We Help By: Providing Assistance
Although many entrepreneurs believe funding to be integral to launching their startup, most of those same entrepreneurs also face other business development challenges. With this in mind, Elevate developed two significant initiatives addressing this support concern for companies in all stages of maturity.
Early Stage Assistance for Entrepreneurs
Many startups know that they need funding - but what they don't realize that even when they receive it, their company could struggle to use the funds effectively. But how could that be true, when many entrepreneurs just need money to get started?
The answer, is while many startups have a great idea and a vision for where they want to go - but they're missing the puzzle pieces required to complete their entrepreneurial dream. That's we have assembled a team of Entrepreneurs-In-Residence who have battled many of the same challenges that entrepreneurs face with their own companies - they also once struggled with developing the right team, creating a reliable road map, executing a competitive business model and a variety of other hurdles. Now, after successfully launching, executing and exiting their own companies, they're here to help you with yours.
Read more about the Early Stage Assistance Program here and how to get involved.
Economic Gardening
Elevate Ventures Economic Gardening is designed to provide significant sophisticated technical assistance to identified second-stage companies that have the intent and capacity to grow their business. This Indiana program will provide economic gardening assistance at no charge to selected Indiana businesses statewide. These selected businesses will interact with an experienced national economic gardening team at the Lowe Foundation who will deliver economic gardening services tailored to each business' particular situation.
Read more about the Economic Gardening Program and how to apply.
Business Ignition System
Elevate Ventures' Business Ignition System is a set of flexible and validated business tools developed by investors to help their portfolio companies think through building a business and avoid typical pitfalls. Through effective mentoring and use of these tools, companies begin a path to commercialization and growth. These "Toolboxes" save time and reduce mistakes because they were created, adapted and used by experienced entrepreneurs and executives as they mentored their own investment portfolio of companies.
Read more about the Business Ignition System.