SOUTH BEND – ELKHART REGION, Ind. (July 2, 2020) — The South Bend – Elkhart region has been named the Elevate Ventures Region of the Year for the second year in a row. Awarded to Startup South Bend – Elkhart (SUSBE), an initiative of the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership (SBERP), the Elevate Ventures Region of the Year award recognizes the region with the highest number of Elevate Ventures deals (21 Fund and Indiana Angel Network Fund only) per capita from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2019.

“The South Bend – Elkhart region is honored to receive the Elevate Ventures Region of the Year award for the second consecutive year,” said SUSBE Board Chair, John Miller. “We look forward to our continued partnership as we strive to create even more opportunities for entrepreneurs in the region.”

SUSBE works to promote and foster the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem by stimulating the entrepreneurial spirit and culture in its citizens, identifying, and nurturing new business startups and supporting the growth of existing high-potential businesses. The South Bend – Elkhart region, which includes Elkhart, Marshall, and St. Joseph Counties in Northern Indiana, saw significant success with five from Elevate Ventures investment deals in 2019.

“Our region has a rich history of innovation and entrepreneurship and successful companies built on the vision and moxie of entrepreneurs,” said SBERP President and CEO, Regina Emberton. “This partnership with Elevate Ventures has been key in catalyzing the entrepreneurial ecosystem and it has been amazing to watch the region become a hub for a new set of companies in the 21st century.”

Over the course of 2019, the South Bend – Elkhart region distributed $630,000 in angel funds and 21 Fund investments. The 21 Fund is a dedicated investment fund through Elevate Ventures with a maximum investment size of $4 million per company. Elevate Ventures portfolio companies have a market size of over $500 million and demonstrate clear sustainable competitive advantages.

Elevate Ventures currently has six partnerships with various regions in Indiana, which include Southern, Northeast, Southwest, Northcentral and Southcentral Indiana. These partnerships allow Elevate Ventures and the surrounding regions to create an expansive network of influential leaders and individuals dedicated to and engaged in entrepreneurial growth, support, and investment.

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About Startup South Bend – Elkhart
Startup South Bend – Elkhart (SUSBE), one of the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership’s non-profit initiatives, has been working to promote and foster the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem by stimulating the entrepreneurial spirit and culture in its citizens, identifying and nurturing new business startups and supporting the growth of existing high-potential businesses. For more information, visit StartupSouthBendElkhart.com.

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.

Media Contact
Regina Emberton
Startup South Bend – Elkhart
574.344.4686 ext.4802
remberton@southbendelkhart.org