07.03.20

Fort Wayne’s Northeast Indiana Innovation Center receives international tech incubator awards

Excerpt

06.25.20

Indiana Incubator Receives Global Recognition, InBIA Presents Two Awards to The NIIC

For immediate release 

June 25, 2020, Fort Wayne, Ind.— Today the International Business Innovation Association (InBIA) awarded the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center (The NIIC) two awards: the 2020 Dinah Adkins Award and the Entrepreneur Center of the Year 2020: Mixed Use Award. Charles Ross, InBIA Interim President, announced the awards during the 34^th International Conference on Business Incubation during a fireside chat. “Thank you for leading by example and providing inspiration to entrepreneurs across the globe,” said Ross. The InBIA recognizes high-impact, member organizations at the annual International Conference of Business Incubation. This year’s conference is being held virtually due to COVID-19 pandemic.

“It is an honor for The NIIC, our clients, partners, funders, and our team to be recognized by our peers at the International Business Innovation Association for the 2020 Dinah Adkins Award and the Entrepreneur Center of the Year 2020: Mixed-Use. Our clients at The NIIC have created economic and community impact and contributed greatly to our mission of higher quality, higher paying jobs and companies,” said Karl R. LaPan, President and CEO, The NIIC.

“We are so appreciative of the visible and prestigious incubation community recognition, to bring inclusive entrepreneurial programming, best in class resources, and our focus on industry best practices and operational excellence. Our economic impact and success; however, is because of the dedication and commitment of our clients who strive every day to make our community and world a better place,” said LaPan.

The Dinah Adkins Award is one of two of InBIA’s industry top honors and recognizes entrepreneurship centers with proven track records of excellence. The award honors the legacy of Dinah Adkins, a pioneer in the field of business incubation. She led the Ohio University Incubation Center and was a founding member of InBIA. She served as president and CEO of InBIA from 1988 to 2009.

The Entrepreneurship Center of the Year 2020: Mixed Use award recognizes organizations serving a broad range of companies and not focused on a specific industry niche.  Now celebrating its 20^th anniversary, The NIIC has implemented initiatives to serve women business builders, technology companies, healthcare innovators, and emerging entrepreneurs from underestimated/underserved communities including the disabled, veterans, immigrants, rural residents, minorities, formerly incarcerated and the hardest to employ.

About InBIA
The International Business Innovators Association (inbia.org ) is a global nonprofit organization that has welcomed and supported entrepreneurial organizations for over 30 years. Serving a diverse group of entrepreneurship centers, program managers, directors, and policymakers, InBIA helps guide, mentor, and develop sustainable entrepreneur support programs in every industry and demographic around the globe. InBIA’s goal is to enrich the entire ecosystem by providing industry resources, education, events, and global programming to help members better serve the needs of their unique communities and regions. InBIA’s mission is to help communities enable their entrepreneurs to transform their dreams into innovative businesses that make global prosperity a reality.

About The NIIC

467 new products launched, 189 patent applications submitted or granted, and 2,290 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 $91 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. TheNIIC.org. Click here for The NIIC press kit.

06.18.20

Sarah Lance and Jennifer Romano to lead NIIC EmPWR Program, guide women business owners in the post-COVID-19 pandemic economy

Sarah Lance (on the left), EmPWR Project Manager; Jennifer Romano, EmPWR Community Engagement Coordinator

For Immediate Release

June 18, 2020, Fort Wayne, Ind.— The NIIC is thrilled to announce two northeast Indiana leaders joined the organization to support women-owned businesses as they adapt to a post-COVID-19 pandemic economy. Sarah Lance, EmPWR Project Manager, and Jennifer Romano, EmPWR Community Engagement Coordinator, recently started in newly created positions for the EmPWR (Equity & Prosperity for Women Reimagining) Their Businesses Program. See additional information or apply at https://niic.net/empwr.

“We are very pleased to have Sarah and Jennifer, who are accomplished leaders, join our WEOC team. Both of them are entrepreneurs in their own rights. Each brings a unique skillset and remarkable insight for her new role. Their commitment to women businesses and knowledge of our community will get the EmPWR Program off to the very best possible start,” said Karl LaPan, President and CEO, The NIIC. The NIIC serves as WEOC’s host organization, providing supplemental funding and resources.

The EmPWR Program is a 12-month initiative funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Women’s Business Ownership. EmPWR Program guides businesswomen to innovate, reimagine business models, and gain resiliency, so they thrive and prosper.  The program is available to business owners living in all Indiana counties except the 11 served by the Central Indiana Women’s Business Center.

EmPWR is an extended program of the SBA Women’s Business Center (WEOC) located at its host organization The NIIC. Both programs serve women, with EmPWR focused directly on female founders impacted by COVID-19. “It’s exciting to see SBA grant funding at work,” said SBA Indiana District Director Stacey Poynter. “The Coronavirus pandemic has small businesses focusing on their business models and making critical decisions on how their business operates in the future. SBA is grateful for resource partners like the Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Center (WEOC) at The NIIC who use funding to create innovative programs like EmPWR to help guide small businesses through these unchartered waters.”

Lance most recently served as Sari Bari Director of Brand and Strategy. Sari Bari is a social enterprise she co-founded in 2006 to help women in India escape or avoid human trafficking. Lance grew the company to 130 employees and artisans and established Sari Bari’s retail space in downtown Fort Wayne. Lance developed the company’s wholesale market for creative handmade products, growing the distributor base from zero to more than 100. She raised more than $500,000 for the non-profit through annual fundraising campaigns, social media, and special events. Lance is the 2016 Opus Prize Laureate and managed the $1 million Opus Prize Foundation Award for Sari Bari.

“I am so thankful for the opportunity to be a part of The NIIC community through the new EmPWR Program and specifically to be able to serve women-run businesses who are facing the challenges of COVID-19,” said Lance.

Romano serves as the Whitley County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director. She also was elected in 2015 as a City Councilwoman in Columbia City, Indiana — a role in which she continues to serve.  Romano is also the owner and publisher of Talk of the Town of Whitley County, a digital news service featuring positive news and discussion of community issues. Her career also includes roles at the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber, Parkview Health, the YWCA of Fort Wayne, the Columbia City Post & Mail newspaper, and other regional publications.

“Having met with many business owners in recent weeks, I have seen a lot of uncertainty and a real need for support of our region’s entrepreneurs as they face one of the biggest crises we have seen in a very long time,” said Romano. “I am excited and energized to share the tools and resources developed by The NIIC through the EmPWR Program with not only Northeast Indiana’s businesses and entrepreneurs but also across our state. This program provides an incredible bridge of support and guidance to assist Hoosier businesses through COVID-19 and beyond.”

For more information about the EmPWR Program or to apply to participate, visit niic.net/empwr/.

About The NIIC

467 new products launched, 189 patent applications submitted or granted, and 2,290 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 $91 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. TheNIIC.org. Click here for The NIIC press kit. 

About WEOC

2,354 women and immigrants served, trained, and counseled—since WEOC’s formation five years ago. The Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Center (WEOC) serves Northeast Indiana women at all stages of their business ventures. WEOC responds to the unique needs of women entrepreneurs through business growth coaching, training, and entrepreneurial education, connectivity, and access to capital. WEOC is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. As the Host organization, The NIIC also provides supplemental funding and complementary resources. WEOC is an SBA designated Women’s Business Center—one of two in Indiana. For more information, visit www.inweoc.com.

About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster.  It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

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06.02.20

Women’s Business Builder Takes on Cohort

Excerpt

06.01.20

WEOC Program Announces Cohort 5 for Women in Tech Program

For Immediate Release

June 1, 2020, Fort Wayne, Ind.— Four new Indiana businesses have begun Launch Women Business Builder Program Cohort 5. The intensive, year-long program is for female founders seeking to launch, grow, and accelerate their online businesses and tech ventures. The program is available through the Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Center (WEOC) in Fort Wayne.

Launch Women Business Builders Cohort 5 includes a mix of startups and established businesses.

Kandy Kurves Boutique is an e-tail store and offers plus-size women’s clothing. “I am participating in this program to find the proper resources to help my business grow revenue. I started my business in 2018 and stopped it several times due to the lack of income. So, it’s important to me to learn how about revenue growth, to find mentors and identify grants for my small business,” said Shaneshia Rogan, Founder and CEO.

On Track SRM is a technology company created to help schools and parents keep young learners with special needs on track with their emotions and studies. “I’m not afraid to take risks and work really hard, but I lack experience for staring my own business. Through this program, I hope to gain knowledge and confidence by learning from experienced entrepreneurs,” said Kathryn Austin, Founder. “I’m very passionate about helping students like my daughter gain confidence and learn the skills it takes to be successful.”

Project Andrew is a new business founded by Meghan Britton Gross. It will offer support to secondary grievers, such as siblings, who have suffered the death of a sibling. Often, they are overlooked and may receive less help than their parents. The company has already pivoted since starting the Launch Women Business Builder Program. “I am a mother who works full-time for my entrepreneur parents. This program allows me to have dedicated time to work my business, gain third-party advice, and to prove my business concept,” said Gross.

The Greater Good of Northeast Indiana offers professional networking, event planning, and marketing support to non-profit organizations. Jennifer Norris-Hale is the Founder and CEO.

“Each cohort develops its own language. Cohort members finish each other’s sentences and come to understand each business and each owner. In that tightknit community, dreams are shared, achieved, and celebrated. Failures are felt deep and become learning opportunities. Owners set goals and are held accountable with tough love and understanding only a fellow business owner can give,” said Leslee Hill, WEOC Director.

“This cohort has been through so much with the COVID-19 pandemic. Working from home with children is every bit as demanding as any full-time position. These entrepreneurs are stretching themselves and each other to find excitement and new life in their new businesses,” said Hill.

So far, Launch Women Builder Program has served 30 companies since it began in January 2018. They comprise an alumni group that meets regularly for continued peer-to-peer mentoring and support. These tech-focused companies have developed apps or websites for real estate, ridesharing, the interior design industry, education, wellness, online shopping, an art studio, and membership-based programs and products.

Participating business builders receive one-to-one personal and virtual coaching, peer-to-peer mentoring, shared workspace at The NIIC, training through NIIC Navigator® Learning Management System, potential funding to fuel business growth, and access to the NIIC’s extended talent network. There is no charge to be accepted into the program thanks to the donations of generous partners and funds raised through The NIIC Ideas@Work Movement.

For more information, visit https://niic.net/start/launch-women-business-builder/

About The NIIC

467 new products launched, 189 patent applications submitted or granted, and 2,290 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 $91 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. TheNIIC.org. Click here for The NIIC press kit.

About WEOC

2,354 women and immigrants served, trained, and counseled—since WEOC’s formation five years ago. The Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Center (WEOC) serves Northeast Indiana women at all stages of their business ventures. WEOC responds to the unique needs of women entrepreneurs through business growth coaching, training, and entrepreneurial education, connectivity, and access to capital. WEOC is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. As the Host organization, The NIIC also provides supplemental funding and complementary resources. WEOC is an SBA designated Women’s Business Center—one of two in Indiana. For more information, visit www.inweoc.com.

 

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05.18.20

Know Your Customer

Excerpt

We’ve all been there. Maybe it is a single phrase or a monologue. The reaction is the same. Once alienating language enters the conversation, we tune out and disconnect. It is common knowledge that people must know, like and trust you before they will commit to doing business with you. There is one more equally important piece of the equation: communication.

To properly understand customer needs and address their pain points, first make sure you are connecting with the right people with the right message on the right platform.

Know Your Demographic

Who is your ideal client? Addressing the right audience is crucial…

Refine Your Message

Once you have identified your ideal client, use resources to help target your message…

Optimize Delivery

Where is your ideal audience? On social media? Which platforms?…

Engage Your Client

As a lead-in to the steps above, no matter the platform, consider telling a personal story. Try to engage your audience’s imagination and trigger their senses. Doing so humanizes both you and your brand.

Read the full article on BusinessPeople.com.

05.10.20

NIIC: Small Businesses Must ‘Define New Normal’

Excerpt

FORT WAYNE – The Northeast Indiana Innovation Center in Fort Wayne has been awarded a $420,000 grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration to help small, woman-owned businesses impacted by the pandemic.

05.07.20

The NIIC receives $420,000 U.S. SBA Grant to EmPWR Women-Owned Small Businesses through COVID-19 Pandemic

For immediate release 

May 7, 2020, Fort Wayne, Ind. — Pre COVID-19 pandemic, Indiana was in great fiscal shape. Strong technology, manufacturing, and healthcare sectors led the way. Then, COVID-19 struck. It is no longer business as usual. Small businesses struggle. Projections say upward of 25% to 50% of small businesses are at risk to close within the next year. The SBA is providing relief through a new award opportunity to U.S. Women Business Centers (WBCs) across the United States. Recently, SBA announced an award of $420,000 to the NIIC WEOC (Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Center) to expand service offerings for small businesses during COVID-19.

During COVID-19, all WBCs have met weekly with the SBA to discuss and assess small business owners’ needs. Leslee Hill, WEOC Director, stated, “It has been heartbreaking to hear stories from our local business owners and highly affected areas. WBCs are stepping up to help meet needs across the country. Small business ownership is not for the faint of heart. Small business owners’ innate grit and scrappiness will help them persevere. Current business conditions have gotten many of them down but will not keep them down. I am in awe watching the support they give each other and seeing them pivoting to allow the masses to support them through their biggest time of need.”

Congress and the SBA acted swiftly to address small business needs during COVID-19. “We appreciate their leadership to marshal financial resources to enable WBCs to provide a cadre of value-added services and support to our most vulnerable small businesses in Indiana. This grant will allow us to offer targeted reset and reimagination services to meet small businesses where they need us most. Capital access, innovation services, and addressing critical supply chain gaps and dislocations,” said Hill.

Funding enables the launch of a new 12-month program called EmPWR (Equity & Prosperity for Women Reimagining Their Businesses). EmPWR will extend resources to provide education, training, and business advising to small businesses who have experienced supply chain disruptions, staffing challenges, a decrease in gross receipts, a decline in customers, or a closure as a result of COVID-19. EmPWR services will be available to 83 counties in Indiana. Visit niic.net/empowr/ for program details.

“What we have seen with the emergence of COVID-19 is Indiana small business challenges fall into two categories: near term and longer-term,” said Karl R. LaPan, President & CEO, The NIIC. He explained as the initial shock of the pandemic wears off, small businesses need to reset. “They need to redefine their new normal and focus on liquidity and cash flow. This will improve their chances of survivability. Longer-term, they need to reimagine how to address major business issues, customer acquisition gaps, logistics issues, new solutions, new methods of working, and reinventing themselves.”

Stacey Poynter, SBA Indiana District Director, said, “Since 1953, the mission of the SBA has been to help small businesses start, grow, expand, and recover. We are honored to fund initiatives through our resource partners like WEOC at The NIIC that will help entrepreneurs get back on track by reimagining and building their businesses for the future.”

The NIIC is recruiting dedicated staff for the EmPWR Program, including a project manager and a community outreach coordinator. These are all part-time positions for the twelve-month duration of the program. These individuals will focus on accessibility, partnerships, and reducing friction for EmPWR participants as they build their businesses. Visit niic.net/about/careers/ for more information and to apply.

About WEOC

2,354 women and immigrants served, trained, and counseled—since WEOC’s formation five years ago. The Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Center (WEOC) serves Northeast Indiana women at all stages of their business ventures. WEOC responds to the unique needs of women entrepreneurs through business growth coaching, training, and entrepreneurial education, connectivity, and access to capital. WEOC is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. As the Host organization, The NIIC also provides supplemental funding and complementary resources. WEOC is an SBA designated Women’s Business Center—one of two in Indiana. For more information, visit www.inweoc.com.

About The NIIC

467 new products launched, 189 patent applications submitted or granted, and 2,290 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 $91 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. TheNIIC.org. Click here for The NIIC press kit.

About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster.  It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

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05.06.20

Finding a New Way

Excerpt

Fort Wayne realtor Michelle Mang describes her new business, NUWAYGO, as a cross between Match.com and Realtor.com.

In the current real estate market, buyers are not featured. NUWAYGO highlights home buyers so that homeowners can connect with them contract free.

“Traditionally you are either working with a realtor or a for sale by owner, this is like the middle lane for buying and selling a home.”

Her vision is a web-based enterprise that matches a home buyer with a home seller, reducing the amount of time buyers spend searching homes for sale online and discovering homeowners not yet on the market.

“This empowers the homeowner and the buyer to work together,” Mang adds.

Click here to read the full story on BusinessPeople.com.

04.30.20

#GivingTuesdayNow Campaign to Aid Small Businesses

Small businesses may not have qualified for or received recent COVID-19 funding and still need assistance. The NIIC is launching a one-day campaign on May 5, 2020, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., to raise money for a business recovery fund to provide resources for small businesses to look forward and reset their businesses. It will focus on providing inspirational and financial capital to business builders.

The Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne (CFGFW) is providing matching funds up to $110,000 on a first-come, first-served basis. “The morning of Tuesday, May 5, provides the best opportunity for matched funds through the generosity of the Greater Fort Wayne Community Foundation,” said Karl R. LaPan, President & CEO, The NIIC. “We’re asking all who care about the future of small business in our community to make a gift on Tuesday morning. This is an excellent opportunity to double your donation dollars.” Visit cfgfw.org/donate on May 5 to give.

“Working together we will help support the backbone of our regional economy—small businesses,” said LaPan. Initially, in this campaign, the NIIC seeks $20,000 for a Small Business Recovery Fund. All money received will be used to support a loan pool for NIIC clients to reimagine their businesses. “As companies recover from this immediate crisis and repay their loans, those funds will be reinvested and recirculated continually through the regional economy,” said LaPan.

The NIIC campaign is part of a larger initiative inspired by The Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne. The Foundation is leading a community-wide campaign through the foundation’s website including over 100 participating nonprofit organizations.

About #GivingTuesdayNow

We believe generosity has the power to unite and heal communities in good times and bad. A global threat like COVID-19 touches every person on the planet, and it presents an opportunity to come together as a global community. #GivingTuesdayNow is a new global day of giving and unity that will take place on May 5, 2020 – in addition to the regularly scheduled December 1, 2020, #GivingTuesday – as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19.

Let’s come together to create a wave of generosity, citizen engagement, action from business and philanthropy, and support for communities and nonprofits around the world.

About The NIIC

467 new products launched, 189 patent applications submitted or granted, and 2,290 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 $91 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. TheNIIC.org. Click here for The NIIC press kit.

About WEOC

2,354 women and immigrants served, trained, and counseled—since WEOC’s formation five years ago. The Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Center (WEOC) serves Northeast Indiana women at all stages of their business ventures. WEOC responds to the unique needs of women entrepreneurs through business growth coaching, training, and entrepreneurial education, connectivity and access to capital. WEOC is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. As the Host organization, The NIIC also provides supplemental funding and complementary resources. WEOC is an SBA designated Women’s Business Center—one of two in Indiana. For more information, visit www.inweoc.com.

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