Even with an incredible idea, invention, or concept – starting a new business or building a brand is not an easy process. There are plenty of hurdles and potential roadblocks that can catch new business owners off-guard, especially without a mentor in their corner.
Domenica Hartman, intellectual property (IP) lawyer and co-founder of Hartman Global IP Law, meets with ambitious innovators all the time – people with great ideas, but little know-how on turning those ideas into a business. One of the first things she does to help those individuals is point them towards the Northwest Indiana (NWI) branch of the Indiana Small Business Development Center (ISBDC). Led by Regional Director Lorri Feldt, the NWI ISBDC helps small businesses launch and grow with no-cost advising and training.
“Lorri’s office is phenomenal, she’s helped so many clients over the years launch businesses by providing them with game plans,” Hartman said. “So many people come to us with a brilliant product, but with no real idea how to get it manufactured or without the resources to get their product on shelves. Lorri’s team helps plan a roadmap, and works with you to form the connections you need to execute it.”
Whether a business needs help with financing, manufacturing, or distributing, the ISBDC is equipped to connect them with someone who can help.
“I’m routinely sending inventors over there,” Hartman said. “They’re extremely good at helping individuals find grant money to help get their business off the ground.”
There is a variety of grant funding available for small businesses, with different grants targeting different purposes. One of the most notable is the Indiana Technical Assistance Program (INTAP), an annual program that provides up to $15,000 in funding for services from professional and technical vendors, except those for facility improvements or marketing.
Small businesses have used INTAP funding projects ranging from making mobile apps more accessible, to training staff to use complex machines and improve manufacturing capabilities. Some businesses even use it to cover intellectual property costs.
“You can turn that money around to get those patents and trademarks,” Hartman said. “Getting that protection lets the inventor have something of a monopoly on their idea. It enhances the value of that idea tremendously.”
Hartman noted that $15,000 can be a massive difference maker for a business trying to launch.
“It can take away the burden of some costs and let you put those funds into use elsewhere,” she said. “You can use the money that you would’ve spent getting a patent or trademark and put it into advertising and marketing. It gives you the freedom to spend your money focusing on how you can deliver your product into the hands of consumers.”
Whether it is their work in securing funding or their guidance and networking capabilities, Hartman stressed the importance of the NWI ISBDC to the Region’s overall business community.
“90% of the time that someone comes into our office with an idea, they have absolutely no idea of how to get it off the ground,” she said. “I spoke with a gentleman the other day who’s spent 35 years working in the mills. He’s excellent at what he does, but he doesn’t have the ability to manufacture his invention – Lorri’s group is excellent at helping people like him do just that. We are blessed to have them, they are so robust and knowledgeable.”
To learn more about the NWI ISBDC, visit isbdc.org. For more information about Hartman Global IP Law, visit hartmanglobal-ip.com.
