ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEM STRATEGY

The Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Strategy is shaping the next 10 years of entrepreneurial support in Greater Fort Wayne.

Our strategy begins with you. If you are an entrepreneur, take the survey and let your voice be heard. Let us know what tools, resources, and capital you need to grow your business.

The Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Survey, now closed, was a brief survey collecting demographic information about entrepreneurs in the Greater Fort Wayne area. In addition, the survey collected information on entrepreneurs' perceived access to resources to support their businesses. Focus groups accompanied the survey to deepen discussions around entrepreneurship and ecosystem development.

The data collected from the survey will result in a comprehensive strategy for Great Fort Wayne, what we have coined as the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Strategy (EES). This strategy will elevate the importance of entrepreneurship in local economic development initiatives and identify avenues to provide greater support to local business owners and entrepreneurs. The EES will outline 3, 7, and 10 year goals for the area to develop a healthy, entrepreneurial ecosystem in 6 key areas: human capital, supports, market, policy, finance, and culture. We hope this strategy will inform and be implemented into local and regional policy, furthering entrepreneurship in regional economic development efforts.

This project is funded in part by a grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne. This project is also funded by the Don Wood Foundation with the mission to grow and strengthen the manufacturing sector in the Midwest region.

“The development of an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Strategy for the Greater Fort Wayne area is vital to ensure the long-term growth of our regional economy.

— Dan Swartz, Executive Director of Start Fort Wayne

“The Community Foundation is excited and proud to support the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Strategy for Allen County. We are also pleased to announce that this study will be partially funded by the Don Wood Foundation. Entrepreneurialism was important to Don Wood and is one of the strategic focus areas of his Foundation. It is also a key element in our own Vision Plan and we appreciate the opportunity to partner on this initiative. The findings from this survey will be important in determining the areas we can improve for supporting entrepreneurs in our community.