Sec. Chambers, IEDC announce new initiatives to honor, support and power state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem

Governor Eric J. Holcomb proclaimed this week (Nov. 14-20, 2022) Global Entrepreneurship Week in Indiana, recognizing the many contributions that entrepreneurs and innovators have made to Indiana’s economy and communities. As part of the state’s celebrations this week, Indiana Secretary of Commerce Brad Chambers and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) announced new entrepreneurial ecosystem assets, launching Entrepreneurship Indiana, an annual publication honoring the entrepreneurial journey, and announcing a new website to help entrepreneurs start and grow their business.

“Entrepreneurship has been and continues to be an essential driver of Indiana’s economic future,” said Sec. Chambers. “Our innovation ecosystem has unlimited potential and deserves continued cultivation and resource allocation. This week, we honor and thank our entrepreneurs – the risk takers, dreamers and innovators who are fundamental to our state’s economy.”

Entrepreneurship Indiana 2022 is an entrepreneurial yearbook published in partnership with PATTERN to honor the state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and inspire future founders and innovators. The inaugural edition, which is available online, features 100 entrepreneurial success stories, highlighting the ambition, commitment and resilience of entrepreneurs of all backgrounds and industries across the state.

The new website, currently in beta testing with organizations that support Indiana’s entrepreneurs, is a tool for current and future entrepreneurs, designed to connect founders with the right resource at the right time in their journey to start and grow their business. It is the first of its kind statewide listing of resources, programs and services for entrepreneurs, providing visitors curated connections to Indiana’s robust network of support organizations, mentors, accelerators, capital opportunities and more.

Sec. Chambers and the IEDC will celebrate these new initiatives and Indiana’s entrepreneurs at three regional Global Entrepreneurship Week events this week, hosting founders, aspiring entrepreneurs and industry mentors. The state will also host Cecilia Wessinger, director for global community at the Global Entrepreneurship Network, who will be visiting the Hoosier State to celebrate Indiana as an emerging global entrepreneurial ecosystem.

“One week a year, for the past 15 years, the world comes together in commemoration of entrepreneurship. We celebrate ingenuity, resilience and passion, the life blood of courage, sustainability and prosperity. In recognition of efforts and inviting more people to explore opportunities and dreams of their own making,” said Wessinger. “At the crossroads of America, Indiana has a rich history in all these aspects. I am excited to join the festivities and honor the founders and ecosystem builders in the heart of the Heartland.”

The events* will be held as follows:

• Central Region: Tuesday, Nov. 15, 4-6 p.m. 
  The Center – Heritage Group | 6320 Intech Way, Indianapolis, IN 46278

• North Region: Wednesday, Nov. 16, 4:45-6:30 p.m. 
  Lerner Theater | 410 S. Main St., Elkhart, IN 46516

• South Region: Thursday, Nov. 17, 4:30-6:30 p.m.  
  The Mill | 642 N. Madison St., Bloomington, IN 47404

Indiana is committed to investing in the growth and success of the state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, which continues to inspire entrepreneurs and fuel new innovations, create quality jobs for Hoosiers, and attract record levels of capital investment. Indiana recently ranked as a Global Top 40 Emerging Ecosystem by Startup Genome, and six of the state’s cities were named among the 2022 Best Startup Cities in the Midwest with Indianapolis ranking No. 3.

The state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem has a significant impact on the state’s economy and its communities. Indiana’s youngest companies (under five years of age) account for the majority of net new job growth in the state, creating more than 36,000 new jobs in 2019 alone. In 2021, Hoosier companies under five years of age contributed an estimated $11.5 billion to Indiana’s GDP. At the local level, one successful new company increases the median household income of surrounding households, driving community wellbeing.

*Media interested in attending the Global Entrepreneurship Week events must RSVP to Erin Sweitzer at esweitzer@iedc.in.gov.