News Category: NIIC News
01.18.23
Rebranded, Refocused Mission for The NIIC
A business incubator serving northeast Indiana has rebranded and is refocusing its mission to help not only budding entrepreneurs, but all types of business ventures. Northeast Indiana Innovation Center, more commonly known as The NIIC, is now operating as Northeast Indiana Innovation Collective. While the name change may seem minor, organizational leaders says it reflects a broader, collaborative plan.
“We believe all aspiring entrepreneurs deserve the chance to pursue economic prosperity through entrepreneurship. With a new attitude, vision, and brand, NIIC is activating Entrepreneurship for ALL,” said NIIC President and CEO Mike Fritsch.
In an interview with Inside INdiana Business, Fritsch explained the driving force behind the changes.
“The name change really came about as a result of looking at our vision for the future and what we wanted to do with The NIIC,” said Fritsch. “And what we needed to do and what the community was telling us we needed to do was really be more collaborative and community oriented.”
Fritsch, who was named CEO in December 2021, says while NIIC partnered with various organizations, it was not at a community level and providing opportunities for businesses, regardless of size and scope, to grow.
“The northeast Indiana community has a lot of support organizations and planning agencies, and we weren’t working together very well, in some cases, not at all. And in some cases, you’re almost viewed as competitors. And, as an entrepreneur, you want to help get help from everybody,” explained Fritsch.
The plan includes three big initiatives.
- Entrepreneurship for ALL – NIIC has created entrepreneurial support processes tailored for each community to build trust and get potential business builders to engage, start and be successful.
- Collaboration Mindset and Toolset – with a new mindset of collaboration, the NIIC will be launching a collaborative framework to allow support organizations that are members of the collective to work together to support entrepreneurship across Northeast Indiana.
- Better Support for All Types of Ventures – In conjunction with our partners, NIIC is increasing support for all types of ventures including lifestyle, small business, scalable, larger corporations, and social entrepreneurs.
Fritsch says as a collective of entrepreneurial stakeholders, and by leveraging strengths, entrepreneurial successes will increase.
“What if we worked closely with key partners within other communities to provide opportunities for ALL entrepreneurs to experience prosperity through entrepreneurship?” wondered Fritsch.
01.17.23
New Leadership, New Vision, Collaboration Drive Entrepreneurship for ALL in Northeast Indiana
Supplement: Entrepreneurship for ALL FAQ
FORT WAYNE, Ind.— January 17, 2023, Fort Wayne, Ind. –Northeast Indiana Innovation Center (NIIC) is now Doing Business As (DBA) Northeast Indiana Innovation Collective to emphasize its commitment to a new collaborative plan for entrepreneurship support. “We believe all aspiring entrepreneurs deserve the chance to pursue economic prosperity through entrepreneurship. With a new attitude, vision, and brand, NIIC is activating Entrepreneurship for ALL,” said Mike Fritsch, President & CEO, of NIIC.
Approaching this with an entrepreneurial mindset, NIIC challenged the status quo. “Until now, Entrepreneurial Support Organizations (ESOs) mainly operated independently. NIIC has partnered with various organizations on projects. Yet, not usually at a community level. As a collective of entrepreneurial stakeholders, we know our success comes from working with others and leveraging all our strengths toward a shared vision,” said Fritsch.
“What if we worked closely with key partners within other communities to provide opportunities for ALL entrepreneurs to experience prosperity through entrepreneurship?”
The plan includes three big initiatives.
- Entrepreneurship for ALL – NIIC has created entrepreneurial support processes tailored for each community to build trust and get potential business builders to engage, start and be successful.
- Collaboration Mindset and Toolset – with a new mindset of collaboration, the NIIC will be launching a collaborative framework to allow support organizations that are members of the collective to work together to support entrepreneurship across Northeast Indiana.
- Better Support for All Types of Ventures – In conjunction with our partners, NIIC is increasing support for all types of ventures including Lifestyle, Small Business, Scalable, Larger Corporations, and Social Entrepreneurs.
Fritsch said, “Based on conversations we’ve had so far, there is broad regional support for the Entrepreneurship for ALL plan, including ESOs, Educational Institutions, Funders, Economic Development Organizations-locally, regionally, and statewide. We expect many impactful announcements and results over the coming months and year.”
Visit NIIC.net for more information. Contact NIIC at info@niic.net to schedule a meeting to learn more and get involved.
About The NIIC
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.
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. As a Venture Hub, Northeast Indiana Innovation Center is now DBA Northeast Indiana Innovation Collective. We’re still NIIC. Together, we thrive—Entrepreneurship for ALL.
10.26.22
What’s the state of venture capital funding in Fort Wayne, and how can it be more inclusive?
Excerpts
What comes to mind when you hear the phrase “venture capital”? For many, it conjures up images of wealthy people on the West Coast who have the means to invest thousands of dollars in what they think is going to be the “next big thing.”
While that is true on some level, there’s more to the story than meets the eye. Across the U.S., annual Venture Capital (or VC) funding has increased from 2013 to 2021 by more than four times, going from $22 billion to $96 billion. But there’s still a lack of Venture Capital funding available in Northeast Indiana.
As Director of the Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Center at the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center, Leslee Hill is also working to address this disparity. Hill and her team have launched a program called The Glass Floor Network to educate female and nonbinary business owners and their potential supporters on angel investing. Angel investors are individuals with means who invest their own money into startup ventures, whereas venture capital investors are employed by an organization, where they invest other people’s money.
10.20.22
Live On Purpose
As appears in Business People magazine – The Scene
Many variables during the COVID-19 pandemic led to the nation’s quit-rate, reaching a 20-year high in November 2021, according to PewResearch.Org. Top reasons included “low pay (63%), no opportunities for advancement (63%), and feeling disrespected at work (57%).”
Find Your Ikigai
A Japanese term meaning “a reason for being.” Business owners embody this. “Ikigai, concerning business, is about your why. Why are you in business?” Luke Ferris, Foundr Magazine, June 6, 2022.
Purpose Matters
Santiago Jaramillo, CEO and co-founder of Emplify, introduced me to ikigai during his keynote speech at The NIIC’s Ideas@Work Event. He discovered his ikigai at about seven-years-old. He started a business distributing water to his village neighbors using his little, red wagon.
He and his mother celebrated his earnings by buying American chocolate. Outside the store he saw hungry children begging for food and, after eating his chocolate, felt unsatisfied. He spoke with his mom about using his profits to feed them. They bought groceries, made sandwiches, and handed them out to the hungry children.
Santiago’s calling is to find ways to make the world a better place. He identifies needs and creates solutions through his businesses.
Discover Your Ikigai
To live a more engaged life, consider your ikigai. Success is not found by “leaning back.” Greatness often lies inconveniently out of the way, outside your comfort zone.
My ikigai is to positively live to make a difference, to leave the world a better place. I pour my time and talent into mission-driven organizations.
It takes reflection and self-knowledge to identify your ikigai. Look for the convergence of:
- What you love (passion)
- What the world needs (mission)
- What you are good at (vocation)
- What you can get paid for (profession) or volunteer to do
Live Your Ikigai
Understanding your ikigai can lead to fulfillment and happiness, and may help you live longer. “A highly unusual percentage of seniors on Japan’s Okinawa Island live to 100. Their secret is ikigai, a unique sense of purpose,” according to BBC.com.
09.02.22
Digital Marketing Tips for Optimal Engagement
As appears in Business People magazine – Pro Speak
The essence of your brand is how an individual feels when engaging with you. How can you pursue this to end strong in 2022? Be intentional with digital marketing.
Here are three tips to strengthen your digital marketing and increase brand engagement.
Optimize Across Channels
Think big picture. Go where clients are. Consider blogs, videos, podcasts, live streaming, websites and social media. Today’s consumer interacts with brands multiple times in various ways before committing.
Consistency and rhythm provide opportunities for engagement. Digital marketing’s Rule of More has replaced traditional marketing’s Rule of 7. Increase frequency to ensure you are heard “above all the clutter in people’s newsfeeds or fields of vision,” says Kathi Kruse, Rule of 7: How Social Media Crushes the Old School Marketing.
Make It Personal
The more people who know, like and trust you, the more likely it is you will do business with them. For a more profound connection, share your origin story and reveal the inspirations and values behind your brand.
Personal connections with clients are why businesses exist. We come alongside our clients throughout their entrepreneurial journeys. We help them tell their stories, and get the word out about their companies and their experiences of starting and growing a business.
Clients become your loyal group of supporters. Positive experiences help build brand advocates through word-of-mouth and online reviews. Speaking of advocates, remember your employees or volunteers. Invite them to engage with your brand based on their comfort levels.
Assess
Look at the metrics of all the platforms you use. This may include website traffic and behaviors, social media metrics, email marketing results, spikes in inquiries and conversions, etc.
Connect the dots to identify what potentially impacted your results. Are there patterns or trends? What external factors might you consider? Adjust accordingly.
Have a strong, relevant brand by maintaining a cohesive digital presence and implementing a solid marketing strategy. Your brand depends on it.
08.16.22
Tap Into Purdue University Fort Wayne Resources for Your Business
Looking for an intern or faculty consultant? Purdue Fort Wayne is here to engage with you.
Post jobs or attend recruitment events at Purdue Fort Wayne through Handshake, a free online platform. We’ll use your contact information to let you know of any upcoming career-related events, such as job fairs, that you can use to expand your workforce. Join and Post to Handshake
Join us for Tuesday Talent Launch the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month. Or be a part of our Fall 2022 Mastodon Career & Internship Fair on October 5, 2022. www.pfw.edu/employersregistration
Other ways our students and/or faculty may be resources for your business include: Diversity Panels, Alumni networking, class projects, guest speakers, job shadow/informational interviews, and more.
08.12.22
Purdue Extension Digital Ready for Business Announces Next Sessions
The Purdue Extension Digital Ready Businesses program is designed to help small businesses learn to leverage online tools and services to grow their business. Workshops are designed to take about an hour and include a presentation from a trained Extension educator, activities, handouts and more.
Register for one or more of these virtual workshops to take advantage of digital tools to grow your business. For more detailed session descriptions, visit www.cdext.purdue.edu/dr.
All sessions are held virtually from 1-2pm CST/2-3pm EST.
The session topics and presentation dates are:
1. Claim Your Online Turf Tuesday, August 30
2. Website Basics Thursday, September 1
3. Grow Your Virtual Customers Monday, September 12
4. Search Engine Optimization Thursday, September 15
5. Email Analytics & Marketing Tuesday, September 20
6. Podcasting 101 Thursday, September 22
7. How to Blog Successfully Tuesday, September 27
8. Introduction to Social Media Platforms Thursday, September 29
9. Social Media Plan & Content Tuesday, October 4
10. Social Media Analytics & Marketing Thursday, October 6
11. Digital Storefront Tuesday, October 11
12. Emerging Business Technologies Thursday, October 13
Workshops are $25 per session and are limited to 10 people per session. If you are in Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, Kosciusko, Lagrange, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells or Whitley County, there is no charge for the workshops. A grant received by the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center (NIIC) has covered the program fee for residents of these counties.
For more information visit our website at www.cdext.purdue.edu/dr or contact Kristi Whitacre at kwhitacr@purdue.edu or (812)462-3371.
Click here to register: https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5bQm5F6h0ZpieNM
08.10.22
Bank on Your Business for Business Owners, Workshop and One-to-One Meetings
FORT WAYNE, Ind.— Navigating the financial realm of business ownership is sometimes tricky. Business owners are invited to learn how to bank on their businesses on the afternoon of August 17, 2022, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at The Northeast Indiana Innovation Center (The NIIC). Register here. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bank-on-your-business-for-business-owners-tickets-399017491057
“The Bank on Your Business Event on August 17 is offered through our Community Navigator Program in partnership with Bankable, Fort Wayne Urban League, 1st Source, and KIVA Northeast Indiana. Entrepreneurial struggles are real, especially for women, minorities, and rural business owners. At this event, participants will learn about capital, cultivate connections, and access the resources needed to manage their finances,” said Stephanie Taylor, Operations Manager, Community Navigator Program, The NIIC.
Diane Starks, Technical Assistant and Promotions Manager, Fort Wayne Urban League, said, “Our role as a spoke organization for the Community Navigator Program is to help individuals attain self-empowerment through business ownership. This event focuses on helping business owners to better understand their financial needs. As a business owner myself, I get it. It is an important piece for us business owners.”
The Bank on Your Business Event includes:
Capital Discussion—led by Bankable and 1st Source
How to Crowdsource Your Capital—led by KIVA Northeast Indiana
What’s Your (Credit) Score? Led by Fort Wayne Urban League
15-minute Meet With an Expert Sessions (first come, first served)
For the one-to-one meetings with an expert, participants are encouraged to bring a copy of their business plan and credit reports if available.
Register here. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bank-on-your-business-for-business-owners-tickets-399017491057 For more information, Taylor at staylor@niic.net.
The NIIC Community Navigator Program is funded in part by a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Sba.gov
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About The NIIC
525 new products launched, 202 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 $140.4 million in grants and capital.
The NIIC is a nonprofit, 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 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.
08.01.22
NIIC Board Chair Nominated for 2022 David A. Bobilya Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership Award
Congratulations to NIIC Board Chair Larry Rowland on his nomination for this prestigious award. The David A. Bobilya Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership Award recognizes the importance of individual board members in nonprofit organizations in four focus areas: governance, leadership, financial sustainability, and program impact.
Twenty-five individuals were nominated for the award. The award recipient will be announced at an awards ceremony on September 28, 2022.
07.28.22
WEOC WBC NAMED 2022 SBA INDIANA WOMEN’S BUSINESS CENTER OF EXCELLENCE
FORT WAYNE, Ind.— WEOC Women’s Business Center (WBC) received the 2022 SBA Indiana Women’s Business Center of Excellence Award. SBA Great Lakes Regional Administrator Geri Aglipay and SBA Indiana District Director Stacey Poynter presented the award to Leslee Hill, WEOC WBC Director, and The NIIC team.
The award recognizes WEOC WBC as a women’s business center that is mission-driven, client-focused, and results-oriented. “As an SBA Regional Administrator, I’m proud that we’re giving credit where credit’s due. We’re spotlighting organizations like WEOC WBC, which serves resilient and resourceful American entrepreneurs who are doing their part to power our nation’s historic economic comeback,” said Aglipay. She oversees the Great Lakes Region, which includes Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
“We proudly recognize WEOC WBC with this award. The WEOC WBC team provides outstanding support and wrap-around services to small business owners. Small business owners are the backbone of the American economy. 99.4% of the businesses in Indiana are small, and 47.3% are owned by women,” said Poynter.
“Entrepreneurship is a tough road to travel. Through innovative, creative, and inspired programming, business coaching, and mentoring, WEOC WBC meets women where they are on their business ownership journeys. WEOC WBC helps them on their paths to success.”
Hill accepted the award on behalf of The NIIC team and stated, “Small business owners are at the heart of all we do. We are honored to receive this award, affirming our mission to help female founders to start, scale, and innovate their businesses to help grow our economy.”
Cutline: Left to right: Stacey Poynter, SBA; Tammy Allen and Jami Thomas, The NIIC; Geri Aglipay, SBA; Leslee Hill, Rosalina Perez, Rhonda Ladig, Maddy Dahlgren, Stephanie Taylor, Anna Heck, Mike Fritsch, The NIIC
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About WEOC Women’s Business Center
WEOC WBC clients have benefited from 7,945 total hours of training, 7,899 total hours counseled, $706,500 total capital access infusion. WEOC WBC at The NIIC serves Northeast Indiana women at all stages of their business ventures. We respond to women entrepreneurs’ unique needs through business growth coaching, training, entrepreneurial education, connectivity, and access to capital.
WEOC WBC is an SBA-designated Women’s Business Center—one of two in Indiana—and more than 100 nationwide. WEOC WBC is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. The NIIC is the host organization and provides supplemental funding and complementary resources. For more information, visit www.weocwbc.net.
About The NIIC
The NIIC bolsters innovative companies to move ideas into action. 525 new products launched, 202 patent applications submitted or granted, and 2,351 jobs created—that is what entrepreneurs have achieved through The NIIC since it started 20+ years ago. The NIIC has also connected Northeast Indiana companies to $140.4 million in grants and capital.
The NIIC is a nonprofit, vibrant entrepreneurial community designed to advise entrepreneurs to plan, launch, and grow successful business ventures. 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 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.