SOUTH BEND – ELKHART, Ind. (Nov. 22, 2021) — South Bend – Elkhart regional organizations hosted numerous events during Global Entrepreneurship Week, which concluded November 14th, including the first annual Founder Factory hosted by Startup South Bend – Elkhart, Spark Fest hosted by RISE, a One Million Cups meeting, and the Celebrating Minority Business Excellence dinner hosted by the Greater Elkhart Chamber of Commerce.

Founder Factory, A Startup Summit for South Bend – Elkhart, saw over 200 entrepreneurs, enthusiasts, and investors participate in an afternoon filled with programming featuring keynote sessions from nationally-renowned experts, food from local food truck entrepreneurs, roundtable sessions for entrepreneurs, pitches for investors, and co-working space and exhibitors for all attendees to experience.

Spark Fest provided RISE stakeholders the opportunity to meet the classes of 2022 for Startup Moxie St. Joseph County and Applied Entrepreneurship Program in an intimate setting at Howard Park. The One Million Cups meeting featured two startups in their series of monthly meetings offering an easy way to connect and support local companies. The Celebrating Minority Business Excellence dinner featured seven award winners from business and non-profit sectors, with over 150 guests in attendance to celebrate the awardees and the advancement of minority participation in the economic and cultural fabric of greater Elkhart.

These four events are but a glimpse inside the entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem that exists in the South Bend – Elkhart region, with continued programming being offered throughout the year for all business industries, stages, and locations.

“Global Entrepreneurship Week brings together entrepreneurs of all kinds to celebrate the spirit of turning visions into realities and spurring economic growth for generations to come,” shares Regina Emberton, President and CEO of the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership, the backbone organization for Startup South Bend – Elkhart.

To learn more about upcoming events for startups and entrepreneurs, visit startupsouthbendelkhart.com.

About Startup South Bend – Elkhart
The mission of Startup South Bend – Elkhart, a non-profit initiative of the South Bend Elkhart Regional Partnership is to promote and foster the entrepreneurial ecosystem of the South Bend – Elkhart region. Startup South Bend – Elkhart works to stimulate the entrepreneurial spirit and culture in the regional community, identify and nurture new business startups, and support the growth of existing high potential businesses. For more information about Startup South Bend – Elkhart, visit startupsouthbendelkhart.com.

About Elevate Ventures
Elevate Ventures is a private venture development organization that nurtures and develops emerging and existing high-growth businesses into high-performing, Indiana-based companies. Elevate Ventures accomplishes this by providing access to capital, rigorous business analysis and robust advisory services that connect companies with the right mix of resources businesses need to succeed long term. To learn more about Elevate Ventures, visit elevateventures.com.

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Media Contacts
Regina Emberton
South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership
remberton@southbendelkhart.org
(574) 344-4686