Women’s Fall Event to showcase business funding & entrepreneurial journeys

Women entrepreneurs can network with their peers while learning how to find and request funding for their business ventures.

SCORE Indianapolis and Ivy Tech Entrepreneurship Program’s Women Entrepreneurs Fall Event is set for Sept. 7. The event will be held at Ivy Tech Culinary and Conference Center and will feature insight from women business leaders and funding experts, networking over lunch, as well as professional headshots on a first come first serve basis.

SCORE Indianapolis mentor Tricia Brace, an event organizer of Carmel, said the event will provide attendees with an overview of their funding options, including grants, microloans, and traditional bank loans. Brace is coordinating the event with fellow SCORE mentors, Sylanda McKinnor of Fishers, Chris Ward of Geist, and Debbie Guy of Near Eastside.

“A lot of people don’t even know what microlending is,” Brace said. “Or what steps they need to take to secure funding.”

Speakers

• Rebecca Townsend, founder of Mantis Myofascial Massage Therapy, will share how she made a career change from a decades long career in journalism to start her own business. With guidance from SCORE Indianapolis, she has launched several successful businesses.
• Jean Lee, Carmel, a SCORE Indianapolis mentee and founder of The Academy of Chaos, will discuss how she turned an educational need for her children into a business.
• Katina Washington, executive director of Events Indy, will share tips on finding and applying for grants. She has connected business owners with resources through masterclasses, elite events, and strategic networking opportunities.
• Stacey Walston, Indianapolis, a community relationship manager for Bankable, will discuss micro loans and what lenders seek in applicants. In her role, she connects entrepreneurs to capital to grow their business. She previously served as the financial coach for the Indianapolis Urban League.
• Janelle Campbell, Westfield, will discuss traditional bank loans and community bank programs available for entrepreneurs through Community First Bank of Indiana, where she serves as senior vice president, director of consumer banking.
• Carlonda “Londee” Davis, Community First Bank of Indiana chief administrative officer who also leads the bank’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team, will discuss traditional bank loans and community bank programs available for business owners.

The event, which is a collaborative effort between SCORE, Ivy Tech, and the U.S. Small Business Administration, focuses on women business owners who are starting out, or who may be seeking to expand their business operations and seek funding.

As part of the partnership with Ivy Tech, students of the Garatoni School of Entrepreneurship and Innovation are invited to attend as well.

If you go

SCORE Indianapolis’ Fall Women Entrepreneurs Event will be held from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sept. 7 in rooms 120 and 121 at Ivy Tech Community College Culinary and Conference Center, 2820 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis. Registration, networking, free professional headshots, and a custom coffee or tea courtesy of A Cup Above are available from 9 to 10 a.m. Discussions from women entrepreneurs and funding experts will follow from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. A networking lunch provided by IndyAnna’s Catering will close out the event from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Cost is $20. Early bird registration is available for $15 through Aug. 21. Click here to learn more or register.

About SCORE
Since 1964, SCORE has helped 11 million entrepreneurs start or grow a business. SCORE’s 10,000 volunteers provide free mentoring, workshops, and educational services to more than 1,500 communities nationwide. With more than 70 members throughout the Indianapolis area, SCORE Indianapolis provides nearly 3,000 mentoring services annually to local small business owners through one-on-one counseling and small business workshops.

For more information about starting or operating a small business, or finding a mentor, visit score.org/indianapolis.