SOUTH BEND, Ind. (June 1, 2020)  — To serve the South Bend – Elkhart region, Elevate Ventures has hired an Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) with experience in launching and scaling several businesses and product lines.

Nicholas Kuhn will work closely with Startup South Bend – Elkhart, a partnership between the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership and Elevate Ventures. The collaboration encourages entrepreneurs to develop innovative, high-performing companies.

“Startup South Bend – Elkhart works hand-in-hand with Elevate Ventures to identify and nurture business startups and support the growth of existing high-potential businesses in the South Bend – Elkhart Region,” said John Miller, chair of the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership Entrepreneurship Committee. “Nicholas‘ experience will be instrumental as he coaches and mentors entrepreneurs, ensuring that new businesses can grow and scale.”

After graduating from Purdue University in construction management, Kuhn worked in the commercial construction industry. In 2006, he started a real estate management firm that grew over seven years, exiting in 2013. He later founded Cultivate Brewing Co. and Cush Cushion.

Kuhn said his background and multiple business perspectives will help the South Bend – Elkhart region continue to grow its startup and entrepreneurial ecosystem.

“By being able to walk alongside founders, I can relate my experience to where they’re at in their startup and business journey,” said Kuhn. “My hope is that I can assist in helping accomplish both small and large initiatives in St. Joseph, Elkhart and Marshall counties—whether it’s guiding a startup toward funding or impacting this community’s entrepreneurial culture for years to come.”

Elevate Ventures CEO Chris LaMothe said, “Having first-class Entrepreneurs-in-Residence around the state, ones who have been in the trenches of growing businesses, is critical to our regional partnerships’ success. We are thrilled to welcome Nicholas to the team and look forward to the wealth of experience he brings to support Elevate’s vision.”

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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.

About Startup South Bend – Elkhart
Startup South Bend – Elkhart was formed by a partnership between the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership and Elevate Ventures, with a mission to promote and foster the creation of an entrepreneurial ecosystem in the South Bend – Elkhart Region by stimulating the entrepreneurial spirit and culture in our citizens, identifying and nurturing new business startups and supporting the growth of existing high potential businesses. Learn more about Startup South Bend – Elkhart at startupsouthbendelkhart.com.