ESW Luncheon Postponed

The Innovation Connector: Starting a Business is Not Easy – But it is Possible!

By Ted Baker, CEO/Executive Director—

MUNCIE, IN—The idea of starting a business is not new.  According to an article in Immerse Education 2023’s “A Brief History of Business and the Evolution of Business,”  “Business as we know it can be traced back 3,000 years to India and China, where companies – with structures resembling sole proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations. At this time, they began entering into contracts and owning property, essentially setting up the basic frameworks of business that we use today.” Today, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration, 32.5 million small businesses are in the United States. In the United States alone, around 595,000 businesses fail or close yearly for various reasons, but over 627,000 businesses get started. Despite these discouraging numbers, countless individuals continue to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams. This article will explore three compelling reasons people are willing to take risks and start or grow a business, even when the odds of success are low.

The first reason is the opportunity for potential financial benefits. For most people, income is earned by the work we do and the job we have.  The possibility of financial success is a significant motivator for entrepreneurs. Most entrepreneurs know the risks and hazards of starting a business, but their dreams and visions of financial success are driving factors to venture out on their own.   They see entrepreneurship as a pathway to financial independence and the opportunity to create a better future for themselves and their families.

Reason number two, why businesses are started when the success rates are low, is the allure of independence, flexibility, and autonomy.  According to Business News Daily, “freedom and passion, not money, is the main motivation” for someone to start a business. And continuing, “they are also motivated by the idea of creating something from the ground up.”  According to an eye-opening quote from AI/Chat GPT, “The appeal of autonomy goes beyond financial considerations. It encompasses the freedom to work on projects that align with one’s values and priorities, set one’s schedule, and build a company culture that reflects their vision. For many entrepreneurs, the prospect of being in control of their destiny outweighs the inherent risks of starting or growing a business.” The desire for freedom and self-determination can be a powerful motivator, even when faced with low success rates.

Let’s be clear here. Having the independence and freedom of being a business owner is not as easy as it sounds. I can recall from my personal experiences the first few years of my business startup were filled with long hours, long weeks and weekends, and many missed family meals and events. When the business is successful and continues to grow and mature, there will be opportunities to be flexible and enjoy certain freedoms.  I could leave my work in the middle of the day to attend school events with my children.  I loved having this freedom, but it usually included returning to my office afterward and working later in the day than normal. This is a wonderful part of business startup and ownership, but there will always be tradeoffs for the time spent at home and work.

Many entrepreneurs are driven by their desire to solve a problem, create something meaningful, or bring their unique vision to life. This intrinsic motivation often overshadows the fear of failure and drives them to persevere in adversity. This is the third reason people take risks when starting a business when the success rates are low.  Passion and purpose are powerful forces that can sustain entrepreneurs through the challenges and setbacks inherent in the business world. When an entrepreneur genuinely believes in what you are doing and is committed to making a positive impact, the prospect of failure becomes a secondary concern. For these individuals, the journey itself is as important as the destination, and they are willing to embrace the uncertainty of entrepreneurship. While passion is vital to the startup of any business, entrepreneurs must remain committed to handling the practical aspects of business, such as accounting, marketing, sales, and more. Without sound business practices, emotion and passion will not sustain a business.

The Muncie Innovation Connector, Inc. is committed to assisting entrepreneurs, startups, or those already in business with the necessary resources and tools. As East-Central Indiana’s only full-service Entrepreneur Support Organization (ESO), the Innovation Connector provides practical resources and connections for people at any stage of business development. If you need assistance with your business, please allow the Innovation Connector team to join you on your journey. Most of our business advising services are FREE and available to anyone needing help.

Mark your calendars now for the following event dates:

Entrepreneur Showcase Week 2023 – November 13 – 17 – visit showcaseweek.com for details and information about this event.

The BIG Idea Training Camps: October 26, November 2, and November 9 – each date from 6:00 – 7:30 pm

The BIG Idea Pitch Competition Pitch Night: November 16 – Starting at 6:00 pm

For additional information about the Innovation Connector, please visit www.innovationconnector.com or call our office at 765-285-4900.

The BIG Idea Pitch – Why this Contest is Important

Muncie Journal Article – July 2023

By: Ted A. Baker, CEO/Executive Director

Muncie Innovation Connector, Inc.

The BIG Idea Pitch – Why this Contest is Important

During my thirteen years as Executive Director of the Muncie Innovation Connector, I have met with, coached, advised, counseled, and encouraged many individuals who have thought about starting or owning a business.  This continues to happen several times each week.  In addition, the Small Business Development Center, located in the Innovation Connector, meets with clients in Muncie and East-Central Indiana, hoping for the same. With the availability of resources found on the internet, getting information about how to start a business is easier today than ever before. And with this vast amount of information, people sometimes deal with what I call “information overload.” More data, information, and resources are available than most can navigate.  Then the question is asked, “Is this good information?” “Have I received the best advice for my ideas and ventures?”

In 2014, in response to the need for business startup information, the Innovation Connector formed a program known as The BIG Idea Pitch.  Our initial thoughts were to provide educational and business idea-sharing opportunities in a safe and fun environment. We wanted one evening dedicated to individuals pitching their business ideas to a panel of judges.  And because of our wonderful sponsors, we offered prize money for winning pitches. Keeping with the baseball theme, we hosted three Training Camps leading to the pitch competition.  Guest presenters shared their perspectives on topics, including idea generation, problem and solution identification, business modeling, and presentation pitch skills. Year one of The BIG Idea Pitch competition was a BIG success!

From 2014 – 2021, The BIG Idea Pitch became a very popular event and one of the “signature events” of the Innovation Connector. Each year, at least fifty Muncie-area ideators participated in The BIG Idea Pitch competition by attending the Training Camps and pitching business ideas.  We even hosted this competition in November of 2020 – the pandemic year.  Each year as part of the event, pitch nights were streamed via several social media platforms, with viewers reporting from many states outside Indiana – even California.  Due to scheduling and funding issues, The BIG Idea Pitch did not occur in 2022.  However, I am pleased to announce that The BIG Idea Pitch returns on November 16. as part of Entrepreneur Showcase Week 2023.

Why does the Innovation Connector invest so much staff time, energy, and money into this initiative? Here are three reasons why we value The BIG Idea Pitch.

1.) The BIG Idea Pitch provides an opportunity, unlike any other in our community, to collaborate with other ideators and to learn the art and science of launching a business from an idea. Most people with a business startup idea tend to daydream about their ideas, plans, and how to get started.  Having the opportunity to talk with other people “like” them can provide tremendous benefits.  Those who have walked this journey before can share their experiences and things to do and what not to do. This kind of support cannot be gained by reading a book or watching a video.  These connections and relationships are difference-makers for a startup entrepreneur.

Starting a business takes work! A person must go through the process to understand the depths of commitment and learning needed.  The BIG Idea Pitch initiative provides a place that offers educational opportunities for entrepreneurs to gain critical knowledge, advice, and feedback from experienced entrepreneurs. This is why this program has been so successful.

2.) The BIG Idea Pitch is a community-wide event that brings together businesses, funders, people with ideas, educators, and local government officials for a common cause.  Everyone loves a business startup success story! When a person starts a new business, the impact can be felt community-wide. Lending institutions and funders can finance deals, community members love to support new businesses, and government officials celebrate because they understand that healthy communities need new businesses.  And new startup owners can start their journeys and dreams of owning a business. Pitch night is such a fun and inspiring evening.  We learn each year that the Muncie community has a vast array of creative business talent. The ideas pitched during past competitions have been amazing.  Those participating ranged from very young ( 8 years old) to baby boomers (60+ years old,) high-tech inventors to pizza makers, and dreamers wanting to start a business to send deceased loved ones’ ashes into space to a simple invention that makes buttoning the top button of a hanging shirt easier. And the list goes on and on.

3.) The BIG Idea Pitch is all about people. The Innovation Connector staff has made the application and participation process simple and easy.   The goal has been to remove as many barriers to entry as possible. First, it is free and open to everyone in Muncie and Delaware County. The BIG Idea Pitch provides educational opportunities and access to available resources to participants if they hope to start a business.  Our team, supporters, and presenters will help anyone who requests help – from refining an idea to structuring their pitch.  Applying to participate on pitch night could not be any easier. All that is required is to go online to TheBIGIdeaPitch.com, provide your name, home address, contact email address, and phone number and, with three sentences maximum, explain your idea. You will then be contacted, and our team will guide you through the rest of the process.  In addition, the prize money awarded to the winning pitches can be used for any purpose – no strings or rules attached.  While we hope the winning dollars will be used to start a business, sometimes in life, more pressing needs may hinder a person from moving forward.  One pitcher used the winning funds to repay a school loan, hindering this person’s monthly cash flow. After paying off the student loan, this person could afford to move forward with the business startup idea.

Mark your calendars now for the following dates:

The BIG Idea Training Camps: October 23, October 30, and November 6- each date from 6:00 – 7:30 pm

The BIG Idea Pitch Competition Pitch Night: November 16 – Starting at 6:00 pm

All events will take place at the Innovation Connector.

Please consider joining the Innovation Connector to be part of The BIG Idea Pitch 2023.  Applications will be accepted starting on August 1, 2023, at www.showcaseweek.com, and click on the “The BIG Idea Pitch” icon. For more information, please log on to www.innovationconnector.com, or call our office at 765-285-4900.

Empowering Entrepreneurs in 2023

By Ted A. Baker, CEO/Executive Director, Muncie Innovation Connector—

MUNCIE, IN—After a successful initiative last year, Celebrating Entrepreneurs in 2022, the Innovation Connector has chosen a new theme for 2023: Empowering Entrepreneurs in 2023. While we will continue celebrating entrepreneurs, we believe the next step is to provide opportunities for entrepreneurs and business owners to be empowered – to learn, collaborate, and share their knowledge with others.  As I have expressed in prior articles, one key trait of a successful entrepreneur involves being a lifelong learner.  Because of rapidly changing technology, consumer market changes, continual demographic shifts, and current workforce shortages, it is now more critical than ever for businesses to understand the business landscape so changes and pivots can be made if necessary.

There are several ways for entrepreneurs and business owners to be lifelong learners.  First, be a reader.  This is the easiest way to engage in the learning process.  Books are available for nearly every topic, problem, opportunity, motivation, business success and failure, how to start a business, how to end a company, and the list goes on and on.  I did a quick Google search, “books about business and entrepreneurs,” resulting in 102 million hits in .74 seconds.  No one may know the exact number of books that have been written on this subject, but one thing we do know – it is a significant number! I have read many books on these topics and have accumulated quite a library.  I often utilize concepts I have learned from reading, which I can apply to my work at the Innovation Connector.  Subject matter experts share their knowledge for others to learn. We can learn so much from their advice and experiences.

Our reading does not have to be limited to only books. Reading articles from various publications can provide great insight into successful entrepreneurship.  Articles are usually topic-focused, meaning they are written with a limited topic scope.  An example would be an article about the legal issues of starting a business compared to a book that would include this topic in “How to Start a Business.”  Articles are easier to write, allowing for a greater range of thoughts on topics.  And there are plenty of written articles.  Again, a simple Google search, this time for “articles on entrepreneurs and business,” yielded 205 million hits in just.47 seconds.  I love reading articles for one simple reason – they are short!   Everyone in the business world is busy.  Our available time is limited.  Reading an article or two when I have the right time is meaningful, and I learn a lot.

Again, there are articles written about every business topic.  I recommend you find a magazine or publication that appeals and start creating a regular reading routine.  Karl LaPan, Director, UF Innovate/ Accelerate @ The Hub & Sid Martin BioTech, and a leading international expert on business development, is an avid reader and writer.  He believes entrepreneurs and business leaders must read regularly.  He writes, “Passionate entrepreneurs are engaged learners, and agile learning is integral to your relevance. By prioritizing agile learning, Founders foster a high-performance culture, nurture higher levels of engagement within their organization, and promote adaptability, intellectual curiosity, and collaboration between themselves, their stakeholders, and especially with their customers.”

A second way to be a lifelong learner is to network with like-minded leaders and people who inspire and challenge you.  This usually involves one-on-one time with others, including mentors, other leaders in their field, and maybe even a business coach.  Each of these is based on developed relationships.  This is one of the most meaningful and impactful ways to learn.  Ryan Carruthers, Content Marketing Manager at Together Software, expresses this in an article, 7 Reasons Mentorship is Integral to Growing Your Career.  She says, “A mentor will support you, cheer you on, provide feedback and advice, and help you define and reach your goals.  It can be a key relationship in your life and potentially impact your choices and career trajectory significantly.”

Being a business owner can be very lonely.  Because of sensitive topics that a business owner deals with, such as financial issues, employee changes, and a possible sale of the business, to name a few, it is not wise for a business owner to share this information with others in the business.  Many owners then keep this information to themselves and try to process how to handle it.  A trusted network of wise and experienced people can be a lifeline to the owner.  From my experiences, my contacts have always been willing to listen, provide opinions and advice, and, most importantly, encourage me.

I have attended many professional conferences during my time in business and my role at the Innovation Connector.  While learning subject material at these conferences is valuable and important, some of the most valuable takeaways are from discussions with my peers before and after sessions, in the conference lobby and hallways, and even during a meal.  And as a result of these experiences, I have accumulated a list of colleagues and experts I can contact anytime if needed. And I also am a resource for these colleagues.  Relationships matter and are a must for the lifelong learning journey.

A third way to be a lifelong learner is to attend conferences, workshops, and seminars, online or in-person, to develop skills, gain new ideas, and become more informed about subject matters of interest.  As I previously mentioned, I have attended many conferences and learning sessions during my professional career.  While some sessions may be different from what I was hoping for in the delivery of content, I have always been able to learn something.  And there is no shortage of events you can attend. Business associations usually host conferences that members and guests can attend.  Universities and colleges offer a plethora of business, and relevant events in that one can learn by participating.  Some organizations host workshops, seminars, webinars, and panel discussions in nearly every community.  This is true for the Muncie community.  The Indiana Small Business Development Center and The Shafer Leadership Academy, located in the Innovation Connector, offer various relevant events that community members can attend.  Both organizations provide quality and professional programming.  Please visit their websites (www.shaferleadership.com and https://isbdc.org/locations/east-central-indiana-sbdc/ ) to see what is being offered in 2023.

The Innovation Connector also hosts many events throughout the year. As part of our mission to “Empower Entrepreneurs in 2023,” the Innovation Connector is ramping up the number of programs offered in 2023.  This is being done as a direct result of the impact of the recent Entrepreneur Showcase Week.  A few examples of what is being planned include:

  • Providing Excellent Client Experiences – Based on the Disney model
  • Learning to Excel with Excel
  • Several workshops about marketing for small businesses, including social media and geofencing, and analytics
  • A course about Enneagram and how knowing your “number” can help in everyday life and business – presented by Jennifer Stanley
  • Coding Clubs, robotics, programming drones, and summer day camps for students in grades 2-8.
  • What parents and caretakers should know about their children’s devices, the internet, apps like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and more
  • Securing your business’s internet, computers, and personal devices
  • What is Square Space?
  • Presentation Design
  • Women’s Peer Group Experience
  • Funding Opportunities for your business
  • And more…

Starting in February, a rolling list of courses offered by the Innovation Connector can be found at www.innovationconnectorevents.com.  Registration information, dates and times, and prices will also be posted on this website. Our office phone number is 765-285-4900 – Monday – Friday from 8 am – 4 pm, or email Natalie Smith, Events and Program Coordinator, at nsmith@innovationconnector.com.

This new year, 2023, is a perfect time to begin or continue our lifelong learning journeys.  I wish you well.

Save the Date: Entrepreneur Showcase Week is Back 2023!

In November 2022, the Innovation Connector hosted the first annual Entrepreneur Showcase Week to learn, network, and celebrate with the community’s entrepreneurs. The week was a huge success. Entrepreneur Showcase Week will return in 2023 with an exciting new theme of “Empowering Entrepreneurs”! Mark your calendars for November 13th – 17th for a fun, educational, and empowering week for entrepreneurs and future entrepreneurs. Stay tuned for more information over the coming months about what’s in store for Entrepreneur Showcase Week 2023. Learn more

Announcing the Inaugural 2022 Entrepreneurs of the Year Award Winners

NOVEMBER 7, 2022

By Ted A. Baker, CEO/Executive Director, Muncie Innovation Connector, Inc.—

MUNCIE, IN—Since May of this year, the Innovation Connector has been planning and preparing for Entrepreneur Showcase Week in Muncie.  As a reminder, this event is unique to the Muncie community, and no other community has attempted anything like this.  Entrepreneur Showcase Week comprises twenty workshops, panel discussions, discussion groups, and networking groups during one week – all at the Innovation Connector facility.  Because of our very supportive sponsors, all but one event is FREE.

Why should you attend part of or all of the events during Entrepreneur Showcase Week?  Because there is something that can benefit all entrepreneurs and business owners.  I know that most business-minded people consider themselves “life-long learners.”  There is always more to learn, knowledge to share, and data to keep up with.  Over fifty Muncie area business owners, entrepreneurs, and business leaders will participate as presenters and panelists that will highlight topics such as:

  • Creative Marketing
  • Computers, IT, and Security for Businesses
  • How to Start a Business & How to Start/Grow a Restaurant
  • Developing a Startup Tech Business
  • Continuing Educational Opportunities for Business Owners
  • Mental Health Awareness and Work-Life Balance
  • Makers as Entrepreneurs
  • Funding Opportunities
  • Bookkeeping and Accounting
  • Starting a Side-Gig
  • Providing Excellent Customer Experiences (from the Disney model)
  • And more

Additional sessions include a Tailgate Celebration for all entrepreneurs and business owners, a Women’s Brunch to celebrate International Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, and the Opening Kickoff Celebration to start Showcase Week at 8 am Monday, November 14.  Join us for a Mayoral Proclamation of Entrepreneur Showcase Week, donuts and coffee with Mayor Ridenour, and the Entrepreneurs of the Year Awards presentation.

The 2022 award winners include a special group of talented entrepreneurs in the Muncie community.  Each award winner contributes their success to others who have worked with them as their businesses started and grew.  So, in the true Spirit of Entrepreneurship, we are thrilled to announce the first-ever Entrepreneurs of the Year, and congratulations to each winner.

2022 Technology Business Entrepreneur of the Year

Kurt Harrington, Founder

OEM Combustion Service LLC

2022 Life-Style Business Entrepreneur of the Year

Bernisa Elliott

BE’s Beauty Inc. & Elliott Property Rentals

2022 Restaurant Entrepreneur of the Year

Lynn A. Moore

Café at the Crossing

2022 Community-Impact Entrepreneur of the Year

Tiara Hicks

Rosebud Coffee House

2022 Legacy Mentor Award

Peggy Cenova

East Central Indiana Small Business Development Center

Please join us during this Kickoff Celebration to celebrate the winners’ impact on our community. If you plan to attend, RSVP to nsmith@innovationconnector.com so we can ensure we have plenty of donuts!

Now is the time to celebrate entrepreneurs and business owners. And now is the time to register to attend events during Entrepreneur Showcase Week – go to www.showcaseweek.com.  For additional information, contact the Innovation Connector at 765-285-4900 or by email: at nsmith@innovationconnector.com.

 

Provide Your Clients with Excellent Customer Experience with this NEW Class

It’s almost time for Entrepreneur Showcase Week! We’ve got 20 great events in one week for those of you wanting to learn more about what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur. Our newest added class, Providing Excellent Customer Experience, will be a practical session for all business owners and entrepreneurs discussing various aspects of excellent experiences and ways to implement them into their daily business. Join us for this FREE class on Thursday, November 17, 2022 from 6:00- 7:30 PM. You don’t want to miss this incredible event. You can register now at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/newly-added-providing-excellent-client-experiences-tickets-449427258027  See you there!

Why Entrepreneur Showcase Week?

OCTOBER 11, 2022

By Ted Baker CEO/Executive Director, Muncie, Innovation Connector, Inc.—

MUNCIE, IN—With about one month to go before the Innovation Connector engages in the most extensive series of events for businesses and entrepreneurs in its history, I was recently asked the question, “Why is the Innovation Connector doing this?”  I thought that was a really good question, and I want to share my answer with you.

Over the past twelve-plus years of being at the Innovation Connector, I have met with many entrepreneurs and business owners who requested a need for training, services, or connections.  Being a business owner is difficult and oftentimes very lonely.  Understanding where to get a question answered about a business issue or how to make the best decision for a business is not easy to do.  While one part of the Innovation Connector’s mission is to serve the technology-based entrepreneurs with offices in our center, we also believe it is important for us to serve the businesses of the greater Muncie community.  We have done this over the years by coaching business owners, hosting workshops and educational opportunities, and partnering with other entrepreneurial service organizations.  The East Central Indiana Small Business Development Center and Bankable are organizations we have teamed with to provide these services.

As I have highlighted in previous articles, the Innovation Connector’s mission is “To see job creation by providing guidance and entrepreneurial resources for individuals seeking to start or grow businesses in East Central Indiana,” Our Vision Statement further states, “Our passion is to see that each person who has a dream to start or grow a business has every resource to be successful and the economy of East Central Indiana flourishes.” Entrepreneur Showcase Week is aligned with both our mission and vision and over the past years, our organization has served hundreds of entrepreneurs and business owners.

Entrepreneur Showcase Week will be a platform to expand our services, partnerships, and reach in the entrepreneurial community. There will be twenty separate events in one week at the Innovation Connector about various topics and best practices that we have observed as needs of entrepreneurs and business owners.  Entrepreneur Showcase Week is not “about” the Innovation Connector.  It is about the people we serve daily – business owners and others who want to start businesses. It is about providing resources and answering questions that we have been asked over the past years.  Entrepreneur Showcase Week is about networking with like-minded people. Those who dream like us and have big plans like us.  The workshops, panel discussions, and events are mostly led by business owners and entrepreneurs in our community. Entrepreneur Showcase Week is about learning together how we can make our businesses more successful, more profitable, and sustainable.

Entrepreneur Showcase Week is also a celebration.  A celebration of business owners who are successful, a celebration of entrepreneurs with dreams and aspirations of starting a business someday, and a celebration of a community that supports local business owners.  The Innovation Connector’s theme for this year is “Celebrating Entrepreneurs in 2022,” which is what we will continue to do.

This week would not be possible without the support of amazing sponsors and participating businesses.  Again, because of our generous sponsors, nearly all of the events are FREE to attend.  Thank you, sponsors, for investing in the Muncie business community.  A listing of all sponsors, as well as a complete listing of all events and descriptions, can be found at www.ShowcaseWeek.com.  If you plan to attend any of the events during Entrepreneur Showcase Week, please register at the same link.  Space is limited for most of the events, so register early to secure your place.  Since opening registrations on September 19, we have received many registrations, and events are filling up quickly.

Please come and celebrate with us – with your community.  Entrepreneur Showcase Week, November 14 – 19.  Visit www.showcaseweek.com, or call the Innovation Connector at 765-285-4900 for more information.

Entrepreneur Showcase Week: Registration Now Open!

The wait is up, registration is now open for Entrepreneur Showcase Week. A complete listing of all twenty events is available at www.showcaseweek.com. Here are several events from this special week.

Entrepreneur Showcase Week begins with a Mayoral Proclamation and press announcement by Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour.  The Innovation Connector will present several awards at this event: – Technology-Business Entrepreneur of the Year, Life-Style Business Entrepreneur of the Year, Community Impact Entrepreneur of the Year, and Restaurant Entrepreneur of the Year. A special Entrepreneur Mentor Legacy Award will also be awarded. All of this will be followed by coffee and donuts with Mayor Ridenour.

Several events will focus on resources for women-owned, minority-owned, and underserved businesses. These events include “Navigating Opportunities for Minority-Owned and Women-Owned Businesses” presented by the Small Business Administration, and an event with the Ball State Entrepreneurial Institute’s Chic Innovate Program celebrating women entrepreneurs.

There will be practical business sessions to assist every kind of business owner and entrepreneur. Some of these sessions include; “Tech Business Ideation Bootcamp – Starting and Growing a Tech Business,” “Continuing Education Opportunities for Small Business Owners,” “Start Your Own Business Workshop,” “Bookkeeping and Accounting – What your Small Business Needs to Know,” and “Creatively Marketing Your Business.” And so much more! You don’t want to miss this amazing week of events as we celebrate entrepreneurs. Click HERE to learn more and to register for the events.

Registrations for Entrepreneur Showcase Week Now Open

MUNCIE, IN—Entrepreneurs play a major role in impacting nearly every component of the economy – as the biggest source of jobs and income for employees in the nation, by investing in community projects and financially supporting charitable causes. They are the drivers of new job creation, innovative products, and services and lead the way for social changes in our society.

Since announcing the activities of Entrepreneur Showcase Week in last month’s article, many businesses and entrepreneurs have committed their support of this twenty-events-in-one-week extravaganza. Entrepreneur Showcase Week will be unique for several reasons. First, to the best of my knowledge, nothing like this exists in any city anywhere. These events will be a great way to cap off the Innovation Connector’s focus on Celebrating Entrepreneurs in 2022.

Second, Entrepreneur Showcase Week will bring together the most diverse, inclusive, and variety of business people our community has ever seen.  There will be learning and networking opportunities for all entrepreneurs to benefit from to help either start or grow their businesses.  Entrepreneurs can participate in workshops about creative marketing, funding a business, bookkeeping and accounting best practices, how to start a business, and understanding IT needs and security for businesses.  Specialty sessions will include opportunities for women and minority-owned businesses, starting/growing a restaurant, the importance of side-gigs, and learning about entrepreneurs in the maker’s space.  And there is so much more. Please find a complete list of available sessions at www.showcaseweek.com.

Third, this week will be a week of partnerships and peer-to-peer training. Starting or growing a business is hard work. It literally takes a community to grow successful businesses.  Entrepreneur Showcase Week will highlight regular entrepreneurs in our community who have learned from both their successes and failures. They will lead workshop sessions and participate in panel discussions.  Many organizations are partnering to make this week special.  While the Innovation Connector is leading the charge, Ivy Tech Community College, the Indiana Small Business Development Center, the Small Business Administration, Ball State Entrepreneurial Institute, Madjax, the City of Muncie, and the Shafer Leadership Academy are among the partnering organizations.  It is in this spirit of working together that this week’s focus will be on supporting entrepreneurs and providing resources and tools to help their everyday needs.

One of the sponsors, Spotted Monkey Marketing, will be a presenter for the session, “Creatively Marketing Your Business.”  This session will be led by the owner, or Head of Monkey Business, Ashli Smith.  Ashli sees the potential impact of a week as this. “As a business owner and employer in the Muncie community, Spotted Monkey Marketing is thrilled to have an integral part of this event.  By offering such a wide variety of resources for entrepreneurs, Entrepreneur Showcase Week will impact the direction and successes of hundreds of businesses.  Our decision to be part of it is a no-brainer. “Ashli and her team are also very involved in this project by providing the graphics, website work, print, and social media marketing, as well as décor that will be in the Innovation Connector. “We chose Ashli and Spotted Monkey to work with us on this project because of their energy level and vision for small businesses in our community,” says Lori Albert, Financial Director at the Innovation Connector. “Their passion shows through in their work.”

Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour has expressed his excitement for Entrepreneur Showcase Week and will make a proclamation as such during the first session that kicks off the week on Monday, November 14, at 8 am.  Ridenour stated, “A thriving small business community is a mark of economic vitality, quality of life, and forward momentum. I am so proud that Muncie is a place where anyone can start a business and access the resources, coaching, networking, and support they need to build a legacy. Starting a business is a labor of love, and The City is proud to celebrate and support our local entrepreneurs.”

First Merchants Bank is the Title Sponsor for Entrepreneur Showcase Week.  Many thanks go to Market President Jeff Parsons and his team for supporting this event and for the ongoing support of the Innovation Connector and businesses throughout our community.  Jeff is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Innovation Connector.  As a sponsor and directly involved in the work of the Innovation Connector, Jeff’s perspective is unique to this week of events.  “I am confident the events and activities during the 6 days of the 2022 Entrepreneur Showcase in November will be impactful.  To no surprise, the Innovation Connector team has collaborated with a diverse group of community partners to assure there is an added value to all who attend.  The event will also highlight the ongoing, year-round support and commitment provided by the Innovation Connector team to encourage and assist small business creation and innovation in our community and region.  First Merchants Bank is proud to support this unique and positive event. “

Registration for all events is open now at www.showcaseweek.com. While most of the events are FREE to attend, we are requesting participants so we can properly plan for space, food, printed materials, and more for each event.  If you have any questions or wish to be part of Entrepreneur Showcase Week, please do not hesitate to contact us at 765-285-4900. Thank you in advance for your participation and support in making this event a success.  In October’s article, we will announce the winners of the five categories of the Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.  Please register for events, and if you know an entrepreneur, currently in business or not, please spread the word about this event.