INDIANAPOLIS — Trine University is one of 19 organizations across Indiana that have
been awarded a total of $164,000 in grants from Elevate Nexus.
The $50,000 grant Trine received is earmarked toward entrepreneurship programming
to help build on existing successes.
Jason Blume, executive director of Trine innovation 1, said the funds will be used
to purchase equipment and supplies for the Maker Space to be located in the university’s
upcoming engineering facilities expansion, assisting students and entrepreneurs in
concept fabrication. The grant also will be used to create a series of seminars that
will allow successful entrepreneurs to share their insight and experience with the
Trine community.
“We are grateful for the support and partnership of Elevate Ventures in expanding
the resources and programming available to area entrepreneurs, and to Trine students
who aspire to entrepreneurship,” he said. “Like Elevate Ventures, we realize the importance
of new businesses and innovations to the economy of this region, and want to do everything
we can to assist those seeking to bring new ideas to market.”
Elevate Nexus, an initiative of Elevate Ventures launched in July 2019, partners with
higher-education institutions and nonprofit organizations to organize pitch competitions
in which entrepreneurs compete for startup funding. The grants represent 10% of the
total $1,640,000 in startup investment achieved through the organizations’ efforts.
Other recipients include:
- 1804, Inc., New Albany
- AgriNovus Indiana, Indianapolis
- Dimension Mill, Inc., Bloomington
- Flagship Enterprise Center Inc. (d/b/a Bankable), Anderson
- Governor Bob Orr Indiana Entrepreneurial Fellowship, Inc., Indianapolis
- Grace Schools, Winona Lake
- Indiana University, Bloomington
- Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana, Indianapolis
- Michiana Partnership, Inc. (d/b/a South Bend Elkhart Regional Partnership), South
Bend
- Purdue University, West Lafayette
- Purdue University Northwest, Hammond
- Purdue@Westgate, Odone
- Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Terre Haute
- SERVICE CORPS of Retired Executives (SCORE), Warsaw
- Taylor University, Upland
- Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis
- University of Notre Dame, South Bend
- University of Southern Indiana, Evansville
Elevate Nexus hosts seven pitch competitions annually, including six regional and
one statewide, with a total of $1,640,000 in investments awarded to startups. The
grant recipients are identified by the startup during the application process.
Elevate Nexus is funded by a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration
and the 21st Century Research and Technology Fund (21 Fund). The 21 Fund, which promotes
economic growth and innovation-driven public-private partnerships in Indiana, is overseen
by the Indiana Economic Development Corp. and managed by Elevate Ventures.
ABOUT 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.
Last Updated: 08/25/2020