One thing we haven’t talked a lot about is the makerspace Entrepreneurial Fellowship program. It’s a program to encourage entrepreneurship from the ground up. Over the years we’ve had a number of people come into the makerspace wanting to produce prototypes or make small quantities of something to sell – items they made can still found in shops locally and online. Our idea is to discover and support more people that thought about selling or making a product or service, then help them to actually do it.
Thanks to a partnership with Main Street Greencastle, and financial support from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation(IEDC), we’ve formalized a program that supports and encourages people to take the next step in creating a business. Many people hear from others they should offer a product for sale or think about selling an idea they made. We’re helping start more cottage industry businesses that sell products at markets, through other stores, certainly online, and that might grow into something bigger.
At the core of the program is access to makerspace tools, resources (including entrepreneurial makers), and other resources they need. We’re innovating with them along the way to determine what works best, not surprising that this is a new/possibly first of it’s kind program. It’s certainly attracting some interest, not only from IEDC’s Community Collaboration Fund, but we were also featured on Inside Indiana Business when we started started the program. Our first cohort group is now filled and we’re planning a second. If you’re interested please read this program description and fill out an application!
