Northern Indiana Leaders Aim to ‘Cultivate Entrepreneurship’
(Image Courtesy: Downtown South Bend Inc.)
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowElevate Ventures and the Northern Indiana Regional Development Authority have announced a partnership designed to boost entrepreneurship. The "calculated push" has received support from area businesses and individuals in the form of advisory services and venture capital.
Elevate Ventures is providing matching funding and says it could eventually invest more. It is also providing other types of support and guidance on facets including business ideation, business strategy and marketing.
Contributors to the long-term effort include Judd Leighton Foundation, University of Notre Dame, Community Foundation of Elkhart County, IOI Payroll Services/Najeeb & Nancy Khan, Garatoni-Smith Family Foundation, Community Foundation of St. Joseph County, Graham Allen Partners and Kem Krest.
Chair of the RDA’s 19-member entrepreneurship committee and Mishawaka-based HQ Investments founder Larry Garatoni says "the capital, talent and education that is leveraged through this partnership will drive a unique entrepreneurial ecosystem and create a greater opportunity to invest into companies of the future that are able to start and grow here in the South Bend-Elkhart Region. We know that entrepreneurship is a catalyst for the long-term success of the region and look forward to deploying these resources in support of the burgeoning companies, programs and initiatives."
Elevate Ventures Chief Executive Officer Chris LaMothe says "the most successful communities and regions of tomorrow will be those where there is a deep culture of entrepreneurism and innovation, where folks are fully engaged in their communities and building successful companies of tomorrow. Those communities and regions will be leaders in their ability to keep their talent and attract talent globally. These entrepreneurs will create opportunities for a rich choice of high-skill, high-wage careers and be high value participants in building successful communities."
Elevate Ventures says the goal is to help create an environment "where people feel empowered to take risks, bring intellectual property and ideas to the marketplace, and become engaged players in their communities."
You can connect to more about the partnership by clicking here.