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
Amazon
Website →Amazon Store Small Business Accelerator Program
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.
gener8tor
Website →Education & Workforce Innovation Accelerators
gener8tor
Website →gBeta Indiana
KEDCO
Website →MedTech Accelerator Studio
NEXT Studios
Website →Discovery Workshop
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.
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
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.
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
WEOC WBC
Website →Launch Women Business Builder Program
Business Plans
co.STARTERS
Website →co.STARTERS Fillable Canvas
LeanStack
Website →Lean Canvas
NIIC
Website →Business Plan Assistance, Mentoring
Purdue Extension
Website →Purdue Extension
SCORE
Website →Business Plan Template
SEED
Website →Build Fort Wayne
WEOC Women's Business Center
Website →Business Plan Assistance, Mentoring
Capital
37 Angels
Website →Female Founder VC List
100K Incubator
Website →Business Funding Mobile App for Women
Amber Grants
Website →$10,000 Grants for Women Business Owners
Bankable
Website →Small Business Loans
Barclays
Website →Barclay's Small Business Grant Must be business based in US and share your story for prizes from $3000 to $60,000.
Believe In A Dream
Website →$1,000 Grants for Young Entrepreneurs
Boomerang Ventures
Website →Indiana Life Sciences Venture Capital
Brightpoint
Website →Brightpoint Development Fund-Small Business Loans
Community Development Corporation of Northeast Indiana
Website →Various Business Loan Programs
CORI Innovation Fund
Website →Rural Venture Capital
Dyer Family Foundation
Website →Up to $25,000 for small businesses and enterpreneurs in Fort Wayne, IN
Elevate Ventures
Website →$20,000-$80,000 Regional Indiana Pitch Competition
Elevate Ventures
Website →$40,000-$100,000 Statewide Indiana Pitch Competition
Elevate Ventures
Website →Indiana Venture Capital
Entrepreneur Magazine
Website →Article - The Ins and Outs of Raising Money from Friends and Family
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
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.
Fortitude Fund
Website →$500-$2,500 Grant Application
Founders First Capital
Website →Revenue-based Loans for Under-represented Populations
Grants for Women
Website →Various Grants/Scholarships for Women
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.
Hello Alice
Website →Various Small Business Grants
Indiana Small Business Development Center (ISBDC)
Website →Indiana Technical Assistance Program (INTAP)
Innovate WithIN
Website →$25,000 High School Student Pitch Competition
Investopedia
Website →Article - What is VC and How Does It Work?
Jane Walker
Website →$10,000 Grants for Women Business Owners in Entertainment & Film, Music, Sports, STEM, Journalism, & Hospitality
KIVA Northeast Indiana
Website →Through facilitating access to capital, we strive to empower US small business owners and future entrepreneurs reach their goals.
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.
M25
Website →$500k-$3M Venture Capital Investment, Midwest Focused
Mammoth Capital
Website →Indiana-based Life Sciences and Bio Tech Venture Capital
NIIC
Website →Kiva Northeast Indiana up to $15,000
Raven Capital
Website →Indigenous Enterprise Venture Capital in U.S. and Canada
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.
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.
Small Business Administration (SBA)-Ascent
Website →Financial Literacy Program
Small Business Administration (SBA)-Ascent
Website →Types of Capital
SoGal
Website →South Bend Chapter - Diversity-focused Venture Capital
SoGal
Website →$5,000-$10,000 Black Founder Startup Grant
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Website →Article - Bootstrapping Your Startup: What to Know About Self-Funding
Various Banks
Website →Small Business Administration (SBA) - 7a Loans
Verizon
Website →$10,000 Small Business Digital Ready Grant
Vision Tech
Website →Indiana/Ohio Venture Capital
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
NIIC
Website →Community Navigator Pilot Program
NIIC
Website →WEOC Women's Business Center
SCORE
Website →Mentoring
Verizon
Website →Small Business Digital Ready
Community
Believe In A Dream
Website →Believe In Your Business: PEERS!
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
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.
Verizon
Website →Small Business Digital Ready
Disaster and Recovery
Small Business Administration (SBA)-Ascent
Website →Disaster and Economic Recovery
Financial
KIVA Northeast Indiana
Website →Through facilitating access to capital, we strive to empower US small business owners and future entrepreneurs reach their goals.
NIIC – KIVA Northeast Indiana
Website →Through facilitating access to capital, we strive to empower US small business owners and future entrepreneurs reach their goals.
SCORE
Website →12-Month Cash Flow
SCORE
Website →12-Month Sales Forecast
SCORE
Website →3-Year Profit & Loss
Small Business Administration (SBA)-Ascent
Website →Business Financial Statements
Small Business Administration (SBA)-Ascent
Website →Financial Projections
Small Business Administration (SBA)-Ascent
Website →Personal and Business Finances
Verizon
Website →Small Business Digital Ready
Government Contracting
Elevare
Website →1:1 Consulting
Indiana Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC)
Website →Procurement Assistance
Human Resources (HR)
Small Business Administration (SBA)-Ascent
Website →Benefits
Small Business Administration (SBA)-Ascent
Website →Health and Safety
Small Business Administration (SBA)-Ascent
Website →Job Descriptions
Small Business Administration (SBA)-Ascent
Website →Regular Employees vs. Contractors
Small Business Administration (SBA)-Ascent
Website →Salary Plan
Ideation
NIIC
Website →Destination Ideation
IT
Allen County Public Libraries
Website →Community Navigator Program
Legal
State of Indiana
Website →Start a Business
Marketing
Small Business Administration (SBA)-Ascent
Website →Competition
Small Business Administration (SBA)-Ascent
Website →Customer Needs/Customer Discovery
Small Business Administration (SBA)-Ascent
Website →Market Information
Small Business Administration (SBA)-Ascent
Website →Marketing Plan
Small Business Administration (SBA)-Ascent
Website →Pricing Strategy
Small Business Administration (SBA)-Ascent
Website →Product/Service Evaluation
Verizon
Website →Small Business Digital Ready
Northeast Indiana Resources
NIIC
Website →Business builder resources, incubator, entrepreneurial community, coaching, and mentoring
SCORE
Website →Local Resources
WEOC Women's Business Center
Website →Business builder resources, incubator, entrepreneurial community, coaching, and mentoring
Online Workshops
SCORE
Website →Free Workshops
Operations
Verizon
Website →Small Business Digital Ready
Permits & Licenses
Allen County Department of Health
Website →Permits
Allen County Department of Health
Website →Safe Serve
Indiana Alcohol & Tobacco Commission
Website →Alcohol Permits Forms
Indiana Alcohol & Tobacco Commission
Website →Alcohol Permits Info
Resource List
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
SEED - City of Fort Wayne
Website →FUSENEI
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
Allen County Public Libraries
Website →Community Navigator Program
NIIC
Website →Business Incubation
Youth Support
Believe In A Dream
Website →Believe In Your Business: LAUNCHED!