ACET

What ACET does

ACET, Inc. is a woman-and-minority-owned professional services firm headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, founded in April 1998 by Stella SiWan Zimmerman. The firm delivers culturally tailored program evaluation, technical assistance, database management, community engagement, and facilitation services to government agencies, healthcare organizations, tribal entities, and nonprofits. Its offerings are organized around four service pillars — Outcome Measurement, Collaborative Design, Community-based Engagement, and Events, Training & Technical Assistance — supplemented by a Grant Alert Tool that surfaces funding opportunities for clients. There is no proprietary technology platform; the firm's value rests on its human expertise in participatory and mixed-methods evaluation and its embedded relationships with Minnesota's diverse communities.

The company is structured as a sales-led, direct-engagement consulting firm. Pricing is project-based and quote-driven, with revenue generated through evaluation contracts, technical assistance engagements, and training/event work typically funded by government grants or nonprofit program budgets. Clients include the Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota Department of Human Services, Ramsey County, Hennepin Healthcare, the Great Plains Tribal Leaders Health Board, Proof Alliance, Touchstone Mental Health, the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, and the Shinnyo-en Foundation, among 100+ organizations served over its history. ACET's certified minority- and woman-owned business enterprise status provides preferential access to state, federal, and tribal procurement opportunities with diversity spending requirements.

ACET operates from a single Minneapolis office (10700 Normandale Blvd., Ste #201) and has grown from 6 staff during the pandemic to approximately 18 staff as of 2022-2023, prompting an office expansion. The firm remains founder-owned, with no external investors, parent company, or PE/VC ownership identified in the available data. ACET markets primarily through its website, blog, design gallery, and a grant alerts tool, targeting top-of-funnel awareness among Minnesota-based public sector and nonprofit buyers.

Name

ACET

Legal name

ACET, Inc.

Website

https://acetinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ACET, Inc. is a woman-and-minority-owned Minneapolis-based professional services firm delivering culturally tailored program evaluation, technical assistance, and community engagement to government agencies, healthcare providers, tribal organizations, and nonprofits across Minnesota and the broader Midwest.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Management Consulting Services

NAICS

Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Research Administration & Grants Management Support (Pre/Post-Award, Compliance) (EDAEALAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

DEI, Equity & Inclusion Advisory (BPACAJAJ), Global Health Research, Evidence & Technical Assistance Organizations (HLAJAKAN)

Keywords

• Program evaluation services
• Community engagement consulting
• Participatory research services
• Outcome measurement consulting
• Technical assistance services

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Professional Services and Consulting: ACET generates revenue through consulting engagements, evaluation contracts, and professional services including outcome measurement, collaborative design, community-based engagement, and events/training. Revenue is project-based and likely grant or contract-funded, given the client base of government agencies and nonprofits.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ACET provides culturally tailored program evaluation, surveys, focus groups, process design, assessments, participatory research, community and organizational engagement, events, trainings, and technical assistance to government agencies, healthcare organizations, tribal entities, and nonprofit organizations. The firm is organized around four core service lines (Outcome Measurement, Collaborative Design, Community-based Engagement, and Events, Training & Technical Assistance) and additionally maintains a Grant Alert Tool that identifies funding opportunities from foundations, government agencies, tribal organizations, nonprofits, and schools.

Product overview

ACET is a woman-and-minority-owned professional services firm that provides culturally tailored evaluation, research, and engagement services. The company operates as a single integrated service offering rather than a software platform, organized around four core service areas: Outcome Measurement (program evaluation, data management, quantitative analysis and survey design), Collaborative Design (capacity building, customized project design, qualitative analysis and storytelling), Community-based Engagement (community engagement, needs assessments, participatory research), and Events, Training & Technical Assistance (meeting design, event coordination, project management). Additionally, ACET offers a Grant Alert Tool that identifies funding opportunities for clients. ACET serves government agencies, healthcare organizations, tribal entities, and nonprofit organizations across Minnesota and beyond.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Outcome Measurement Program evaluation, data management, and quantitative analysis and survey design services that help clients measure outcomes and report on impact, including meeting state and federal funder requirements.
• Collaborative Design Capacity building for data use, customized project design, and qualitative analysis and storytelling services that help clients develop solutions collaboratively.
• Community-based Engagement Community engagement, needs and readiness assessments, and participatory research services that help clients understand and serve diverse communities.
• Events, Training & Technical Assistance Meeting design consultation, event coordination and facilitation, and project management and process improvement services.
• Grant Alert Tool A web-based tool that identifies hundreds of funding opportunities annually from foundations, government agencies, tribal organizations, nonprofit organizations, and schools to help clients identify and prepare for grant funding.

Quantifiable outcome

• Served 100+ organizations
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AcetEvaluation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ACET