for Entrepreneurs

By Amber Bouthot

Thinking of starting your own business? Already have a business and need some support? Looking for a space to set up shop? We’ve compiled a list of some of the amazing entrepreneurial support organizations in our community.

Fort Wayne SOUP

fortwaynesoup.org

An organization that hosts micro-grant dinners that foster community and raise funds for creative projects that enhance Fort Wayne living.

Brightpoint Development Fund

mybdf.org

Its mission is to create economic opportunities for communities, families, and individuals who lack access to affordable capital and nancial services.

Fortitude Fund

fortitudefund.com

Provides community, mentors, and money to entrepreneurs with fortitude: grit, guts and heart.

Carr Workspaces

carrworkplaces.com/locations/indiana/electric-works/

One of the original installations within Fort Wayne’s brandnew Electric Works campus development project, Carr Workplaces Electric Works boasts over 32,000 square feet of office space, 85 sparkling private offices, and three state-ofthe-art meeting rooms.

Founders Spark

facebook.com/foundersspark

An organization dedicated to introducing new and aspiring entrepreneurs, hustlers, and go-getters into the startup community, as well as providing them the tools they need to succeed.

Elevate Northeast Indiana

elevatenei.com

Helping high-growth entrepreneurs find the components they need to move the needle in their business, pitch in front of the right people, and achieve investment.

Fuse Nei

fusenei.com gBETA gbetastartups.com/fort-wayne

An online resource hub and directory design to help entrepreneurs connect with Entrepreneurial support organizations throughout the region.

A free, seven-week accelerator for early-stage companies with local roots. Each program is capped at five teams, and requires no fees and no equity.

Start Fort Wayne

startfortwayne.com

Helps entrepreneurs turn ideas into growth-oriented businesses.

Indiana Small Business Development Center

isbdc.org

Provides no cost consulting services to potential business owners that want to start a business and to existing business owners that want to expand their businesses.

SEED fwuea.org/

A 501c(3) that supports new and scaling businesses with business planning education through the Build Institute, incubation space for manufacturing and B2B professionals at the SEED Enterprise Center, and tax benefits for businesses located within the Summit City Entrepreneur and Enterprise District.

WEOC Women’s Business Center

The Northeast Indiana Innovation Collective

niic.net

The NIIC’s mission is to catalyze the community: Entrepreneurship for ALL. They coordinate an ecosystem to provide homegrown and attracted entrepreneurs and innovators with the support infrastructure, encouragement and resources they need together as a Community of Communities.

SCORE Mentors of Northeast Indiana

northeastindiana.score.org niic.net/wbc

Free business mentoring, workshops and more to help you start or grow your company.

Cultivates opportunities for women entrepreneurs through programs, workshops, and one-on-one coaching where you can gain knowledge, honest feedback, and advice from other experienced entrepreneurs. a