N O R T H E A S T I N D I A N A I N N O V A T I O N C E N T E R

P R O G R A M S & S E R V I C E S G U I D E

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EA MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO

Welcome to The NIIC, an entrepreneurial

community. We offer programs and services

designed with the business builder,

dreamer, doer, innovator, engineer, scientist, small

business owner and entrepreneur in mind.

The NIIC has been at the forefront of entrepreneurship

since it was founded over 17 years ago. It is in our

DNA. You’ll experience proven business building

techniques and tools to provide founders, your team

and your business a competitive edge.

As you peruse our brochure, you may notice we

focus on the four pillars (essential ingredients) of

entrepreneurial success – capital, talent, workspaces

and networks. We align our resources to these four

pillars to deliver the highest ROI on your investment.

It’s no accident that The NIIC is the largest

entrepreneurial community under one roof in

Northeast Indiana. Many innovative, growth-oriented

businesses are proud to call The NIIC their corporate

headquarters. Our experienced entrepreneurial team

works with all types of businesses at all stages of

their ventures. There is a reason we are recognized

nationally as an award-winning entrepreneurial hub

and why over 5,000 guests and visitors experience

our Pinnacle Customer Service every year and return

time and again.

Stop in, tour, talk to a business coach and engage with

The NIIC. Our team will assist you in finding the right

program for your success. Let’s get started.

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Karl R. LaPan, CEO & President, The NIIC

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W E A R E T H E N I I CThe NIIC is a dynamic, globally recognized entrepreneurial resource center that assists in the growth and development of innovative companies.

OUR MISSION

To be Rocket Fuel for Great Ideas, People and Companies.

OUR VISION

To be known as a top entrepreneurial community of choice.

WHO & HOW WE SERVE

PRE-COMPANY PRE-REVENUE EMERGING GROWTH

N I I C N A V I G A T O R ™ L E A R N I N G M A N A G E M E N T S Y S T E M

E M E R G I N G G R O W T H C E N T E R

S T U D E N T V E N T U R E L A B

S H A R E D W O R K S P A C E ( F L E X - S P A C E )

A F F I L I A T E S I D E - B Y - S I D E C O A C H I N G

B U S I N E S S I N C U B A T O R / G R O W T H A C C E L E R A T O R

W O M E N ’ S E C O N O M I C O P P O R T U N I T Y C E N T E R

We help business builders launch and organizations grow.

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T H E N I I C C O N F E R E N C I N G C E N T E R

PAYROLL & EMPLOYMENT

T H E N I I C I N N O VAT I O N PA R K P E R F O R M A N C E

INNOVATION METRICS

SUCCESS OUTCOMESSYNERGY

*BUSINESS RETENTION

Stays in Northeast Indiana service area

**SURVIVABILITY

Sti l l in business 5 years af ter incept ion

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NIIC

We collaborate and engage with entrepreneurs and

our community to foster the right environment for

your team and venture’s success.

Realize your entrepreneurial dreams through

The NIIC. We deliver value-added services and

programs to address the four resource pillars

of entrepreneurial success to help you build a

successful business.

CAPITAL

Creating accessible pathways to funding

TALENT

Growing a pipeline of next-generation entrepreneurial

doers & thinkers

WORKSPACES

Building a vibrant entrepreneurial workplace

& community

NETWORKS

Networking & facilitating entrepreneurial idea

collisions, energy & success

4 RESOURCE PILLARS OF ENTREPRENEURIAL SUCCESS

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C R E D I B I L I T Y | C O M M U N I T Y | C O N F I D E N C E

N I I C P R O G R A M S

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T H E S M A R T W A Y T O B U I L D & G R O W A S U C C E S S F U L B U S I N E S S .

Dreams can become reality through hard work, guidance from experienced professionals and access to resources. We help you define your unique pathway then provide resources and connectivity for venture’s success.

STEP 1: GET TO KNOW YOUR TEAM

• Assessment with a business coach• For individuals and businesses • Predictive Index (PI) • Gallup Business Builder Profile 10 (BP 10)• Mentorship

STEP 2: VALIDATE THE PAIN/PROBLEM OR OPPORTUNITY

• Lean canvas• WKI (Wendy Kennedy International) So what? Who cares? Why you?

STEP 3: MAKE IT HAPPEN• Access to capital• Bootstrapping• Field Work• Find Customers

OPEN FOR BUSINESSESC O N F E R E N C I N G M A D E E A S Y F O R A L L T Y P E S O F B U S I N E S S E S

Our goal at The NIIC is to ensure Northeast Indiana continues to be an innovative area where business booms. We wouldn’t be doing our part if our offerings were limited to our residential clients. The NIIC Conference Center is a resource for the community. Its seven conference rooms are accommodating, easy to reserve and open to the public. The Center offers the amenities needed for successful meetings, events and workshops.

R O O M S A N D M O R E

When businesses reserve a conference room at The NIIC, they gain access to more than a place to work. Each room has its own unique appeals and specialties and comes standard with useful amenities. Between The NIIC Pinnacle Service Experience and our state-of-the-art facilities, it’s easy to see why The NIIC is a superior event venue.

M U LT I P L E R O O M S I Z E Sseating for up to 80 people.

C O M P L I M E N T A R Y W I F Iand large screen monitors for multiple interfaces.

I N T E G R A T E D G A R A G E D O O R Screate open flow and flexible seating options.

C O N C I E R G E S T A F Fwith event-planning resources and expertise.

B U S I N E S S C E N T E Ris full-service with ideation boards, printers and presentation tools.

P R O F E S S I O N A L C A T E R I N G S E R V I C Eon-site, featuring professional chef and catering.

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SHARED WORKSPACEA C O W O R K I N G P R O G R A M

This program provides a professional, shared office workspace in a community atmosphere. Clients receive a private or semi-private office space with lockable storage, a phone, complimentary wireless connection, a business address and use of four beautifully appointed conference rooms. No long-term lease is required.

ENTREPRENEURIAL EDUCATIONI M M E R S I V E A N D E X P E R I E N T I A L A P P L I E D E N T R E P R E N E U R I A L L E A R N I N G

The NIIC is the regional leader in community entrepreneurial outreach and education. This includes Lean Canvas, fast test, acceleration, immersive and experiential learning.

NIIC Navigator™ Online Toolset, Your Entrepreneurial GPS, is designed to provide a customized road map that adjusts to the uniqueness of each entrepreneur and their path to venture success. This includes starting, building and growing a business. The NIIC Navigator™ recognizes that planned paths change and re-routes in real time to create both history and task/training for your new path. The NIIC Navigator™ is available to both resident and remote NIIC clients.

STUDENT VENTURE LAB (SVL) PROGRAMS T U D E N T - O W N E D S T A R T U P V E N T U R E S

Everyone should have the opportunity to innovate. Why not learn how while you’re still in school? The NIIC Student Venture Lab (SVL) Program gives entrepreneurs in high school and college a chance to start and grow their own business in the supportive, structured and success-focused environment of The NIIC.

Students accepted into the program gain full access to The NIIC for up to three phases of their venture’s launch. Each phase typically lasts six months. Participants receive a modest seed investment, venture advisory services, peer-to-peer learning and mentorship from experienced business coaches and local innovators.

WOMEN’S ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY CENTER (WEOC)S E R V I N G W O M E N E N T R E P R E N E U R S A T A L L S T A G E S O F T H E I R B U S I N E S S V E N T U R E S

WEOC offers timely and immediate assistance to women entrepreneurs at all stages of their venture paths, from business ideas and start-ups through growth and expansion. WEOC was designed to understand and respond to the unique needs of women entrepreneurs.

WEOC is strategically located at The NIIC, and is one of two women’s business centers in Indiana (as designated by the U.S. Small Business Administration). Our service area includes the following counties: Adams, Allen, Blackford, DeKalb, Delaware, Grant, Huntington, Jay, Kosciusko, Lagrange, Madison, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells and Whitley.

Contact us today to get started on your business. www.inWEOC.com

NOTE: WEOC is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Host organization, The NIIC provides WEOC with the matching funds required by U.S. SBA and provides the program with supplemental technical support and resources.

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MENTOR PROGRAMG U I D A N C E & S U P P O R T F O R T H E N I I C C L I E N T S

The NIIC’s Mentor Program delivers guidance and support to clients by pairing them with external, volunteer mentors with a similar business focus as them. The NIIC volunteer mentors have depth of experience and knowledge to provide transactional mentoring for quick results.

EMERGING GROWTH CENTERA C E N T E R F O R Q U I C K LY G R O W I N G C O M P A N I E S

The Emerging Growth Center features large spaces for clients needing more than 2,000 square feet. It is both a facility for graduate clients as well as second stage and growth stage ventures desiring more independence while also taking advantage of the amenities, infrastructure and positive brand association with the NIIC.

PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS ADDRESSS T A T E O F T H E A R T O F F I C E E N V I R O N M E N T W I T H A L L T H E A M E N I T I E S T O B U I L D & G R O W Y O U R C O M P A N Y & Y O U

The NIIC’s Business Incubation Program ranks among the best in the country. The office spaces, wet lab spaces and dry lab spaces are fully furnished, plug and play and ready to move into to begin launching your business. Every new resident receives the Innovation Center’s coaching program at no additional charge as well as access to a wide network of mentors and service providers.

GROWTH ACCELERATORW H E N Y O U & Y O U R V E N T U R E W A N T T O G O F A S T

Some high-growth ventures need external funding to grow faster and smarter. The NIIC’s LEAP Fund, in affiliation with VisionTech Angels and its network of angel investors, can support the growth and development of your venture by connecting you to accessible seed capital, mentorship and partners necessary to give you and your venture a strong competitive edge in the marketplace.

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S T A Y C O N N E C T E D W I T H U S A T

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CEO RHYTHMS FORUMI N T E R A C T I V E P E E R G R O U P F O R G R O W T H - M I N D E D A N D S E R I O U S F O U N D E R S / O W N E R S

Lonely at the top? Want to grow faster professionally? Need no-nonsense leadership tools for measurable results? Open to experienced advisor & peer perspectives on your most difficult challenges? The CEO Rhythms Forum is for CEOs, presidents and owners of emerging ventures that want to work on the business and not just in it.

Developed around the unique challenges of a small company’s size and growth stage, CEO Rhythms Forum provides the highly selective tools and information to successfully transition your venture into the next stage.

CORPORATE INNOVATIONE N G A G I N G C O R P O R A T E L E A D E R S O F S U B S T A N C E

The NIIC not only serves pre-revenue and startup companies–we have services and capabilities for established corporations and nonprofit organizations, too. These services include:

N O N - P R O F I T O R G A N I Z A T I O N S L O O K I N G F O R A C O M P E T I T I V E E D G E

Discovering and validating your client’s pain, problem or opportunity and rethinking your business model and go to market delivery through our Business Model Bootcamp.

F I N D I N G T H E B U S I N E S S V A L U E O F Y O U R I N N O V A T I O N

By incorporating the use of a proprietary approach and online toolset, So What, Who Cares, Why You?™ Program, The NIIC helps drive ideation and action across your business or organization.

O U T S O U R C I N G Y O U R C O R P O R A T E I N N O V A T I O N A C T I V I T I E S

If you’re thinking about taking your organization and its culture to a higher level, or contemplating how to better engage and maximize team loyalty and satisfaction, The NIIC can help. Our part-time Chief Innovation Officer (CINO) service can help build internal innovation and entrepreneurship.

G E T T I N G Y O U R T A L E N T T O T H E N E X T L E V E L T O H E L P T H E M R E A L I Z E T H E I R F U L L P O T E N T I A L

The NIIC offers coaching and mentoring services to grow and develop your talent pipeline. Using psychometric assessments, like Gallup and Predictive Index, Matthew Kelly’s Dream Manager and other life-coaching services, The NIIC equips adaptive leaders to take on your organization’s toughest challenges.

S P E A K E R ’ S B U R E A U

If you’re in need of a guest, keynote speaker or workshop presenter for your next meeting or strategic retreat, talk to The NIIC. We’re connected to a large network of accomplished and engaging thought leaders, and The NIIC delivers inspirational, relevant educational content to challenge and nourish your leadership team.

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NIIC LEAP FUNDP U T T I N G O U R M O N E Y W H E R E O U R M O U T H I S

The NIIC understands capital fuels business growth so The NIIC puts its money where its mouth is. Through the establishment of an early stage fund, The NIIC makes critical investments in innovative companies by offering asset-based and working capital loans, gap equity investments based on a lead investors terms and valuation or promissory/convertible debenture notes. Investment selection is highly competitive and funds are limited. Funds must be matched or leveraged to be considered for investment.

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IT’S AS EASY AS 1, 2, 3E A S Y S T E P S T O G E T Y O U R B U S I N E S S S T A R T E D A T T H E N I I C

1 : C A L L A N I I C C O N C I E R G Eto set up an appointment and tour with a business coach. (260.407.NIIC)

2 : M E E T I N P E R S O N O R B Y P H O N Eto discuss your business and your program options.

3 : S E L E C T A P R O G R A Mthat meets your needs.

WHILE JOINING THE NIICB E P R E P A R E D T O :

L A U N C H & C O M P L E T Ea business and personal assessment tailored to your needs.

B E A P A R T O F T H E L A R G E S T “ U N D E R O N E R O O F ”entrepreneurial community in Northeast Indiana.

E N G A G E W I T H U SBy referring to us business builders, entrepreneurs and innovators.

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HOW TO GET STARTEDM A K I N G D R E A M S R E A L I S O U R B U S I N E S S

Most clients come the NIIC because someone told them to go check it out. Referring individuals to the NIIC is easy and can also help you indirectly if they are your clients. The NIIC can help strengthen businesses. If you’re interested in referring colleagues to the NIIC, contact us! We will come to your business to brief you about our programs, so you are aware of all that we do. It will also give us a chance to learn about what you do at your business, so we can refer colleagues to you as well.

For more info, visit our website at:

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3201 Ste l lhorn Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46815© September 2017, Northeast Indiana Innovation Center, Inc.