The Business Incubator

The goal is to provide clients with effective levels of new venture support, enabling them to achieve their objectives sooner and at less cost.

Vision

The Incubator assists its clients in virtually every facet of start-up operations. The goal is for clients to finish within three years, but more importantly establish a healthy business that contributes to all stakeholders.

Programs

The Innovative Enterprise Incubator Program (IEP) is involved in the following activities:

Business Plan Competition
A competition focused on encouraging area entrepreneurs through cash prizes, planning support, and networking opportunities to develop or improve an effective business plan.

Taylor Entrepreneurship Club (TEC)
Student-led club focused on bringing the entrepreneurial mindset to the Taylor campus through new venture participation, competitions, interactions with successful entrepreneurs, and the betterment of society.

Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE)
A new organization that seeks to create an environment for the dedicated student to give and nurture competent, Christian leadership for the stewardship of resources.

Student-Owned Businesses

Hilde Group
Hilde Group includes Armor Venue, Historical Clothing Realm, and Surge SEO. John Hilde, 2009 graduate, is currently running Hilde Group from the CR&I incubator office on campus at Taylor University. Hilde Group started from Hilde’s personal computer. Since then he has developed comprehensive websites and maximized search engine optimization, which allows for maximum exposure on search engines such as Google.

Tiergan Technologies
Tiergan Technologies is owned by 2009 Taylor graduate Troy Tomasik. The company pioneered a method to develop cost effective Carbon Nanotubes for commercial use. Tomasik began his company, Tiergan Technologies, after winning second place at the Taylor Business Plan Competition the spring of his freshman year at Taylor. Since then he has won over $50,000 in business plan competitions and through various grants. Tiergan Technologies has been a member of the CR&I business incubator since January of 2008, which offered dedicated consulting advice and lab space.

The Unorganized Bookstore
During the summer of 2008, TU Junior Drew P. Zylstra opened The Unorganized Bookstore in Marion, Indiana. The retail storefront is an extension of his online used books business. Customers are encouraged to bring their own used books into the store and to resell them for cash. Zylstra found that Entrepreneurship classes at Taylor and meetings with Professor Bates, who is part of CR&I, were excessively helpful.