05.07.21
Partnership Aims to Ease Entrepreneurial Struggle,
Tammy Allen, Director | Marketing & Programs, The NIIC
LivePlan Now Available for Indiana Small Businesses
May 7, 2021, Fort Wayne, Ind.— Entrepreneurs often struggle with the business planning aspects of preparing an investment pitch, the financial statements that accompany them, and walking through crucial elements of their business model. In partnership with Palo Alto Software, The NIIC announces it will provide access to this high-value tool to at least 50 small businesses in Indiana. Access is at no charge for a defined period of time for accepted participants through The NIIC’s WBC EmPWR Program.
“LivePlan provides structure and consistent methods to navigate the entrepreneur through the maze of choices and decisions to tell their story more credibly with investors, financial institutions, and other stakeholders. If you have struggled in the past or want to have a tool to take your business planning to the next level, LivePlan is worth the time you invest,” said Karl R. LaPan, NIIC President and CEO.
According to Palo Alto Software, companies that plan and track against their plan experience 30% faster growth than those that don’t. LivePlan cloud-based software provides the tools needed for small businesses to achieve this.
- One-page plan template for a fundable business plan;
- A step-by-step planning process, including prompts and tutorials within the platform;
- Automatic financial tools and dashboards for planning, budgeting, forecasting, profit and loss, key financial assumptions, etc;
- Industry benchmark planning, performance dashboards, and smart budgets and forecasts tools; and
- 500+ sample plans.
Sarah Lance, NIIC WBC EmPWR Program Manager, describes LivePlan as an amazing platform, business plan-making magic. “It has tools and features to build your business plan and also to plan for long-term sustainability. I encourage small business owners to either work the plan at their own pace or pair it with WBC EmPWR one-on-one business coaching,” said Lance.
“It is always exciting to see the innovative programs and resources the WBC EmPWR Program discovers and offers to their clients,” said U. S. Small Business Administration Acting Regional Administrator and Indiana District Director Stacey Poynter. “It’s an honor to have them as a resource partner providing ideas, access and solutions to Indiana entrepreneurs.”
The process is easy. Apply here. Please note you must login at least weekly to continue your complementary three-month access. Longer access may be granted if you are making progress toward your plan.
https://northestindianainnovationcenter.formstack.com/forms/empwr_2021live_plan
Login credentials will be sent upon processing of your application.
Contact: Tammy Allen, Director, Marketing & Programs, info@niic.net, 260-407-1731
About WBC EmPWR Program
The Women’s Business Center (WBC) EmPWR Program is funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Women’s Business Ownership and serves clients in 83 Indiana counties. The EmPWR Program brings together the experts, resources and tools business builders need to get back on track from COVID-19. We specifically serve women-owned businesses – from individual entrepreneurs to businesses with many employees in multiple locations. We work with anyone who needs our support. For more information, visit https://niic.net/empwr/.
About The NIIC
499 new products launched, 196 patent applications submitted or granted, and 2,351 jobs created—that is what entrepreneurs have achieved through The NIIC since its inception two decades ago. The NIIC has also connected Northeast Indiana companies to attract $100.4 million in grants and capital.
The NIIC is a non-profit, vibrant entrepreneurial community designed to advise entrepreneurs to plan, launch, and grow successful business ventures. The NIIC bolsters innovative companies to move ideas into action. The NIIC is located in a designated U.S. Small Business Administration HUB Zone. In April 2018, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb designated The Northeast Indiana Innovation Park Campus as an Opportunity Zone through the U.S. Treasury. The NIIC is the country’s only ISO9001:2015 registered business incubation and acceleration program. Additionally, the International Business Innovation Association (inbia.org) recognized the NIIC as the 2020 Entrepreneur Center of the Year – Mixed-use and awarded it one of the two prestigious industry awards – the 2020 Dinah Adkins Award. TheNIIC.org. Click here for The NIIC press kit.
# # #
