04.14.20

NIIC Provides Virtual Resource for Businesses

04.06.20

Uniquely Uncommon

Melissa Hall, Founder & Owner, Sample Snap App; Jennifer Hunter, Owner, Gensyn Design;  Jack Patton CEO & Founder, STRE.ME

Photos by Jeffrey Crane

The Northeast Indiana Innovation Center offers entrepreneurs the path, programs and potential to achieve success.

The toughest part for an aspiring entrepreneur is that you’re a square peg in a round hole,” says Karl R. LaPan, president and CEO of The Northeast Indiana Innovation Center in Fort Wayne, or The NIIC. “The round hole says you should go get a W-2 job; go the conventional way that’s less risky. But if you’re a square peg, you can see around the corner and you see an opportunity that other people don’t see. You’re willing to do something to make that opportunity real by starting a company.”

LaPan says most people are unsure, tentative and quite frankly, just plain scared by the misconceptions about entrepreneurship. Who can blame them when they associate trying to start a company with television shows like “Shark Tank?”

“We’ve all been negatively impacted by programs like that and all these harsh competitions around the country,” says LaPan. “But what if we were to make entrepreneurship more approachable? Then we could encourage more people to step forward and make it a legitimate career choice. The NIIC offers a safety net to anyone with an idea for a new business, no matter what the sector.”

Located off Stellhorn Road on Fort Wayne’s northeast side, The NIIC was incorporated twenty years ago by a partnership of community organizations: the City of Fort Wayne, Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce, Allen County and then-Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). The NIIC is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization committed to growing the regional entrepreneurship community.

When Jack Patton went off on his own to solely found STRE.ME Strategy Services, he turned to the community of coaches and entrepreneurs at The NIIC.

“The team is always accessible, open to providing feedback and offers thought-provoking questions,” says Patton. “As a solo founder, these are important support mechanisms because the startup process can be isolating and myopia can creep in when you least expect it. In the end, The NIIC has increased my company’s likelihood of success by offering other perspectives, complementary resources and a supportive environment.”

“We serve anyone,” says Tammy Allen, Director of Marketing and Programs at The NIIC. “There’s a myth that we only work with high-end startups. We serve all kinds of ventures at all stages. We offer many different programs, including student, tech and women’s programs. Most importantly, we recognize that each person’s entrepreneurial journey is unique.”

Jennifer Hunter, Founder and Design Thinker of Gensyn Design, LLC, credits the Launch Women’s Business Builder Program (LWBB) through The NIIC for bringing her entrepreneurial vision to life.

“I had big ideas, but lacked the knowledge needed to start my own business,” says Hunter. “The LWBB provided just the pathway I needed, guiding the process of how to turn my ideas into a business model by providing coaching, mentoring by women role models and providing access to funding and office space.”

Melissa Hall, Sample Snap App, says, “When I think about my business development so far, I think of the contributions – providing clear, objective suggestions, network, accountability, and connectivity to others – I’ve gained through the NIIC and the WEOC.”

Allen and LaPan say in the past year, The NIIC received significant funding through a grant program from the Foellinger Foundation. The grant supports The NIIC’s efforts to partner with local nonprofit organizations to create an entrepreneurial pipeline with underestimated groups through special “Breakthrough”grant funding from the Foundation.

“The NIIC proposed an innovative way of reaching entrepreneurs where they are,” says Allen. “For example, one of the organizations we’re working with is Amani Family Services, Inc. They assist immigrants and refugees who relocate to Fort Wayne. If someone they’re assisting wants to start a business, Amani Family Services does not specialize in helping people start businesses – but we do. So, there’s an opportunity for all of us to work together to help that individual move forward.”

Breakthrough is in its very early stages, but Irene Paxia, Executive Director of Amani Family Services, says the program is very promising.

“Many of our clients were already entrepreneurs in their countries,” says Paxia. “However, the odds are against them in the United States when they lack language skills. They also have to climb mountains such as limited access to credit when their credit history is deficient. To reduce the barriers that immigrants and refugees have, it is necessary to have more than pamphlets at our hands – we need a shift in expectations and a systemic adaptation of our competitive market.”

Another organization chosen to be a part of the Breakthrough program is the Allen County Public Library.

“Breakthrough is a natural fit for both the Allen County Public Library (ACPL) and The NIIC because it allows both organizations to better serve the needs of our users,” says Nate Burnard, Manager of the Main Library in downtown Fort Wayne. “For the ACPL, the NIIC is a fantastic resource to connect entrepreneurs at any stage of their journeys. For The NIIC, the ACPL can provide specialized resources and research services for their clients, as well as access to diverse neighborhoods and communities through our 14 branches across Allen County. Working more closely together allows us to better target the services we provide to the people who can use them the most. It’s a win-win for both organizations.”

Blue Jacket, The League and Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Center (WEOC) are also program partners. LaPan adds that everyone in the community wins when The NIIC and its Breakthrough partners achieve success as they continue to build upon the program in the coming year. Additional support organizations see the value of this program, and partnerships are forming with Joshua’s Hand/Posterity Heights and others.

“We know that when there are higher levels of entrepreneurial activity in a community, there are higher per capita income levels and a more connected and fulfilled life for people living in those communities. Our combined success will have a positive impact on everyone in our community.”

 

03.31.20

NIIC Navigator® Academy—Virtual, Global Resources and Tools—Available for Small Businesses

The NIIC and The Academy by Breakthrough4Business Partnership Propels Launch

For immediate release 

March 31, 2020, Fort Wayne, Ind. — Recently, the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center (The NIIC) launched a new virtual resource center (https://niic.net/virtual-resource-center/). It provides access to virtual business building tools and enhanced services to support Indiana’s entrepreneurial community while all combat the spread of COVID-19. Through a partnership with The Academy by Breakthrough4Business, the new NIIC Navigator® Academy portal offers a suite of virtual services for small businesses. This expanded offering of The NIIC provides additional ways to keep learning, linking, and collaborating as early-stage companies pivot, evolve their business models, and restart their businesses.

“Our partnership with Breakthrough4Business reflects our shared vision to level the entrepreneurial playing field and gives access to proven resources and encouragement to business builders. We recognize and celebrate the role small businesses play in restarting and growing our economy—locally and nationally,” said Karl R. LaPan, NIIC President and CEO.

The New NIIC Navigator® Academy builds on the online learning management system available through The NIIC. For the next 12 months, The NIIC is waiving sign-up and membership fees its advance level (valued at $97 per month per person) to any company, organization or micro-entrepreneur in Indiana to support their efforts to reset and reimagine their business and to assist them in activating their business. “The NIIC is a fortunate recipient of a technical assistance grant from U.S. SBA’s Prime Program. One area of focus is to launch and grow accessible resources to support microenterprises directly through The NIIC OPENS Program,” said LaPan.

To join this online community and have the opportunity to connect to a broader network of business builders and scaling organizations globally, visit http://www.niicnavigator.academy/. “As part of our commitment to preparing vulnerable early-stage companies for the new normal, we are pleased to bring important business-building support services—forums, online tools, curated videos, webinars, and a resource library to interested and motivated business builders, existing companies or non-profit organizations in Indiana,” said LaPan.

Steven Dixon, Founder of The Academy by Breakthrough4Business, stated, “In these unprecedented times, the need for action, connections and learning has never been greater. To ease the disruption, confusion, isolation, and loss of momentum that some business builders and entrepreneurs have experienced, we are collaborating with leading entrepreneurial centers to offer a highly dynamic and connected platform to support the global entrepreneurial community.”

The Academy provides a highly curated set of tools and resources to enable entrepreneurial companies and business builders to access:

• world-class business podcasts;
• tools to be more productive and profitable;
• support to enhance and grow an online presence;
• library access to motivational and inspirational business-building videos; and
• access to a forum to ask questions and get advice.

About The NIIC OPENS Program

To learn more about the NIIC OPENS program powered by the U.S. SBA, please visit our web page at: https://niic.net/inclusive-entrepreneurship/opens/.

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 B4B (Breakthrough4Business)

Headquartered in Australia, B4B Academy (https://www.b4b.academy/) provides online business coaching, training, education and mentoring services to all stages of a business through an innovative online platform and portal that curates podcasts, books, tools, mentors, coaches and other resources to support and empower a vibrant global entrepreneurial community.

###

03.24.20

Business Builders Adapt to Changes from COVID-19

Innovation Center Adapts with them, bolstering virtual business support

 For immediate release 

March 24, 2020, Fort Wayne, Ind.—In the wake of changes to daily lives due to COVID-19, business builders seek new ways to continue to operate their businesses. The Northeast Indiana Innovation Center (The NIIC) and Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Center (WEOC) are right there with them. NIIC and WEOC continue to support the Northeast Indiana entrepreneurial community while all combat the spread of COVID-19.

“We recognize the disruption and uncertainty existing with our clients, community, and world as we manage through these unprecedented times. To help guide business builders through this, we created a virtual business center that includes resources, tools, and information that may prove useful. Visit https://niic.net/virtual-resource-center/#covid for more information on our programs and services. We now offer many of our tools and services in a virtual format. We are creating new content for our existing online tools, like NIIC Navigator® Online Tool Set, to address the new challenges facing entrepreneurs. We remain available to business builders. Whether it is to help maintain their confidence, rethink business models, or pivot to new models as applicable,” said Karl R. LaPan, President and CEO, The NIIC.

“It’s important that entrepreneurs know they are not alone, especially during these difficult times,” said Leslee Hill, WEOC Director. “That’s why we created new, regular office hours through our online communities. We are partnering with local experts who are volunteering their time to provide guidance and an ongoing community of support.”

Virtual resources available include:

• Regular virtual office hours—Topics will include general questions and answers format about current business challenges. Participants will help drive the discussion as well. Local experts will team with WEOC to advise on topical issues. Hill leads the WEOC virtual office hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., on the WEOC Facebook page.
• One-to-one business tele coaching—personalized business coaching continues through teleconference with WEOC and NIIC professional business coaches.

• Mastermind Groups—These groups continue to meet virtually every week or at the discretion of master mind participants.

• Virtual training/webinars—WEOC 2020 events are being delivered virtually and started last week. The Connected Health Lab Third Thursday Connections are being rescheduled and will be offered virtually. Please visit Org/our-events for event details. The training webinars will be recorded and available on The NIIC YouTube Channel and TheNIIC.org.

“We invite you to stay connected with us through our online communities (NIIC Facebook, WEOC Facebook, NIIC LinkedIn, WEOC LinkedIn, NIIC Instagram, WEOC Instagram, NIIC YouTube) and to subscribe to our e-newsletter for updates. Select NIIC staff members remain available to clients and small business owners, and we urge you to contact us via email if needed (go to https://niic.net/about/our-people/ and click on the person’s email address). That includes Tammy Allen, Mike Fritsch, Leslee Hill, Rachel McNeely, and me,” said LaPan.

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.

Contact: Tammy Allen, Director, Marketing & Programs, info@niic.net, 260-407-1731

02.19.20

Women’s business center director launches a new APP–Development process leads to better coaching of tech clients

For Immediate Release

February 19, 2020, Fort Wayne, Ind. — Leslee Hill is taking a dose of her own medicine. For the past two years, she has coached entrepreneurial women and minorities as director of the Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Center (WEOC) at the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center (The NIIC). Recently, she launched her own mobile app business to practice the principles she preaches at WEOC.

“Developing an app company sharpens my skills to better serve our clients in tech, like those in our Launch Women Business Builders Program (registration is open for cohort 5),” said Hill. The idea for the new app came to her during training to become a Certified Coach for the Wendy Kennedy International (WKI) Institute.

The NIIC is the only entrepreneurial service organization in the region to offer The WKI methodology to business builders. Hill is one of four certified coaches, which also includes Karl LaPan, Mike Fritsch, and Tammy Allen.  “I needed a business concept to apply what we learned. So, having previous experience as a fashion-consulting business owner, it was natural to choose a fashion app as my business concept,” said Hill.

This is Hill’s first foray into the highly competitive world of app development. She applies the valuable lessons she has learned as she coaches WEOC clients. “I’m more confident coaching female founders in tech after putting into practice the WKI principles and bringing this new app to market,” said Hill.

“I want this to be successful, but not for idealistic American Dream reasons,” said Hill. “I want it to be successful, so I can tell founders that these are the right steps. These are the things that work and don’t work so that I can coach others more effectively from personal experience.”

That desire meshes perfectly with Hill’s role and passion for serving women through WEOC. “Women often come to us with big dreams but may not know how to develop a viable business plan or raise venture capital. If they have launched a small business, they may struggle to understand how to scale their company,” explained Hill. “At WEOC, we’ve always offered expert coaching to these business builders. Now, I am working alongside them in developing my own business.”

What about her dual roles as a full-time WEOC Director and business owner? “It’s challenging yet so rewarding! I love both roles. I appreciate The NIIC and the U.S. Small Business Administration for catching my vision for learning by doing and their continued support. They express confidence in me and help me find the resources I need. That’s the same kind of support I want to continue to provide to female founders at WEOC,” said Hill.

Hill’s new mobile app offers users crowdsourced feedback on their clothing choices. Women can upload to the app a selfie of them wearing an outfit. Other users of the app provide advice about whether to keep or pitch the item, how to accessorize it, or modifications to make it better. Advanced versions of the app will offer personalized guidance from professional image consultants.

“The app is called RIDME, which has an intentional double meaning,” said Hill. “It helps users get rid of clothing that doesn’t work for them. It also helps them get rid of the stress of getting dressed. I want women to be confident in their wardrobes, save money, choose clothes that match their body types, and feel better about themselves.” The app is for women of all ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds. “The app helps women create their ideal personal image, from the inside out, all from the convenience of their mobile phone.”

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.

02.18.20

2020 NIIC Events Offer Practical Insights for Region’s Entrepreneurs

For Immediate Release

February 18, 2020, Fort Wayne, Ind. — Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2020, The NIIC (Northeast Indiana Innovation Center) will offer a range of workshops and events to educate, train, and connect the entrepreneurial community. The line-up includes focused insights for the biosciences and tech sectors, female founders, and traditionally disadvantaged small-business owners. Event information is available at theniic.net/our-events.

A highlight of the coming year will be the annual IDEAS@WORK Entrepreneurial Movement on April 21, 2020. Each year this event convenes innovators, business builders, and community leaders at the Parkview Mirro Center for Research and Innovation to celebrate and recognize the spirit of entrepreneurship in Northeast Indiana.

New this year, NIIC Connected Health Lab offers Third Thursday Connections. These include a mix of panel discussions, presentations, and workshops with networking. These events convene entrepreneurs, healthcare innovators, and investment groups, to discuss issues around connected health, also known as health IoT (Internet of Things).

Karen Stahl, Director of Business Development, Moake Park Group, Inc., has attended several workshops offered through WEOC (Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Center) and the NIIC. “I have found great value in the information and topics presented. The staff does an amazing job putting these events together and the presenters always have great insight. The knowledge gained from these events is actionable and I expand my network through discussions with other participants. We are fortunate to have NIIC and WEOC in our community and for all they do to support women business owners and small businesses.”

WEOC continues Caffeinated Conversations Series this year to connect business builders with local business experts to discuss advice about their ventures. WEOC and 1st Source Bank continue collaboration on a leadership series of invitation-only events. SCORE Northeast Indiana and WEOC are co-sponsoring events around digital aspects of business building.

The NIIC is committed to removing barriers for all individuals striving to develop and grow their businesses. This year, The NIIC will offer a series of programs to help disadvantaged small business owners, including minorities and the disabled, to pursue business-building loans and equity funding. These programs are funded in part by grants from the U.S. Small Business Administration Program for Investment in Micro entrepreneurs.

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.

Contact: Tammy Allen, Director, Marketing & Programs, info@niic.net, 260-407-1731

01.08.20

Connected Health Lab Event Suggests Innovative Solutions

Applications in Goal Setting and Accountability

Anne Marie Labenberg, MSN, RN, MSM, Founder of RAISE Consulting, and Jack Patton, CEO and Founder of STRE.ME, will lead a discussion titled Connected Health: Applications in Goal Setting and Accountability, which is about the role of innovation in healthcare. The event is on January 16,12:00 to 1:30 p.m., at the NIIC. There is no charge to attend and registration is required. Register for the event on Eventbrite.

“Healthcare treatment and prevention are linked to making behavioral changes and cultivating resources to support those changes. The introduction of innovative technological approaches to goal setting, progress tracking, and achievement can and will enhance the outcomes in healthcare,” said Labenberg. “This innovation will be the future of controlling costs while simultaneously improving outcomes for both individuals and communities. The use of this technology can be used to greatly reduce epidemics, including maternal and infant mortality, as well as the ongoing opioid crisis.”

Patton developed the STRE.ME mobile app to help users set goals, engage accountability partners, receive encouragement, and track daily progress. “Connected technologies like this can be implemented in a wide range of business and personal applications — from empowering healthcare providers to improve their services to encouraging patients to stay on track with preventative and ongoing care,” said Patton.

The Connected Health Lab is the sponsor of the event and is located in the biomedical wing on the NIIC’s campus. “This event has implications for all three focus areas of NIIC’s Connected Health Lab: cost, quality of care, and patient experience. Modifying patient behaviors and medical team interactions have strong potential to broadly impact all three areas,” said Karl R. LaPan, President & CEO, The NIIC. “STRE.ME is one of a growing number of high-tech and bio-science startups incubated at the NIIC. Several health tech companies have launched their businesses at the NIIC, including BioPoly, LLC, Solstice Medical, LLC, and OrthoPediatrics to name a few.”

This event is for those interested in large-scale public health issues and how innovation in connected health may help individuals and healthcare providers achieve important goals. During monthly events on the third Thursday of each month, Connected Health Lab convenes entrepreneurs, healthcare innovators, and investment groups to discuss issues around connected health, also known as health IoT (Internet of things).

About The NIIC

444 new products developed, 174 patents applied for/granted, and 2,200 direct/indirect jobs created—that is what entrepreneurs have achieved through The NIIC since its formation about 20 years ago. The NIIC has also helped Northeast Indiana entrepreneurs attract $86.8 million in grants and capital.

The NIIC is a non-profit, vibrant entrepreneurial community. We help business builders and entrepreneurs launch and grow successful business ventures. We help innovative companies innovate. We are 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.

11.26.19

Emerging Issues in Connected Health Panel, Join the Discussion

November 26, 2019, Fort Wayne, Ind.—Area health technology and business leaders will convene to discuss new developments in today’s health industry at The Northeast Indiana Innovation Center (The NIIC). The event will be Thursday, December 5, 2019, 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.

“The Internet of Things is everywhere, and it is changing everything in healthcare, from patient to provider to product to payer.  Its endless opportunities bring healthcare into the digital age,” said John McDonald, CEO, ClearObject.

Jessica Carender, NIIC Partner Engagement Manager, will moderate an expert panel, including:

• John McDonald, CEO, ClearObject, Indiana’s leading Internet of Things (IoT) Systems Integrator. He is a founder and board member of the Indiana Technology & Innovation Association, chairman of the Technology & Innovation Committee of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, a board member of TechPoint, the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, the Indiana India Business Council, and the Social Enterprise Alliance. Additionally, he is a member of the IBM PartnerWorld Global Business Partner Advisory Council, the advisory council for Hamilton Southeastern Schools, the Workforce Alignment council of Ivy Tech Community College, and the Dean’s Council for the Purdue Polytechnic Institute at Purdue University.
• Ethel Massing, MSHI, SHIMSS, Innovation Project Specialist, the Mirro Center for Research and Innovation at Parkview Health, where she leads innovation within Parkview, manages startup company projects, and runs the Datapalooza and Innovation competition series. She is also the current president of the Indiana chapter of HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society).
• J. J. Lane Carroll, FSA, MAA, Head New Solutions Group, Swiss Re, an innovation team dedicated to developing solutions for clients to close the $25 trillion mortality protection gap in the U.S. Carroll is responsible for the coordination of Swiss Re’s strategy related to new underwriting and customer experience solutions that help clients better connect, transact, and retain insurance customers.

“Connected Health is making it possible to deliver more personalized life insurance offerings to ensure that more families are protected financially in the event of the death of a family member,” said J.J. Lane Carroll, FSA, MAA, Head New Solutions, Swiss Re Holdings.

This event is being brought to the community by the Connected Health Lab Program at The NIIC. The program was formed to complete IoT discovery or research. The focus is to bring together the pieces and players to evolve innovation through products and services in the space. This panel discussion is the first of what promises to be many Connected Health Lab events to accomplish that.

Seating is limited, and advance registration is required. Registration cost is $25. Check-in/networking begins at 7 a.m. with the panel discussion beginning promptly at 7:30 a.m. Click here to register.

About The NIIC

The NIIC is a non-profit, vibrant entrepreneurial community. We help business builders and entrepreneurs launch and grow successful business ventures. We are located in a designated U.S. Small Business Administration HUB Zone, and in April 2018, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb designated The Northeast Indiana Innovation Park Campus as an Opportunity Zone through the U.S. Treasury. Formed in 1999 by a consortium of community and government leaders and organizations, The NIIC was recognized by Entrepreneur magazine in 2013 as one of the top four under-the-radar incubators in the country. This basically means Entrepreneur magazine, with the help of International Business Incubation Association, picked four U.S. incubators to highlight, and we were one of them. In their words, we “stand out in a state not always perceived as small business friendly.” The NIIC is the country’s only ISO9001:2015 registered business incubation and acceleration program. TheNIIC.org. Click here for The NIIC press kit.

Media contact: Tammy Allen, Director, Marketing & Programs – The NIIC, info@niic.net  | Telephone: 260-407-1731

08.19.19

Northeast Indiana Business Startups to Receive Additional Support

Flagstar Foundation Awards Grant to Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Center (WEOC)

August 19, 2019, Fort Wayne, Ind.—Underserved entrepreneurs in Northeast Indiana are the focus of a $5,000 grant from the Flagstar Foundation, the charitable arm of Flagstar Bank. It recently awarded the grant to The Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Center (WEOC), located at The NIIC.

“Hoosiers start new businesses every month at the rate of 40 percent less than the United States as a whole. For Indiana’s economy to thrive and for all citizens to have a level playing field for social and economic prosperity, underserved business builders who have been, as Kaufman Foundation cites, ‘systematically left behind due to demographic, socioeconomic and geographic barriers’ must be given the tools and support to start, build and grow businesses,” said Karl R. LaPan, President & CEO, The NIIC.

Flagstar Bank joined forces with its new communities in Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio to help determine where to award $260,000 as a part of the Flagstar Crafts Community initiative. There were more than 150 contending nonprofits nominated by Flagstar branches, and 14,000 votes were cast by the public. The winning nonprofits received $5,000 grants from Flagstar. The nominees were evaluated on how they aligned with Flagstar’s community reinvestment objectives and the three giving pillars of the Flagstar Foundation. These pillars include: apprenticeship and workforce readiness; arts and culture; and financial capability. The winners were selected by the community for the community.

“We often hear that underserved entrepreneurs, including women, immigrants, minorities, disabled and rural populations, typically do not ask for assistance. This grant will inclusively address the needs of these groups, using targeted community-based entrepreneurial support,” said Ryan Goldberg, Director of Retail Banking, Flagstar Bank. “Investing in our local communities is a Flagstar tradition. It’s something we said we would do when we came into this market, and we’re excited to make it happen.”

Most women business owners bootstrap their ventures, which restricts their ability to grow their ventures, according to Leslee Hill, Director, WEOC. “This grant was completely unexpected and such a delight. Flagstar’s $5,000 grant means that we can provide further assistance to our clients. We are so thankful to have been nominated, and even more thankful to receive this grant,” said Hill.

“The NIIC and WEOC are focused on access and on-ramps to assist underestimated communities and business builders to get the resources and tools they need to take their ideas and businesses to the next level. Funding support from organizations like Flagstar Foundation help make people’s business dreams a reality,” said LaPan.

Photo Caption

Pictured left to right: Gary Wolf, Director of Branch Integration, Quad State and First Vice President, Flagstar Bank; Stephanie Coppolino, Flagstar South Fort Wayne Market Manager; Leslee Hill, Director, WEOC; Brent Yohey, Flagstar North Fort Wayne Market Manager (photo by Flagstar Bank).

About Flagstar Bank

Flagstar Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: FBC) is an $20.2 billion savings and loan holding company headquartered in Troy, Mich. Flagstar Bank, FSB, provides commercial, small business, and consumer banking services through 160 branches in Michigan, Indiana, California, Wisconsin and Ohio. It also provides home loans through a wholesale network of brokers and correspondents in all 50 states, as well as 78 retail locations in 21 states, representing the combined retail branches of Flagstar and its Opes Advisors mortgage division. Flagstar is a leading national originator and servicer of mortgage and other consumer loans, handling payments and record keeping for $203 billion of loans representing 983,000 borrowers. For more information, please visit flagstar.com.

About The NIIC

The NIIC is a non-profit, vibrant entrepreneurial community. We help business builders and entrepreneurs launch and grow successful business ventures. We are located in a designated U.S. Small Business Administration HUB Zone, and in April 2018, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb designated The Northeast Indiana Innovation Park Campus as an Opportunity Zone through the U.S. Treasury. Formed in 1999 by a consortium of community and government leaders and organizations, The NIIC was recognized by Entrepreneur magazine in 2013 as one of the top four under-the-radar incubators in the country. This basically means Entrepreneur magazine, with the help of International Business Incubation Association, picked four U.S. incubators to highlight, and we were one of them. In their words, we “stand out in a state not always perceived as small business friendly.” 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

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. In October 2017, the name changed to Women’s Entrepreneurial (instead of Economic) Opportunity Center to more accurately reflect what WEOC does. WEOC is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. As the Host Organization, The NIIC also provides funding and supplemental and complementary resources for WEOC, an SBA designated Women’s Business Center—one of two in Indiana. For more information, visit www.inweoc.com.

10.08.18

ProSpeak: Business Building – Women and Diversity

Excerpt

“The rate of women-owned businesses has grown nearly four times that of male-owned businesses the past 20 years, according to “Women-Owned Businesses: A Tale of Two Types of Entrepreneurs,” Forbes.

Whether located in urban areas or in the lesser served rural America, women business builders identified needing assistance in three main areas: financial support, success mindset and support network.

You may wonder why this is true. A study conducted by Marco Del Giudice, noted profound differences in a sampling of 10,000 U.S. male and female citizens (Psychology Today). This is one of the first studies to confirm women scored much higher than men in sensitivity, warmth and apprehension (also known as imposter syndrome).”

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