Announcing The Curious Trade Collective
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Every great custom home has a long list of people behind it, including the professionals of the Curious Trade Collective. The plumber who solves problems nobody else sees, the electrician who makes a complicated design work, and the HVAC contractor balancing comfort and efficiency are just a few examples. The carpenter, tile setter, cabinet maker, painter, and countless others whose craftsmanship determines whether a project succeeds or struggles, are an integral part of this collective community.
The trades have always been the backbone of this industry. And yet, for a long time, they've largely been doing it alone. The Curious Trade Collective aims to change that by providing a supportive community for these skilled professionals.
Builders have had peer groups, and industry leaders have had conferences, summits, and networking events built specifically around helping them grow. But many trade business owners have spent years figuring things out on their own: learning through trial and error, solving the same challenges other companies have already solved, and carrying the weight of running a business without a strong community of peers around them.
That's exactly why we're excited to introduce the Curious Trade Collective.
What Is the Curious Trade Collective?
Over the last several years, The Curious Builder has built communities around one simple idea: people learn faster when they learn together. That philosophy has shaped builder-focused Collectives across multiple states, bringing together professionals who are willing to share ideas, ask questions, and help each other grow.
The Curious Trade Collective is the next evolution of that mission. It's a community built specifically for trade professionals who want to improve their businesses by tapping into the collective experience of others who understand the realities of the work. At its core, the Trade Collective is a forum for asking questions, exploring ideas, testing theories, and learning from people who are facing many of the same challenges you are.
What Happens at a Curious Trade Collective Event?
One of the things that makes the Collective format unique is its simplicity. When you arrive, you'll grab lunch, meet the people in the room, and quickly move into small-group discussions focused on one carefully selected business topic.
Here's what the afternoon looks like:
12:00–12:25 PM — Lunch
12:25–12:30 PM — Introductions
12:30–1:15 PM — Small Group Discussion Round One
1:15–1:25 PM — Break
1:25–2:25 PM — Small Group Discussion Round Two (with new groups and fresh perspectives)
2:25–2:30 PM — Key Takeaways
Groups are intentionally kept small (typically eight to ten people) so everyone has a chance to contribute. You'll hear what's working for others, share what's working for you, and walk away with practical ideas you can apply immediately.
Curious to see what an event looks like? Check out this blog!
Why the Curious Trade Collective Format Works
The construction industry doesn't need more people talking from a stage about how business should work. What most people need is access to other professionals who are actually living it. That's what has made the Curious Builder Collectives successful from the beginning.
When you put smart, experienced professionals in a room and create space for real conversation, people stop competing and start learning. Challenges become opportunities. Ideas get refined. Solutions emerge.
Again and again, Collective participants leave with actionable takeaways they can implement right away, along with relationships that continue long after the event ends. It's community over competition in practice. And that's exactly what the trades deserve, too.
The First Two Trade Collective Events
We're kicking things off with two topics that consistently come up when trade business owners talk about growth: Multiple Streams of Income on September 11th, 2026, and Sales and Marketing on November 13th.
This income session will explore ways trade companies create additional revenue streams, build resilience, and reduce dependence on a single source of income. It's a conversation about moving from simply doing the work to building a stronger business around the work.
This marketing session will focus on the business development side of the trades: the skills that help great companies get found, get hired, and continue growing.
Who Should Attend the Curious Trade Collective?
The Curious Trade Collective is built for business owners. It's for the HVAC technician who started a company and now manages a team of four. It's for the electrician trying to figure out how other companies are scaling. It's for the tile contractor who wants to stop competing solely on price.
It's for the cabinet maker, plumber, painter, roofer, landscaper, and specialty contractor who knows they're good at the work but wants to become even better at running the business. If you're looking for real conversations with people facing similar challenges, you'll fit right in.
Help Us Spread the Word
Builders, architects, and designers: this part is for you. Every project you've ever been proud of was made better by great trade partners. If you know a plumber, electrician, HVAC contractor, carpenter, cabinet maker, or specialty trade professional who would benefit from being in this room, send this their way.
The trade community deserves the same level of connection, collaboration, and support that builders have spent years building for themselves. And this is a chance to help make that happen.
Join the Curious Trade Collective
Seats are limited for both events, and registration is now open.
If you're a trade business owner in the Minneapolis area, or know someone who should be in the room, now's the time.
