Start Fort Wayne Names First Executive Director

Listen to this story

Subscriber Benefit

As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now

This audio file is brought to you by

0:00

0:00

Loading audio file, please wait.

Speed
1.00

• 0.25
• 0.50
• 0.75
• 1.00
• 1.25
• 1.50
• 1.75
• 2.00

Entrepreneurial nonprofit Start Fort Wayne has hired Rhonda Ladig as its first executive director. The organization aims to help northeast Indiana entrepreneurs through networking, coworking and training opportunities. Her entrepreneurial background includes creating her first business at 18, then selling it five years later to help put herself through college. Ladig holds degrees from Indiana Tech and Indiana University. The organization launched in 2015, and was previously entirely volunteer-run.

The group’s programs and resources include the Atrium, a downtown coworking space, and a weekly networking event for local entrepreneurs to meet and present their startups. It has also hosted events including the Rocket Academy, a coding and robotics event for at-risk youth, and Tech Tour 2016, where prominent entrepreneur and investor Paul Singh judged pitches and met with investors and companies.