Resources

This is for informational purposes only and is not a NIIC endorsement.

There are Dozens of Resources for Business Builders in Northeast Indiana.

We’ve learned from entrepreneurs in our community it can be hard to know where to turn for support or help while launching and scaling a business.

That’s why we offer this resource page for you. These are viable resources to help guide you based on what you need.

Funded through a grant with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) sba.gov.

Filter Resources by Category:

Accelerator

Accelerator
Fee: N

Amazon

Website →
Amazon Store Small Business Accelerator Program
Accelerator
Fee: N

Amazon

Website →
Amazon's Black Business Accelerator-Dedicated to helping build sustainable equity and growth for Black entrepreneurs by enabling their success as sellers. Grow your business with access to financial support, strategic business guidance and mentorship, and marketing and promotional support.
Accelerator
Fee: N

gener8tor

Website →
Education & Workforce Innovation Accelerators
Accelerator
Fee: N

gener8tor

Website →
gBeta Indiana
Accelerator
Fee: N

KEDCO

Website →
MedTech Accelerator Studio
Accelerator
Fee: N

NEXT Studios

Website →
Discovery Workshop
Accelerator
Fee: 10% of your business

Next View Ventures Accelerator

Website →
This program is intended for pre-seed and seed-stage companies that are incorporated and targeting customers in North America. Startups that have been operational for less than three years and have previously raised less than $2M of capital will be considered. All startups receive $400K for 10% of the company upon acceptance into the program.
Accelerator
Fee: N

Rev Summer Prototyping Hardware Accelerator

Website →
The Rev Summer Prototyping Hardware Accelerator is open to anyone with an idea for a product and a passion for entrepreneurship. The program is free and open to the public, and teams do not need to have a legally-formed LLC to participate
Accelerator
Fee: N

Target Accelerator Programs

Website →
Must be an early stage consumer packaged goods (CPG) company focused on growth and scaling for mass retail. Target Forward Founders program is a 10-week virtual startup accelerator program for early-stage consumer packaged goods companies looking to better understand retail. The Target Takeoff program is a 6-week virtual startup accelerator program for mature consumer packaged goods companies in the essentials and food and beverage space looking to take their brand to the next level and scale into mass retail. Funding of $5,000.
Accelerator
Fee: N

TechStars

Website →
During each three-month program, they surround companies with the best mentors and an unrivaled network of corporate partners, investors, and alumni.  Companies can receive $20K for 6% of company.  Various locations and due dates
Accelerator
Fee: N

WEOC WBC

Website →
Launch Women Business Builder Program

Business Plans

Business Plans
Lean Canvas
Fee: N

co.STARTERS

Website →
co.STARTERS Fillable Canvas
Business Plans
Lean Canvas
Fee: Varies

LeanStack

Website →
Lean Canvas
Business Plans
Business Plan Assistance, Mentoring
Business Plans
Business Plan Cohort

Purdue Extension

Website →
Purdue Extension
Business Plans
Business Plan Template
Fee: N

SCORE

Website →
Business Plan Template
Business Plans
Business Plan Cohort
Fee: Y
Build Fort Wayne
Business Plans

WEOC Women's Business Center

Website →
Business Plan Assistance, Mentoring

Capital

Capital
Equity-based
Fee: Varies

37 Angels

Website →
Female Founder VC List
Capital
Equity-based
Fee: Y

100K Incubator

Website →
Business Funding Mobile App for Women
Capital
Grants
Fee: N

Amber Grants

Website →
$10,000 Grants for Women Business Owners
Capital
Loans
Fee: Varies

Bankable

Website →
Small Business Loans
Capital
Grants
Fee: N

Barclays

Website →
Barclay's Small Business Grant Must be business based in US and share your story for prizes from $3000 to $60,000.
Capital
Grants
Fee: N

Believe In A Dream

Website →
$1,000 Grants for Young Entrepreneurs
Capital
Equity-based
Fee: Varies

Boomerang Ventures

Website →
Indiana Life Sciences Venture Capital
Capital
Loans
Fee: $75

Brightpoint

Website →
Brightpoint Development Fund-Small Business Loans
Capital
Loans
Fee: Varies

Community Development Corporation of Northeast Indiana

Website →
Various Business Loan Programs
Capital
Equity-based
Fee: Varies

CORI Innovation Fund

Website →
Rural Venture Capital
Capital
Grants
Fee: N

Dyer Family Foundation

Website →
Up to $25,000 for small businesses and enterpreneurs in Fort Wayne, IN
Capital
Competitive (Pitch)
Fee: N

Elevate Ventures

Website →
$20,000-$80,000 Regional Indiana Pitch Competition
Capital
Competitive (Pitch)
Fee: N

Elevate Ventures

Website →
$40,000-$100,000 Statewide Indiana Pitch Competition
Capital
Equity-based
Fee: Varies

Elevate Ventures

Website →
Indiana Venture Capital
Capital
Friends & Family
Fee: N

Entrepreneur Magazine

Website →
Article - The Ins and Outs of Raising Money from Friends and Family
Capital
Grants
Fee: N

Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund

Website →
The Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund is a small grant program that provides direct assistance to veterans who are in their beginning years of farming or ranching. The Fellowship Fund does not give money directly to the veteran, but rather to third-party vendors for items the veteran has identified will make a crucial difference in the launch of their farm business. Awards range from $1,000 to $5,000
Capital
Grants
Fee: N

Fast Break for Small Businesses

Website →
Fast Break for Small Business is focused on supporting and investing in Black-owned small businesses by awarding $10,000 grants and a free LegalZoom product or service valued up to $500.
Capital
Grants
Fee: N

Fortitude Fund

Website →
$500-$2,500 Grant Application
Capital
Revenue-based
Fee: Y

Founders First Capital

Website →
Revenue-based Loans for Under-represented Populations
Capital
Grants
Fee: Varies

Grants for Women

Website →
Various Grants/Scholarships for Women
Capital
Grants
Fee: N

Halstead Grant

Website →
Halstead Grant is an annual award for emerging silver jewelry artists. Applicants submit answers to 15 business questions in addition to their design portfolios. The experience is designed to help jewelry entrepreneurs create a strategy to kick-start their careers. Grant for $7,500.
Capital
Grants
Fee: N

Hello Alice

Website →
Various Small Business Grants
Capital
Grants
Fee: N

Indiana Small Business Development Center (ISBDC)

Website →
Indiana Technical Assistance Program (INTAP)
Capital
Competitive (Pitch)
Fee: N

Innovate WithIN

Website →
$25,000 High School Student Pitch Competition
Capital
Equity-based
Fee: N

Investopedia

Website →
Article - What is VC and How Does It Work?
Capital
Grants
Fee: N

Jane Walker

Website →
$10,000 Grants for Women Business Owners in Entertainment & Film, Music, Sports, STEM, Journalism, & Hospitality
Capital
Access
Fee: Varies

KIVA Northeast Indiana

Website →
Through facilitating access to capital, we strive to empower US small business owners and future entrepreneurs reach their goals.
Capital
Grants
Fee: N

Ladies Who Launch

Website →
Provides a $10,000 grant, business education, mentorship, advisory support, community, and amplification for US-based women and non-binary business owners and entrepreneurs.
Capital
Equity-based
Fee: Varies
$500k-$3M Venture Capital Investment, Midwest Focused
Capital
Equity-based
Fee: Varies

Mammoth Capital

Website →
Indiana-based Life Sciences and Bio Tech Venture Capital
Capital
Loans
Fee: N
Kiva Northeast Indiana up to $15,000
Capital
Equity-based
Fee: Varies

Raven Capital

Website →
Indigenous Enterprise Venture Capital in U.S. and Canada
Capital
Grants
Fee: N

Roddenberry Catalyst Fund

Website →
Up to $15,000 for Nonprofits & Social Enterprises to fund ideas or early-stage projects that have a high potential for large-scale impact and sustainable change. social entrepreneur or a first-time changemaker. Eligible candidates for the Catalyst Fund may be individuals, teams of individuals, non-profit organizations, or social enterprises.
Capital
Grants
Fee: N

Sage "Invest in Progress" Grant through BOSS Impact Fund

Website →
The BOSS Impact Fund supports Black women-led businesses to build scalable, growth-aggressive companies. Must be US-based,for-profit business. Funding of $10,000.
Capital
Training Module
Fee: N

Small Business Administration (SBA)-Ascent

Website →
Financial Literacy Program
Capital
Training Module
Fee: N

Small Business Administration (SBA)-Ascent

Website →
Types of Capital
Capital
Equity-based
Fee: Varies

SoGal

Website →
South Bend Chapter - Diversity-focused Venture Capital
Capital
Grants
Fee: N

SoGal

Website →
$5,000-$10,000 Black Founder Startup Grant
Capital
Bootstrapping
Fee: N

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Website →
Article - Bootstrapping Your Startup: What to Know About Self-Funding
Capital
Loans
Fee: Varies

Various Banks

Website →
Small Business Administration (SBA) - 7a Loans
Capital
Grants
Fee: N

Verizon

Website →
$10,000 Small Business Digital Ready Grant
Capital
Equity-based
Fee: Varies

Vision Tech

Website →
Indiana/Ohio Venture Capital
Capital
Grants
Fee: N

Wish Local Empowerment Program

Website →
You must be a Black-owned business with a brick-and-mortar shop within the United States and less than 20 employees. If selected for the program, you must join Wish Local (which is free). Grants for up to $2000

Coaching

Coaching
1:1 Hourly Coaching
Fee: Varies
Community Navigator Pilot Program
Coaching
1:1 Hourly Coaching
Fee: Varies
WEOC Women's Business Center
Coaching
Mentor
Fee: N

SCORE

Website →
Mentoring
Coaching
Mentor
Fee: N

Verizon

Website →
Small Business Digital Ready

Community

Community
Youth Monthly Meetup
Fee: N

Believe In A Dream

Website →
Believe In Your Business: PEERS!
Community
Online community
Fee: N

Freed Fellowship

Website →
Every month, one $500 grant is awarded to an underrepresented founder in the US to invest in their existing business. No strings attached. No equity required. Grant recipients are also eligible to receive an additional end-of-year grant of $2,500
Community
Fee: N

Start Small Think Big

Website →
is a nonprofit that helps small businesses with high potential and limited access to the resources needed to create thriving businesses.
Community
Online Events
Fee: N

Verizon

Website →
Small Business Digital Ready

Disaster and Recovery

Disaster and Recovery
Training Module
Fee: N

Small Business Administration (SBA)-Ascent

Website →
Disaster and Economic Recovery

Financial

Financial
Lending
Fee: Varies

KIVA Northeast Indiana

Website →
Through facilitating access to capital, we strive to empower US small business owners and future entrepreneurs reach their goals.
Financial
Lending
Fee: Varies

NIIC – KIVA Northeast Indiana

Website →
Through facilitating access to capital, we strive to empower US small business owners and future entrepreneurs reach their goals.
Financial
Template
Fee: N

SCORE

Website →
12-Month Cash Flow
Financial
Template
Fee: N

SCORE

Website →
12-Month Sales Forecast
Financial
Template
Fee: N

SCORE

Website →
3-Year Profit & Loss
Financial
Training Module
Fee: N

Small Business Administration (SBA)-Ascent

Website →
Business Financial Statements
Financial
Training Module
Fee: N

Small Business Administration (SBA)-Ascent

Website →
Financial Projections
Financial
Training Module
Fee: N

Small Business Administration (SBA)-Ascent

Website →
Personal and Business Finances
Financial
Training Video
Fee: N

Verizon

Website →
Small Business Digital Ready

Government Contracting

Government Contracting
Government Grants (SBIR/STTR)
Fee: Y

Elevare

Website →
1:1 Consulting
Government Contracting
Fee: N

Indiana Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC)

Website →
Procurement Assistance

Human Resources (HR)

Human Resources (HR)
Training Module
Fee: N

Small Business Administration (SBA)-Ascent

Website →
Benefits
Human Resources (HR)
Training Module
Fee: N

Small Business Administration (SBA)-Ascent

Website →
Health and Safety
Human Resources (HR)
Training Module
Fee: N

Small Business Administration (SBA)-Ascent

Website →
Job Descriptions
Human Resources (HR)
Training Module
Fee: N

Small Business Administration (SBA)-Ascent

Website →
Regular Employees vs. Contractors
Human Resources (HR)
Training Module
Fee: N

Small Business Administration (SBA)-Ascent

Website →
Salary Plan

Ideation

Ideation
Ideation Course
Destination Ideation

IT

IT
Access to Laptops
Fee: N

Allen County Public Libraries

Website →
Community Navigator Program

Marketing

Marketing
Training Module
Fee: N

Small Business Administration (SBA)-Ascent

Website →
Competition
Marketing
Training Module
Fee: N

Small Business Administration (SBA)-Ascent

Website →
Customer Needs/Customer Discovery
Marketing
Training Module
Fee: N

Small Business Administration (SBA)-Ascent

Website →
Market Information
Marketing
Training Module
Fee: N

Small Business Administration (SBA)-Ascent

Website →
Marketing Plan
Marketing
Training Module
Fee: N

Small Business Administration (SBA)-Ascent

Website →
Pricing Strategy
Marketing
Training Module
Fee: N

Small Business Administration (SBA)-Ascent

Website →
Product/Service Evaluation
Marketing
Training Video
Fee: N

Verizon

Website →
Small Business Digital Ready

Northeast Indiana Resources

Northeast Indiana Resources
Local Business Resources
Fee: Varies
Business builder resources, incubator, entrepreneurial community, coaching, and mentoring
Northeast Indiana Resources
Local Business Resources
Fee: N

SCORE

Website →
Local Resources
Northeast Indiana Resources
Local Business Resources
Fee: Varies

WEOC Women's Business Center

Website →
Business builder resources, incubator, entrepreneurial community, coaching, and mentoring

Online Workshops

Online Workshops
Online Business Workshops
Fee: N

SCORE

Website →
Free Workshops

Operations

Operations
Training Video
Fee: N

Verizon

Website →
Small Business Digital Ready

Permits & Licenses

Permits & Licenses
Food & Beverage
Fee: Varies

Allen County Department of Health

Website →
Permits
Permits & Licenses
Food & Beverage
Fee: Varies

Allen County Department of Health

Website →
Safe Serve
Permits & Licenses
Food & Beverage
Fee: Varies

Indiana Alcohol & Tobacco Commission

Website →
Alcohol Permits Forms
Permits & Licenses
Food & Beverage
Fee: Varies

Indiana Alcohol & Tobacco Commission

Website →
Alcohol Permits Info

Resource List

Resource List
Online list
Fee: N

Novae Grants Database

Website →
Novae Grants database are intended for small businesses with 6-100 employees, though some are also intended for larger businesses and sole proprietor startups
Resource List
Searchable website
Fee: N

SEED - City of Fort Wayne

Website →
FUSENEI
Resource List
Veteran Services
Fee: N

Veterans Business Outreach Center

Website →
The Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) program offers resources to veterans who are interested in starting or growing a small business. There are 22 locations (soon expanding to 35) and they offer workshops, training, counseling, and mentorship opportunities.

Space

Space
Meeting Space
Fee: N

Allen County Public Libraries

Website →
Community Navigator Program
Space
Office
Fee: Y
Business Incubation

Youth Support

Youth Support
Youth Business Cohort
Fee: N

Believe In A Dream

Website →
Believe In Your Business: LAUNCHED!
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