Blair Milo , Director of the Center for Talent and Opportunity, attended The The IDEA Center at the University of Notre Dame last week for a panel discussion. She shares her takeaways below 👇
“What do ideas become? Big things, brave things, smart things, silly things, good things. Things like stories, artwork, journeys, inventions, communities, products, and cures. Everything you see around you was once an idea.” Kobi Yamada’s bestselling book, What Do You Do With an Idea, is the perfect foundation for the South Bend – Elkhart region’s IDEA Week, and it was fascinating to learn from Christopher (Toph) Day , Aaron Gillum, Tracy Graham and Matt Gardner on their journey to becoming investors and why betting on Indiana is smart business.
Whether it was painting houses or launching an online business that would evolve into the idea of data centers, each of the four started as entrepreneurs with a new idea. To a person, their original ideas failed to reach the goals originally envisioned, some spectacularly so. But for every stumbling block or barrier was a crucial lesson carrying them to what would be a pivotal next step and a mentor or seemingly casual connection who shared expertise, their networks, their time, as well as their financial capital.
Indiana is punching far above our weight class in categories of active investments, in entrepreneurial ecosystem strength, and attractiveness for starting a new business as just a small sample of the list of Hoosier wins. Underscored by each speaker was one of Indiana’s greatest and under-appreciated opportunities: ready access to the time, wisdom, and mentorship of top leaders that is crucial for long-term success.
A quick, post-panel trip down the street to the old Studebaker Factory showcased the brightness of Indiana’s entrepreneurial future and the strength of our ecosystems at RISE (RISE | Regional Innovation & Startup Education) Fest as student entrepreneurs from elementary schools to universities across the state showcased their businesses at a standing-room-only crowd.
As #IDEAWeek and RISE Fest drew to a close, one thing became abundantly clear: Indiana's future is bright, but realizing its full potential will require concerted effort and collaboration from all to continue supporting entrepreneurs of every age who respond to Yamada’s parting question, “So what will become of your idea? Now that’s up to you.”
What an honor, thank you AIGA Boston, and congrats Tammy Dayton and Daren Bascome ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️