10.26.20
New Program Aims to Grow Innovation Capacity
Mary Willkom, Writer/Reporter, Inside Indiana Business
Excerpt
FORT WAYNE – The Northeast Indiana Innovation Center in Fort Wayne is launching a program designed to grow the region’s capacity for innovation. The center says the Innovator Mindset Mastermind program shares content created by entrepreneur Dennis Stauffer, which includes tools that can help business owners and entrepreneurs through an innovation capacity growth process. The tools include four, 90-minute discussions as well as peer-to-peer mentoring, community building and support.
In an interview with Inside INdiana Business, Women’s Business Center EmPWR Program Manager Sarah Lance said the immersive program is different than typical mastermind programs.
“Innovation capacity is something you can grow,” says Lance. “It’s different than your personality which might be kind of set. Innovation is something that you can continue to grow in and do better over time.”
The free, online program is being hosted through a virtual format that allows participants from around the state to take part. The monthly cohorts can be as big as 15, but Lance says ideally, the program aims to serve five to seven business owners in each cohort.
“Because we are sponsored by the SBA Office of Women Business Ownership, we are required to market to women, but the program is available to everyone,” said Lance. “And, we are certainly seeking to serve women as well as diverse and underserved entrepreneurs through the programming.”
