News Category: NIIC News
03.29.24
Remembering Mayor Tom Henry
“The NIIC expresses our heartfelt condolences at the passing of our dear friend, Mayor Tom Henry. Tom was a big supporter of our efforts and I personally remember him just walking in by himself to visit and talk with entrepreneurs in our building. He was truly interested in the people behind the companies and what they were doing. You will be very much missed Mayor Henry.”
– Mike Fritsch, President/CEO, Northeast Indiana Innovation Center
03.15.24
Rhonda Ladig named to Make Startups Executive Fellowship
Fort Wayne, IND — March 15, 2024 — The Northeast Indiana Innovation Center (NIIC) proudly unveils Rhonda Ladig as part of the inaugural cohort of the Make Startups Executive Fellowship (MSEF) Program. This exclusive initiative, aimed at elevating the impact potential and operational capacity of entrepreneurship support, ecosystem building, and economic development organizations, welcomes Rhonda Ladig as an entrepreneurial ecosystem-builder from the NIIC.
Charting a Course for Excellence: MSEF Executive Fellowship Program Overview
Seeded with a $50,000 grant from the Ecosystem Builder Leadership Network (EBLN) Field Advancement Fund awarded in November 2023, The Make Startups Executive Fellowship is a meticulously crafted six-month intensive program. It is designed to empower executives in their respective fields through two in-person immersions, bi-weekly online training sessions, one-on-one advising, peer coaching, and local field-building initiatives.
Fellows will gain expertise in accessing Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding to support entrepreneurs in their ecosystems. Make Startups will provide training, technical resources, and access to their proprietary CoFounderOS technology platform, enabling leaders to integrate measurement and evaluation plans into their programs. This will showcase the impact of entrepreneurial training on the local economy. The fellowship will also equip participants to advocate for policies supporting entrepreneurial pursuits at local, state, and national levels.
“I’m honored to have been chosen, along with many other extraordinary ecosystem builders, for this fellowship opportunity. This educational and network-enhancing experience will benefit, not only NIIC’s clients, but also our entire northeast Indiana entrepreneur and small business ecosystem,” says Fellowship member Rhonda Ladig, NIIC Director of Strategic Initiatives.
Grace Belangia, co-founder of Make Startups, expressed her enthusiasm for the program launch, saying, “We are confident this initiative will equip leaders in our field with the tools and resources they need to make a lasting impact for entrepreneurs and their local ecosystems. We are truly excited to launch the Make Startups Executive Fellowship (MSEF) program this spring with plans to scale in the fall of 2024, and we are deeply grateful to both EBLN and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation for their generous support.”
About Make Startups Executive Fellowship Program
Celebrating Vision and Diversity: Meet the Inaugural Cohort
Make Startups selected 18 visionaries for the inaugural MSEF Executive Fellowship Program. Each participant, with a minimum of five years of entrepreneurship development experience, embodies a commitment to inclusive entrepreneurship and a dedication to lasting economic impact. The Fellowship’s inaugural cohort includes:
- Naila Jackson (Alabama)
- Lloyd Reshard (Florida)
- Tricia Teague (Illinois)
- Jared Ell, Nikeshia Fomby, Rhonda Ladig, and Marty Mechtenberg (Indiana)
- Larry Horn (Kentucky)
- Cuong Quy Huynh (Michigan)
- Arsh Haque (Oregon)
- Tanya Morris, Tiffany Spraggins, Thomas Webster, and Neferteri Strickland (Pennsylvania)
- Holly Burrow, Darlisa Diltz, and Ren Mitchell (Texas)
- Scott Mosley (Wisconsin)
Fellowship Pillars: A Blueprint for Success
- Sustainable Ecosystem Building: The program focuses on enabling increased funding and better measurement of outcomes by entrepreneurial support programs at the local, state, and national levels.
- Inclusive Entrepreneurial Training, Support, & Connections: Emphasis is placed on the role of ecosystem builders and economic developers in creating opportunities for disadvantaged and underrepresented groups in entrepreneurship.
- Long-Term Economic Impact: The program centers on the potential for job creation, inclusive growth, and generational wealth through entrepreneurship training programs that lead to business success.
About Make Startups
Make Startups is a dynamic organization committed to fostering entrepreneurship and innovation. Through a range of programs and initiatives, Make Startups empowers startups, entrepreneurs, and ecosystem builders to succeed, innovate, and contribute to economic growth.
About NIIC
NIIC was created to solve a problem. Aspiring innovators and entrepreneurs needed somewhere to go in Northeast Indiana to incubate their businesses. Visionary leaders imagined a place where innovation and economic development intersect for a COMMUNITY. Entrepreneurs and innovators have launched hundreds of new products and patents, created thousands of jobs, and infused hundreds of millions in grants and capital into our economy. NIIC pulls down barriers (geographic, racial, socio-economic,
interest-based). We work with our regional Community of Communities™ to create an ecosystem of Entrepreneurship for ALL. We focus on collaboration and maximizing the impact of our regional partners. Together, we thrive—Entrepreneurship for ALL.
03.01.24
Venture Hub Entrepreneur Grant Announced
Fort Wayne, March 1, 2024 — If you operate a small business or entrepreneurial start-up, consider yourself in the running for a $1,500 grant opportunity through the Fort Wayne-based Northeast Indiana Innovation Center (NIIC).
The application period for the NEIN Venture Hub $1,500 Entrepreneur Grant opens Friday, March 1, and will close at 11:59 pm on Friday, March 15. The applications can be found on the NIIC’s Venture Hub site at NEIN Venture Hub.
The NEIN Venture Hub opened last November in response to need expressed from across this part of Indiana for an online “entrepreneurial ecosystem” to serve needs of new and aspiring businesses. It has over 80 resources for entrepreneurs. The Venture Hub platform is designed to help start, launch, and develop businesses as a “one-stop shop” for developmental tools, knowledge, and support. It is powered by the Economic Impact Catalyst, a nationwide network that “focuses on data-driven insights and solutions drawn from the voices of small businesses.”
Venture Hub’s grant program is part of the NIIC’s “Entrepreneurship for All” initiative, which offers free developmental resources to new business ventures across this part of the state, through networking opportunities, workshops and other learning events, multi-media training offerings, and one-on-one mentoring Venture Hub is also seeking partnerships with established businesses to augment what it offers to entrepreneurs and new businesses.
11.16.23
New Online Ecosystem Launches for Northeast Indiana Entrepreneurs—during Global Entrepreneurship Week
Fort Wayne, November 16, 2023 — Today, Northeast Indiana Innovation Center (NIIC) launched the NEIN Venture Hub for individuals who need help to start, launch, and grow their businesses. NEIN Venture Hub is a technology-enabled solution that integrates the tools, knowledge, and support entrepreneurs need.
“It is fitting to launch during Global Entrepreneurship Week, which includes 40,000 activities worldwide,” said Mike Fritsch, President and CEO Of NIIC. This year’s theme is removing barriers and welcoming all, which dovetails with NIIC’s vision of Entrepreneurship for ALL.
The pathway for launching NEIN Venture Hub included over 70 meetings as part of a listening tour in Northeast Indiana. “We met with economic development professionals, entrepreneurial support organizations, entrepreneurs, and educators. What bubbled to the top was the need for all support providers to work together to help entrepreneurs. We heard you. This ecosystem will help make that possible.”
About 50 organizations and resource partners currently use NEIN Venture Hub. That number will grow as communities in the region lead launch events. Individuals can leverage collective resources, knowledge, and expertise to tackle challenges, foster innovation, and maximize impact by engaging in this online ecosystem. The platform is free of charge to individuals. Register at https://startupspace.app/hub/niic/.
Partnerships are available for companies who would like a customized sub-hub on NEIN Venture Hub. Contact Rhonda Ladig at rladig@niic.net. Contact your local economic development corporation or chamber of commerce to see if your community is part of NEIN Venture Hub.
Primary offerings of NEIN Venture Hub include:
- Resources—find specific resources needed through a robust network.
- Events—find information all in one place for events and training happening throughout Indiana.
- Knowledge—access tools, articles, blogs, video training to upskill when needed, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- Mentorship—mentors, and mentees connect here.
“We’re bringing NEIN Venture Hub to the region because we believe every person, company, and community has the opportunity to prosper through entrepreneurship. This will help them build wealth and autonomy and improve outcomes for the community,” said Fritsch. “We hope to increase access to long-term entrepreneurial success by coordinating regional supports and efforts.”
About the Platform:
The platform used for NEIN Venture Hub is Startup Space, powered by the Economic Impact Catalyst (EIC). “EIC focuses on data-driven insights and solutions drawn from the voices of small businesses and we are honored to welcome NEIN Venture Hub and NIIC to our national network,” said David Ponraj, founder and CEO of Economic Impact Catalyst (EIC). “NIIC shares our belief that entrepreneurship holds the power to solve some of the most critical problems faced by communities, and we look forward to supporting their growth.”
10.23.23
Inspirational Entrepreneurship Event, Fireside Chat with Regional Founders – Elevate Northeast Indiana and NIIC Host
Photo by Elevate Northeast Indiana
Fort Wayne, October 23, 2023 – Elevate Northeast Indiana, in collaboration with Northeast Indiana Innovation Center (NIIC), is thrilled to announce an exciting evening of entrepreneurship and innovation at Carr Workplaces on the Electric Works campus on Thursday, November 16, 2023, 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The event promises an illuminating fireside chat with regional founders and a showcase of promising pitches from recent regional Open Mic events in Noble, Steuben, LaGrange, and DeKalb Counties.
Highlighting Regional Founders:
Experience a captivating fireside chat with regional founders Ian Harley (Traction Ag), Ariana McGee (Navigate Maternity), and Mark Schindel (Owl Manor). These visionary entrepreneurs have left an indelible mark on the regional startup landscape, and their insights are sure to inspire and energize aspiring founders.
Celebrating Regional Innovation:
Elevate Northeast Indiana and NIIC are dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship and innovation across the 11-county region. This event showcases the vibrant entrepreneurial spirit in Northeast Indiana with pitches from recent Open Mic events held in Noble, Steuben, LaGrange, and DeKalb Counties.
These entrepreneurs are the future of our business community, and their innovative ideas are set to shine.
Culinary Delights and Refreshments:
In addition to the enlightening discussions and impressive pitches, attendees can enjoy craft cocktails from Charlie Horse and a taco bar from Pikoso Burrito Company – local vendors from Union Street Market.
Join Us for an Evening of Inspiration:
This event is a must-attend for anyone passionate about entrepreneurship, innovation, and the future of Northeast Indiana’s business landscape.
This event is especially for entrepreneurs, aspiring entrepreneurs, or anyone who helps businesses launch and grow. The connections, knowledge, and inspiration you’ll gain from this evening will undoubtedly fuel your entrepreneurial journey.
Event Details:
Date: Thursday, November 16, 2023
Time: 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Carr Workplaces, Electric Works
Cost: No charge
###
About Elevate Northeast Indiana
Elevate Northeast Indiana is a regional presence for Elevate Ventures. Elevate Ventures is a private venture development organization assisting high-growth startups and early-stage companies to expand into high-performing, Indiana-based companies. Elevate has invested over $166 million in more than 550 companies through various programs. Pitchbook has ranked Elevate as the Most Active VC in the Great Lakes Region since 2017. To learn more, visit elevateventures.com or elevatenei.com.
About Northeast Indiana Innovation Center (NIIC)
About 23 years ago, NIIC was created to solve a problem. Aspiring innovators and entrepreneurs needed somewhere to go in Northeast Indiana to incubate their businesses. Visionary leaders imagined a place where innovation and economic development intersect for a COMMUNITY. Entrepreneurs and innovators have launched hundreds of new products and patents, created thousands of jobs, and infused hundreds of millions in grants and capital into our economy.
As a Venture Hub, NIIC pulls down barriers (geographic, racial, socio-economic, and interest-based), working with the regional Community of Communities to create an ecosystem of Entrepreneurship for ALL.™ NIIC’s focus is collaboration and maximizing the impact of regional partners.
The International Business Innovation Association (InBIA) recognized NIIC with the 2020 Dinah Adkins Award and the Entrepreneur Center of the Year: Mixed Use Award. NIIC’s WEOC Women’s Business Center (WBC) received top honors from the U.S. SBA as the 2023 Great Lakes Region Business Center of the Year and 2023 AND 2022 Indiana Women’s Business Center of Excellence.
Media Contacts
Andie Hines-Lagemann Tammy Allen
Startup Ecosystem Manager Sr. Director | Marketing & Communications
Elevate Northeast Indiana Northeast Indiana Innovation Center (NIIC)
ahines-lagemann@elevateventures.com info@niic.net
10.12.23
Four Northeast Indiana Leaders Join NIIC Board of Directors
FORT WAYNE, Ind.— October 12, 2023, Fort Wayne, Ind. – Four new board members will help further NIIC’s mission to transform the lives of people, companies, and communities through entrepreneurship.
The individuals are passionate about their work in the region and bring a wealth of expertise, connectivity, and experience:
- Patrick Buesching, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, at Don Wood Foundation, brings extensive experience in nonprofit board leadership, K-12/secondary education, and human resources.
- Tabitha Ervin, MPA, Chief Operating Officer, at YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne, has extensive experience in executive leadership and nonprofit board leadership.
- Gary Gatman, Owner of ROOM2ROOM, is a business owner who brings customer voice to the board. He also has extensive experience in community development, executive leadership, and nonprofit board experience.
- Aaron Robles, Founder/CEO of Hyprnova and Founders Spark, has extensive experience in entrepreneurship and marketing and communications. He also brings the customer voice to the board.
“Like most organizations these past couple of years, we’ve recognized the need for more strategic board governance. This includes more diverse representation on our board. It takes time, intention, and focus,” said Mike Fritsch, NIIC President and CEO.
“We want to ensure a robust board, diverse in skills, thought processes, leadership, industry/organization representation, age, gender, and ethnicity—to name some characteristics sought. We want our board to reflect who we serve,” said Fritsch. “Patrick, Tabitha, Gary, and Aaron are great additions to our board, and we look forward to their contributions. We appreciate and credit our executive committee with support from the full board to add them to the team.”
The four new board members join a dedicated, accomplished board, working toward a more strategic, and collaborative organization for more significant impact. For a complete list of NIIC Board members, visit https://niic.net/about/our-board/.
Cutlines:
Photo 1: Patrick Buesching, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, Don Wood Foundation
Photo 2: Tabitha Ervin, MPA, Chief Operating Officer, YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne
Photo 3: Gary Gatman, Owner, ROOM2ROOM
Photo 4: Aaron Robles, Founder/CEO of Hyprnova and Founders Spark
Contact: Tammy Allen, Sr. Director | Marketing & Communications, info@niic.net, 260.407.1731
About NIIC (Northeast Indiana Innovation Center)
About 20 years ago, NIIC was created to solve a problem. Aspiring innovators and entrepreneurs needed somewhere to go in Northeast Indiana to incubate their businesses. Visionary leaders imagined a place where innovation and economic development intersect for a COMMUNITY. Entrepreneurs and innovators have launched hundreds of new products and patents, created thousands of jobs, and infused hundreds of millions in grants and capital into our economy.
As a Venture Hub, NIIC pulls down barriers (geographic, racial, socio-economic, and interest-based), working with the regional Community of Communities to create an ecosystem of Entrepreneurship for ALL.™ NIIC’s focus is collaboration and maximizing the impact of regional partners.
The International Business Innovation Association (InBIA) recognized NIIC with the 2020 Dinah Adkins Award and the Entrepreneur Center of the Year: Mixed Use Award. NIIC’s WEOC Women’s Business Center (WBC) received top honors from the U.S. SBA as the 2023 Great Lakes Region Business Center of the Year and 2023 AND 2022 Indiana Women’s Business Center of Excellence.
# # #
10.06.23
The SCENE—NEIN Meetup at RALLY Innovation Conference
09.26.23
From dream to reality: The inspiring journey of Tonya Horvath and Eel River Bison Ranch & Event Center
Originally posted on WISHTV.com
Tonya Horvath and her husband Eric shared a common dream of establishing their own bison ranch in the scenic landscapes of northeast Indiana.
Their journey was one of unwavering dedication, extensive research, and unyielding perseverance.
Through years of hard work and commitment, their initial herd of bison flourished, and the property evolved into what is now known as the Eel River Bison Ranch & Event Center Ranch.
On this week’s episode of “Business, Equity & Opportunities,” Tonya Horvath opens up about her remarkable journey, offering insights into the challenges and triumphs they faced along the way as they transformed their dream into a thriving reality.
09.08.23
Bolstering Northeast Indiana’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
In the world of entrepreneurship, collaboration is often hailed as the pinnacle. Yet, one overarching hurdle hinders progress on a broader scale — organizational ego. Instead of fostering a flourishing entrepreneurial ecosystem, the result might be an “entrepreneurial egosystem.”
The last few years ushered in a sea of change, including new leadership and ideas in northeast Indiana. Consider our region’s nonprofit and economic development landscape. For NIIC, the new vision is Entrepreneurship for ALL. This is a reset (first and foremost) for NIIC and also for our community. But to collectively make progress, we as organizations need to ask the question, “How can we help you?” just as much as we ask, “How can we grow as an organization ourselves?”
Here are six strategies we’re employing to bolster our region’s entrepreneurial community.
- Start with relationships. Build relationships by engaging in more one-on-one conversations. Connect on a personal level. This fosters trust. These opportunities build connections to lay the foundation for collaborative efforts and collective success.
- Cultivate a collaborative mindset. Ask “How can we help you?” and find out what other organizations need. Emphasize shared learning and mutual support within the ecosystem.
- Amplify success. Celebrate others’ achievements and recognize that collaboration amplifies success.
- Foster a culture of humility. Humility extinguishes ego. Encourage stakeholders to appreciate the expertise and achievements of others. Embrace it among stakeholders and learn from one another.
- Promote collaboration platforms. Streamline the ease of working with others. Use platforms that facilitate collaboration for projects and resources.
- Lead by example. Actively promote collaboration to encourage others to follow suit.
Nothing happens until you start. Let’s create a ripple effect in our community. Doing so will strengthen collaboration to more than lip service and foster sustainable economic development for northeast Indiana.
08.28.23
ERA / Erickson Motors Wins AFWERX SBIR Direct-to-Phase II Contract
August 28, 2023, Fort Wayne, Indiana – Engine Research Associates, Inc. (ERA) announces it has been selected by AFWERX for an SBIR Direct-to-Phase II contract in the amount of $1,237,149. It is focused on quiet Erickson MCC engine propulsion for small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) to address the most pressing challenges in the Department of the Air Force (DAF). The Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX have partnered to streamline the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) process by accelerating the small business experience through faster proposal to award timelines, changing the pool of potential applicants by expanding opportunities to small business and eliminating bureaucratic overhead by continually implementing process improvement changes in contract execution.
The DAF began offering the Open Topic SBIR/STTR program in 2018 which expanded the range of innovations the DAF funded. Now on August 21, 2023, ERA started its journey to create and provide innovative capabilities that will strengthen the national defense of the United States of America.
“ERA is honored to be selected for this SBIR contract. It enables us to complete research and development that advances technology to benefit our service members and the commercial drone industry” said Jeff Erickson, Principal Investigator, Engine Research Associates/Erickson Motors.
“The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.”
About ERA – ERA invented and developed the Erickson Migrating Combustion Chamber (MCC) engine. ERA focuses on government research and development programs for MCC engine technology. Erickson Motors is the commercial division of ERA and focuses on manufacturing and sales. Erickson MCC engines are internal combustion engines that are ultra-quiet. MCC engines can provide sUAS and drones with improved efficiency, increased weight capacity, longer flight times, faster cruise speeds, and extended life over Lithium-ion batteries. MCC engine propulsion systems are also as quiet as electric UAS/drones. For more information, visit: www.ericksonmotors.com.
About Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) – Sole organization leading the planning and execution of U.S. Air Force & U.S. Space Force science & technology programs. Orchestrates a worldwide government, industry & academia coalition in the discovery, development & delivery of a wide range of revolutionary technology. Provides leading-edge warfighting capabilities keeping air, space, and cyberspace forces the world’s best. Employs 10,800 military, civilian, and contractor personnel at 17 research sites executing an annual $4B budget. For more information, visit: www.afresearchlab.com.
About AFWERX – The innovation arm of the DAF and a directorate within AFRL. Brings cutting-edge American ingenuity from small businesses and start-ups to address the most pressing challenges of the DAF. Employs approximately 215 military, civilian, and contractor personnel at five hubs and sites executing an annual $1.4B budget. Since 2019, has executed 4,671 contracts worth more than $2B to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and drive faster technology transition to operational capability. For more information, visit: www.afwerx.com.
Media Contact: Jeff Erickson, PMP, Principal Investigator, jeff.erickson@ericksonmotors.com
# # #