At MESA, our partners are more than just sponsors — they are champions of innovation, committed to strengthening Minnesota’s software economy. CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP) exemplifies this mission through its deep engagement with the tech community and unwavering support for software startups. As a MESA Premier Partner, CLA brings a powerful combination of national resources and personalized, industry-specific experience to the startups and entrepreneurs it serves.
Why CLA Supports MESA
“MESA’s mission resonates with us,” says Jeff Sellner, Principal at CLA and a leader in the firm’s technology practice. “We believe it’s our responsibility to help early-stage companies succeed. Supporting MESA is a natural extension of that.”
Jeff, who helped launch CLA’s tech practice more than 20 years ago, knows the startup journey well. “Early-stage companies need more than just a tax return. They need someone to talk to, someone to keep them on track. That’s where CLA comes in — we’re there at the beginning, and we scale our services as their needs grow.”
John Moroney, MESA president, shared, “CLA is a terrific resource, and we are grateful for their support. CLA’s focus aligns with ours, and Jeff is a well-known business leader who generously gives his time to the Twin Cities startup community. Having Jeff part of the MESA community is a real benefit to our mentees, mentors, and leadership.”
Built for Startups, Ready to Scale
CLA offers a comprehensive portfolio of services that includes accounting, tax, audit, outsourced finance, payroll, HR, IT security, transaction support, and strategic advisory — designed to grow with a company from startup through expansion.
What makes CLA stand out is how these services are delivered. Their model is built for flexibility, scalability, and affordability — especially important for early-stage and emerging growth companies.
“We intentionally keep our services economical at the early stage. If we can help a company start strong, there’s less cleanup later,” Jeff notes.
A Fractional Finance Team That Grows with Your Business
For many startups, CLA becomes a trusted outsourced finance team, handling everything from bookkeeping and payroll to implementing systems like QuickBooks or Sage Intacct. Their U.S.-based professionals serve as a seamless extension of the founder’s team. As companies mature, CLA brings strategic insight to support their next stage — whether that’s setting up stock incentive plans, planning a capital raise, or preparing for a sale.
“We want to be the trusted advisor who comes alongside entrepreneurs, helping them solve real-world problems,” Jeff said.
Deeply Rooted in the MN Tech Community
With origins dating back to the 1950s in St. Louis Park, CLA has remained strongly connected to Minnesota’s business landscape while evolving into one of the nation’s top 10 accounting and consulting firms. CLA remains privately held, aligning with its focus on serving privately owned companies.
“We serve privately owned businesses, and we believe in staying privately owned ourselves. That gives us better alignment with our clients,” Jeff said.
Jeff’s commitment to Minnesota’s tech community runs deep. He previously served on the board of Minnestar, and CLA continues to support MESA-allied organizations like Beta and Twin Cities Startup Week. Jeff and his colleagues at CLA are excited to grow their involvement with MESA.
