support small

THE WORKBENCH

Fort Wayne

By Julie Young

For entrepreneurs looking to start or advance businesses that specialize in tangible products, The Workbench Fort Wayne is ready to help. Since opening their physical location in 2019, The Workbench has assisted approximately 30 companies and has a number of partnerships with local organizations that are invested in fostering small business operation and growth within the community.

“We work with clients to design, prototype, and produce things that they want to sell,” said Jon Rehwaldt, founder of The Workbench Fort Wayne. “In addition, we have a workshop that is accessible through a membership model and allows (clients) to access 3-D printing equipment, Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machinery and a host of other tools to do the (production) work themselves.”

Rehwaldt says most of the businesses that his organization works with are those that are focused on innovation inside of an existing industry. These are people who have been working in a business or service environment and come to The Workbench with an idea that already has a place in the market but needs to be brought to fruition. The Workbench then helps them prototype and design the product so that the entrepreneur can raise funds and bring that product to production.

“We’ve helped people in a lot of different industries: the medical field, pharmaceuticals, packaging, and even some direct-to-consumer products that might be on shelves in the next year or so,” he said.

In addition to offering both design and print services, The Workbench helps people figure out supply chain logistics and how to move their small business from the garage or basement to a facility that allows them to make their products more efficiently and distribute those products in a way that increases their profit margin.

Rehwaldt said The Workbench is ready to help anyone who has an idea for making something physical, regardless of whether they plan to bring that item to market or not. Through the support of their sponsors, The Workbench is able to keep their prices affordable for those who do not have a lot of capital to invest but want to increase their revenue stream.

“The people who are ready to take advantage of what we have to offer already have a clear picture of what they want to make and how they can sell it, but there are other resources in the community for people who are just starting on their business journey and we can refer them if necessary,” Rehwaldt said.

The Workbench is also ready to help people with their personal projects, even if they are never intended to become a business, as well as those who have an idea for a potential product and are ready to explore the possibility of turning that concept into a reality.

Rehwaldt says that Fort Wayne has always been a place where people are proud of the things they make, and The Workbench wants to continue that legacy of skilled makers bringing products into the world that can impact those who encounter them.

“We’re really excited to be part of that experience,” he said.