a couple of chamber mornings, one good golf day, a clay target social, and a happy hour or two. If you’re local, I’d love to see you at one of these — say hi if you spot me!

It’s also my birthday month and Twin Cities Collective’s birthday month, so celebrations all around. 🥳 Ten years of TCC feels wild in the best way, and I’m really grateful to still be here, finding new ways to connect people and spotlight what’s happening locally.

— Jenna