This Week In Entrepreneurship – April 3, 2018
“This Week in Entrepreneurship” is a weekly digest of entrepreneurship and small business activities in northeast Indiana. There is a ton of activity in the area and each week we compile highlights for current and prospective small business owners from a variety of sources. Read this week’s “Entrepreneurship Spotlight” on Conntempo Boutique in our blog. Previously at 1 Million Cups Fort Wayne 1 Million Cups is an event for local entrepreneurs to meet and present their startups to the thriving peer network of founders in Fort Wayne. The events occur almost every Wednesday morning at 9 a.m. at Sweetwater. Visit their website for more information. Last week’s presentation was from Kristine Logan Photography. Read and Subscribe to Start Fort Wayne’s monthly newsletter Start Fort Wayne has helped entrepreneurs turn ideas into growth-oriented businesses, since 2015. Each month they compile a newsletter of entrepreneurship-related events and happenings. View April’s newsletter here and subscribe at the top left of your screen. Notes from Around the Region News Resources from our news partner, Input Fort Wayne. Input Fort Wayne (inputfortwayne.com) is a news resource that has a “mission is to ignite passion and inspire innovation in northeast Indiana by highlighting bold startups, places, projects, and ideas.” Below are select entrepreneurship and small business-related pieces from Input. New pieces on a variety of topics are being released weekly. Subscribe to their weekly newsletter to have content delivered straight to your inbox. New Content Organizations join forces to address systemic problems Better together: Cities drive economic growth with greater inclusion Regional Event Highlights 1 Million Cups Fort Wayne Network with other entrepreneurs and supporters over coffee from Fort Wayne’s Utopian Coffee on the Sweetwater campus. This event recurs weekly each Wednesday from 9-10 am, unless otherwise noted. This week’s presentation – TBD – Check their Facebook page for any updates. Founders + Coffee Location – Atrium Thursday, April 5, 2018 – 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Repeats Monthly on the First Thursday of the Month Art Night at Atrium Location – Atrium Friday, April 6, 2018 – 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM The Story Cafe Pop-up Location – Artlink Saturday, April 7, 2018 – 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM Coders +=Beer Location – Atrium Monday, April 9, 2018 – 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Student Entrepreneurship Trade Show Location – The City Exchange Shops Thursday, April 12, 2018 – 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM Learning Lunch Location – Atrium Friday, April 13, 2018 – 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Learning Lunch Seminars take place on the second Friday of every month. Fort Wayne Engage 2018 Location – Indiana Wesleyan University Fort Wayne Education and Conference Center Saturday, April 14,...
Conntempo Boutique – Entrepreneurship Spotlight
Madison Conn is this week’s featured entrepreneur in our spotlight series. Conn is the owner of Conntempo Boutique, an online women’s boutique clothing store based right here in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Conn launched Conntempo Boutique in 2016 and the business has become a family activity with her husband Brian and young son Morgan helping her along on her entrepreneurship journey. What made you decide to open a business in Fort Wayne? Fort Wayne is an amazing community. Supporting local businesses is important to me as a resident and something I strive to do no matter if I’m buying carpet, a gift for a friend or a new outfit. I have many friends in the community that are like me – busy career women that need the convenience of online shopping but absolutely love the boutique experience. Having both of these options in a boutique that is local to Fort Wayne and that offers free shipping – that was on my wish list and that is what we offer at Conntempo Boutique. What resource in the community has helped you thrive in the community? I have found that other local entrepreneurs here in Fort Wayne have been incredibly helpful. I’ve walked in to many locally-owned stores and have found the owners and managers always willing to talk, share their experiences, etc. The Fort Wayne community really wants others to succeed and that has been instrumental in helping me grow and learn as an entrepreneur. I also think the power of Facebook is helpful! When local residents find something that is based in Fort Wayne, they are always so willing to try something new or to lend their support. I love how local residents support local businesses! What person has helped you the most in your journey? My husband and my son have helped me the most. When I decided to begin this adventure, it was with their backing 100%. I already had a demanding full-time job, so to add opening and running a business was just taking a little more time away from the family. They have been so understanding of this dream of mine and lend their support with many tasks – it truly is a family business! What is some advice you would have for new entrepreneurs? Research, research, research! Starting your own business is daunting, but you can limit how overwhelmed you feel by researching other successful businesses first – get a feel for why they are successful and then apply what makes sense to your business. I spent six months doing significant research before we officially opened and launched and I never regretted one single second...
This Week In Entrepreneurship – March 26, 2018
“This Week in Entrepreneurship” is a weekly digest of entrepreneurship and small business activities in northeast Indiana. There is a ton of activity in the area and each week we compile highlights for current and prospective small business owners from a variety of sources. Read about this week’s “Entrepreneurship Spotlight” on Envirose LLC in our blog. Previously at 1 Million Cups Fort Wayne 1 Million Cups is an event for local entrepreneurs to meet and present their startups to the thriving peer network of founders in Fort Wayne. The events occur almost every Wednesday morning at 9 a.m. at Sweetwater. Visit their website for more information. Last week’s presentation was from Jenna Biggins and Envirose LLC. Notes from Around the Region News Resources from our news partner, Input Fort Wayne. Input Fort Wayne (inputfortwayne.com) is a news resource that has a “mission is to ignite passion and inspire innovation in northeast Indiana by highlighting bold startups, places, projects, and ideas.” Below are select entrepreneurship and small business-related pieces from Input. New pieces on a variety of topics are being released weekly. Subscribe to their weekly newsletter to have content delivered straight to your inbox. New Content The Resurgence of Downtown Columbia City Regional Event Highlights Social & Marketing Breakfast Fort Wayne Location – Northeast Indiana Innovation Center, Cole Auditorium Tuesday, March 27, 2018 – 7:30 AM – 9:00 AM Repeats monthly on the last Tuesday of the month, unless otherwise noted. Business Plan Workshop Location – Ivy Tech Fort Wayne North, Keith Busse Lecture Hall, Room TC1225 Tuesday, March 27, 2018 – 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM Business Mentoring Fuels Success Location – Northeast Indiana Innovation Center, Cole Auditorium Wednesday, March 28, 2018 – 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM 1 Million Cups Fort Wayne Network with other entrepreneurs and supporters over coffee from Fort Wayne’s Utopian Coffee on the Sweetwater campus. This event recurs weekly each Wednesday, unless otherwise noted. Wednesday, March 28, 2018 – 9:00 AM – 10:00 This week’s presentation – Kristine Logan Photography Can’t make this week’s 1MC event? Follow 1MC on Facebook for a live video. Launching Your Own Business – A Sound and Proven Path Location – Northeast Indiana Small Business Development Center, Wednesday, March 28, 2018 – 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM SBIR/STTR Program for Early Stage Financing Location – Ventura Room, 1st Source Building Thursday, March 29, 2018 – 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM Measuring Your Online Business Success Location – Ivy Tech Coliseum Campus Thursday, March 29, 2018 – 5:30 PM Founders + Coffee Location – Atrium Thursday, April 5, 2018 – 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Repeats Monthly on the First Thursday of the...
Envirose LLC – Entrepreneurship Spotlight
In this week’s “Entrepreneurship Spotlight,” we spotlight Jenna Biggins and Envirose LLC. Environmental health and safety is an important aspect for preparing your business for long-term success. Envirose LLC is a new local environmental health and safety consulting firm focusing on that. Envirose partners with clients to prevent occupational accidents, illnesses and harmful environmental releases while avoiding costly citations and unnecessary exposure. What made you decide to open a business in Northeast Indiana? My business partner Stephanie Phillips and I have lived and worked in Northeast Indiana our whole lives and saw an amazing opportunity to take our skills and training and apply it to not just one company but to many. We can see Fort Wayne beginning to grow and we want to be sure that the new company’s that establishing themselves here are keeping their employees and the environment safe. What resource in the community has helped you thrive in the community? The best resource that has helped us thrive is the local entrepreneurial community and the different organizations that help small businesses get on their feet. 1 Million Cups Fort Wayne, Start Fort Wayne to name a couple. It opened our eyes to see that there are people who support us and want to see us succeed. What is the biggest challenge you have worked to overcome in starting your business? I think one of the biggest challenges for any small business is getting your name out there. If people hear about you, talk about you, eventually the right person will take notice and contact you. We had to make sure that right person was taking notice. From cold calls to social media posts, we are trying to stay on top of getting our name out there. What people have helped you the most in your journey? Honestly, my business partner, Stephanie has helped me the most in our journey together. It was months and months of preparation, attorney and tax meetings, website development, everything you need to have established before you are “open for business”. On the long days where it seemed like there was too much to do with no end in sight, she was there to get me motivated again and reminded me why we’re doing this! What is some advice you would have for new entrepreneurs? Don’t think you can’t be the one to do it. If you have an idea for a business and really see that as your passion, research it, study it, and then go for it! It does take a lot of work to get a business set up but remember that drive and that passion for what you...
This Week In Entrepreneurship – March 19, 2018
“This Week in Entrepreneurship” is a weekly digest of entrepreneurship and small business activities in northeast Indiana. There is a ton of activity in the area and each week we compile highlights for current and prospective small business owners from a variety of sources. Down the River Podcast releases another episode Down the River, a podcast about Fort Wayne entrepreneurs, influencers and motivators, premiered earlier this year. This episode features Mike Fritsch of the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center (NIIC). Follow Down the River on the following platforms: Facebook – @Downtheriverpodcast Twitter – @DownTheRiverPod YouTube – Down The River Podcast iTunes – Down The River Soundcloud – Down the River Previously at 1 Million Cups Fort Wayne 1 Million Cups is an event for local entrepreneurs to meet and present their startups to the thriving peer network of founders in Fort Wayne. The events occur almost every Wednesday morning at 9 a.m. at Sweetwater. Visit their website for more information. Last week’s presentation was from the Linvill Center. New videos from the Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Center (WEOC) Check out this new video series on YouTube from the Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Center (WEOC). Getting Vulnerable and Going Strong Getting Vulnerable and Going Strong: Jay Johns More information from their website – “The Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Center (WEOC), in partnership with The NIIC, serves women entrepreneurs at all stages of their venture paths. From ideation and startup through growth and expansion, WEOC was designed to understand and respond to the unique needs of women entrepreneurs. We do this through business growth coaching, training and entrepreneurial education, connectivity and access to capital. We help you define your unique pathway then provide resources and connectivity for your venture’s success using our proprietary Entrepreneurial Pathway – Assess. Discover. Do.™ If you’re ready to get started, click here to schedule a meeting with a business coach.” Notes from Around the Region News Resources from our news partner, Input Fort Wayne. Input Fort Wayne (inputfortwayne.com) is a news resource that has a “mission is to ignite passion and inspire innovation in northeast Indiana by highlighting bold startups, places, projects, and ideas.” Below are select entrepreneurship and small business-related pieces from Input. New pieces on a variety of topics are being released weekly. Subscribe to their weekly newsletter to have content delivered straight to your inbox. New Content Growing innovative employment opportunities What to expect at TEDxFortWayne Sharing a taste of northeast Indiana The spark that lit Fort Wayne’s craft brewing scene Regional Event Highlights Future Founders Meetup Location – Atrium Tuesday, March 20, 2018 – 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Repeats monthly on the third Wednesday of the month, unless otherwise noted....
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