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LYNX Capital Corporation
LYNX provides growth capital to minority-owned businesses in Indiana. LYNX focuses on existing companies with a minimum of three-year history where the loan will allow the company to grow and ultimately become a strong concern and good entrepreneurial role model in their community. Lynx was established in 1991 to create, expand, diversify and support minority-owned businesses. Not only do we provide financing, but we also provide guidance and tools to help you navigate the growth your business is experiencing. LYNX is truly a hands-on lender that will form a personal relationship with you and your business.
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Community Investment Fund of Indiana
The Community Investment Fund of Indiana (CIFI) is a statewide, certified development financial institution (cdfi) that works with banks, local initiatives, and other community partners to fill gaps in flexible financing offerings. Our purpose is to generate positive change by expanding financial opportunities for low to moderate-income individuals and underserved communities. CIFI provides technical assistance and capital (through loans) to small businesses throughout Indiana. Portfolio companies include startups as well as existing companies, which may be focusing on growth, needing equipment, facility financing or restructuring their balance sheet. Visit our website and select the Borrower’s tab and fill out the application.
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Indiana Community Business Credit Corporation
The Indiana Community Business Credit Corp (ICBCC) assists small businesses to meet the need for medium and long-term growth financing for promising firms which could not qualify for conventional loans. Our team will take the time to really get to know the individuals and the business so that we can structure a financing package that is personal to the particular needs of the applicant.
ICBCC takes a subordinate collateral position, participating in projects that need at least $200,000 in total new financing. ICBCC can provide $100,000 – $500,000 but not more than 50% of the project financing.
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Elevate Nexus
Elevate Nexus provides resources and thought leadership to Indiana higher-education institutions and the entrepreneurs they engage. Elevate Nexus Pitch Competitions offer promising startups, preferably engaged with Elevate Nexus partnered colleges and universities, the opportunity to secure foundational capital needed to launch their businesses. $2.3M is awarded each year through pitch competitions.
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Kiva Northeast Indiana
Kiva Northeast Indiana provides crowdfunded loans from $1,000 to $15,000.
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Traditional Funding
Beyond startup funding and venture capital, traditional lending sources can be a valuable and vital resource for startups and small businesses. FUSE NEI has compiled local, regional and national lending institutions serving Northeast Indiana to make the process of finding the right lender, convenient.
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Brightpoint COVID-19 Express Loan
Due to the high demand for financial relief, Brightpoint created a specialized COVID-19 Express Loan for current businesses impacted by the outbreak. This loan product is designed to help any business experiencing financial hardships due to COVID-19.
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Fort Wayne SOUP
Fort Wayne SOUP is a micro-grant dinner that fosters community & raises funds for creative projects that enhance Fort Wayne living. Its mission is to promote community-based development through crowdfunding, creativity, collaboration, democracy, trust, and fun.
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Indiana Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC)
Indiana PTAC works directly with Indiana small businesses in obtaining and performing under federal, state, and local government contracts. We provide procurement technical assistance to help you sell your products or services to the appropriate government agency by offering confidential counseling services and workshops at no cost. The core of our procurement assistance program is counseling and education.
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1517 Fund
1517 is a pre-seed venture capital firm that supports teams with grant, pre-seed, and seed funding for technology startups. Our focus is on makers, hackers, and scientists interested in working outside tracked institutions because we believe that the path geared towards higher education is not for all. We motivate people to work on what they’re passionate about, to learn by doing, and to create new technologies.
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Northeast Indiana Innovation Center
The NIIC’s mission is to fuel great ideas, people and companies. Our vision is to grow and inspire global business builders. We move business builders confidently in the direction of achieving their dreams.
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Believe in a Dream, Inc
Believe in a Dream’s vision is to empower the next generation to build a better tomorrow. Our annual Pave the Path Young Leaders Summit helps high school students grow their leadership and entrepreneurship skills – plus provides them mentorship. Our Young Visionaries Fellowship students conduct entrepreneurial projects to make their community or the world a better place. Our Young Entrepreneur Awards recognize outstanding student business owners.
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Brightpoint Development Fund
Mission: To create economic opportunities for communities, families, and individuals who lack access to affordable capital and financial services.
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Elevate Northeast Indiana
The entrepreneurial journey is a journey filled with many twists and turns that have the potential to squash brilliant ideas. At Elevate Northeast Indiana, we give high-growth entrepreneurs a clear path to the potential investment they need to move toward extraordinary levels of growth.
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WEOC
WEOC’s mission is to help women-owned and led founders to start, grow and scale their businesses and ventures. Our vision is to be known as the most trusted business building resource in Northeast Indiana for women-owned businesses.
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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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Community Development Corp. of Northeast Indiana
The principal objective of the CDC is creating jobs throughout the communities that we serve. This is achieved by lending to small businesses who are unable to obtain capital to fund start-up operations or expansion of an existing enterprise through conventional sources.
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