Attendees gathered for the kick-off Kosciusko Entrepreneur Social event for 2023 earlier this year at DreamOn Studios. Entrepreneur Social events take place every other month. Photo provided by Kosciusko Economic Development Corp.

News Release

WARSAW — The Kosciusko Economic Development Corp., Fort Wayne’s Summit City Entrepreneur & Enterprise District, the Don Wood Foundation, and the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center will host a Catalyze NEIN Innovator Call-Out + Entrepreneur Social event at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 31, at Ledgeview Brewing Co., 975 Warren St, Warsaw.

“We’re bringing together local entrepreneurs to make connections and build community,” said Alan Tio, Kedco chief executive officer. “These events are a great opportunity to showcase the startup activity in K County and to learn more about what additional support local entrepreneurs need to start, grow and innovate within their businesses.”

Catalyze NEIN is a call-out event designed to expand access to entrepreneurs in their own backyards. It focuses on community-based and community-led collaboration, startup access to workshops, events and innovative tactics, and it’s designed to be customized to the community with listening sessions that will help identify specific innovation and entrepreneurial needs.

The event format on May 31 will blend the Catalyze NEIN listening events and the recurring Entrepreneur Social events that Kedco hosts in partnership with Fortitude Fund in Kosciusko County every other month.

“We are hosting an Entrepreneur and Innovator Call-Out in Kosciusko County to hear from the business community, and Kedco already brings together local entrepreneurs every other month, so it made perfect sense to bring the two events together,” said Rhonda Ladig, director of strategic initiatives at the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center.

The event is geared toward business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs, innovators within companies (“intrapreneurs”), business students and entrepreneurial support organizations. NEXT Studios managing entrepreneur John McDonald will lead discussion and a listening session focused on resources needed for the entrepreneurial community, problems to be solved and innovative thinking.

The event is free to attend and will be held outdoors on the patio at Ledgeview, weather permitting. Refreshments will be provided. To RSVP for the event, visit the website at bit.ly/KEDCOSocial531.

“This event will be a unique opportunity to meet with other entrepreneurs from K County and northeast Indiana, as well as contacts from organizations that support entrepreneurs,” said Tio. “We encourage anyone interested in entrepreneurship and innovation to attend, whether you have started a business, are thinking about it, or are interested in learning more about the entrepreneurial journey.”

As part of its Entrepreneurship Initiative, Kedco offers one-on-one business coaching and partners with additional local, regional and state organizations such as AcceLINX, Elevate Ventures, the Indiana Small Business Development Center and SCORE.