News release from the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership:
Startup Enthusiast to Speak at Millennial 2020 Spark Tank
Register Today to Reserve Your Spot!
(May 22, 2013) – Millennials – those roughly between the ages of 15 and 25 – will share their ideas on how to change the story of Northeast Indiana, compete for $500 seed funding, and hear from local startup enthusiast and venture capitalist Ray Angel at Millennial 2020’s (M2020) Spark Tank. The event, which is open to Millennials across Northeast Indiana, will be held Friday, May 31, at Huntington University in the Habecker Dining Commons.
Angel, the event’s keynote speaker, is the former CEO of Startup Weekend, which brings together entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs to create a business in one weekend. Angel is also co-founder of Founders, a free collaborative workspace in downtown Fort Wayne.
After Millennials share their community project ideas and business opportunities, they will have the chance to receive feedback from peers, regional leaders and the M2020 Spark Tank panel of judges. The panel includes Dave Corcoran, a consultant and former Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Elevate Ventures; Darlene Stanley, President at Johnson Junction; Olivia Fabian, Millennial Leaders Alliance member and owner of OFabz Swimwear; and Troy Irick, Vice President for Strategy and Innovation and Adjunct Professor of Business and Economics at Huntington University.
Millennials who don’t have ideas of their own are still encouraged to attend M2020 Spark Tank and offer feedback, collaborate on projects and network with attendees.
Several prize packages will be given away throughout the day. Prizes will include Social Music Festival tickets, a Vera Bradley tote bag, passes to the Parkview Huntington Family YMCA and gift cards to area restaurants, stores and movie theaters.
When: Friday, May 31, 9:30 am – 3:00 pm; Lunch will be provided
Where: Habecker Dining Commons, Huntington University, 2303 College Ave, Huntington, IN 46750
Keynote Speaker: Ray Angel, startup enthusiast, co-founder of Founders in downtown Fort Wayne and former CEO of Startup Weekend
Who: Millennials (ages 15-25) and Regional Leaders
Admission: Free
Registration: Register online at www.millennial2020.com/spark-tank/spark-tank-registration by Wednesday, May 29th.
Questions: Contact Jordan McArdle at Jordan@neindiana.com or 260-469-3465
Spark Tank is hosted by the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership’s Millennial 2020 program. The event is focused on college-aged Millennials although all Millennials in Northeast Indiana are welcome to attend.
Millennial 2020 is an extension of Vision 2020 , a regional initiative stewarded by the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership, working to transform Northeast Indiana through the five pillars of 21st Century Talent, Competitive Business Climate, Entrepreneurship, Infrastructure, and Quality of Life. Millennial 2020 gives Millennials an active voice and role in Vision 2020 and directly aligns with Vision 2020’s mission for Northeast Indiana of developing, attracting, and retaining talent.
The Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership was formed in 2006 to help build a globally competitive economy in Northeast Indiana. It is a public-private partnership focused on generating business leads and building regional capacity through product development and effective regional collaboration. The Northeast Indiana Fund was created in 2005 to operate as a supporting organization of the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership, focused specifically on product development and regional collaboration. In 2010, the Partnership launched Vision 2020 to bring the region together around key areas for economic growth. Through its combined efforts in business development and capacity building, the Partnership supports its 10 member counties: Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells and Whitley counties. For more information, visit www.NEIndiana.com.
