News

The Northeast Indiana Innovation Center has announced a partnership to help Hoosier small businesses grow. The Fort Wayne-based business incubator says the partnership with Palo Alto Software in Oregon will provide at least 50 businesses throughout the state access to a tool that can help prepare and develop business models.

The businesses selected will be given access to LivePlan, a cloud-based software platform designed to help businesses go through the step-by-step process to build a business plan and also plan for long-term sustainability. The NIIC says access to the software is being provided at no charge for a defined period of time through its Women’s Business Center 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,” Karl LaPan, chief executive officer of the NIIC, said in a news release. “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.”

Business owners interested in the program can apply by clicking here. The NIIC says the participants selected for access must log in at least weekly to continue the complementary access, and longer access may be granted if participants make progress toward their business plans.