Resources

Innovation Park delivers its mission by leveraging a vast network of entrepreneurial resources, which begins on campus and extends to regional, national and global affiliations made possible through the University community.

College Affiliations:

Close contact with all colleges in the University of Notre Dame helps the Innovation Park access the breadth and depth of talent provided by Notre Dame students, alumni, and faculty that is integral to the venture development process. Relationships with local universities and colleges, including Saint Mary’s College, Holy Cross College, Indiana University South Bend, Ivy Tech, and Bethel College will extend further the access to talent in support of Innovation Park clients.

University Research:

Collaboration with the Office of Research and Technology Transfer aids Innovation Park in identifying and nurturing commercial opportunities arising from University research. Specific areas of University research expertise, including nanoelectronics, global health, flow physics, orthopedics, micro-sensing and energy provide fertile ground for recognition of new commercial ventures.

Entrepreneurial Campus Organizations:

The Gigot Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, the College of Engineering new venture programs, and campus- wide student entrepreneurship clubs, provide an entrepreneurship educational foundation for the Innovation Park.

Early-Stage Capital Partners:

A strong network of funding resources, from grant providers to angel investors and venture capital firms, allows Innovation Park clients access to critical early-stage funding. Prominent in Innovation Park’s network is the IrishAngels™ network, which comprises successful Notre Dame alumni and friends who are accredited investors with experience in entrepreneurial endeavors, provides the backbone for market expertise to Innovation Park clients. The Innovation Park enjoys close relationships with many members of the network, which is managed by the Gigot Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at the Mendoza College of Business, and presents the network’s investment forums.

Fish Taco Ventures, a seed stage accelerator,is an outgrowth of IrishAngels. Fish Taco Ventures provides seed and early stage risk capital to Notre Dame student, alumni, faculty, and staff entrepreneurs. Launched in 2005, Fish Taco Ventures currently has four angel funds under management and 11 Notre Dame family ventures in its current portfolio. Innovation Park also enjoys good working relationships with regional and national venture capital firms.

Regional Collaborators:

South Bend’s Project Future, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, BioCrossroads, and the Indiana Venture Center are strong partners for the Innovation Park. These organizations provide the Park and its clients new venture expertise, funding support, and access to resources for emerging ventures.

Innovation Park is one part of Indiana’s first two-site state-certified technology park. Innovation Park’s sister site, Ignition Park, is a technology park under development in South Bend, Ind. on as much as 180 acres of land owned by the City of South Bend. Successful companies formed at Innovation Park will have the opportunity to move to Ignition Park, and continue to receive support services and other benefits from being part of the same state-certified technology park.

National Associations:

Membership in leading national entrepreneurial organizations allows the Innovation Park to continuously benchmark best practices, identify resources, and build its client support networks. The Innovation Park benefits from its membership in the Association of University Research Parks, Angel Capital Association, National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance, and National Business Incubator Association.