BLOOMINGTON – A nonprofit entrepreneurship center in Bloomington has launched a program designed to support formerly incarcerated individuals as they develop their business ideas. The Mill says ReBoot was inspired by the Indy Chamber’s ReEntry Entrepreneurship Development Initiative and takes participants through a six-week process of business development that culminates with a demo night pitch competition. Andy Lehman, head of accelerator programming at The Mill, says the program not only grows the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Bloomington, but opens it to a wider group of people.
In an interview with Inside INdiana Business, Lehman said the ecosystem doesn’t have to just be comprised of students, startups and those who are traditionally inclined to start a business.
“There are a lot of folks in our community who have great ideas and just need the support and somebody to say, ‘Yes, we will help you,'” said Lehman. “Traditionally, I think that the formerly incarcerated population is one where it’s difficult to get a lot of folks to say yes.”