Global Insights, Regional Impact

Last month, our team had the incredible opportunity to attend the Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) in Indianapolis; a worldwide gathering of startup champions, ecosystem builders, policymakers, and thought leaders all working to advance entrepreneurship and innovation around the globe.

From tech trends and creative industries to youth entrepreneurship and mental wellness, we walked away with powerful lessons to better serve entrepreneurs in our own community. Here’s what inspired our team most:

Joe Linne

• Trust = Transparency ÷ Self-Interest (the Trust Equation) a standout from Mark Cuban’s keynote address on the role of trust in leadership. This signifies that increased transparency (the numerator) leads to higher trust, while reduced self-interest (the denominator) also contributes to increased trust. 
• Entrepreneurs not using AI? They’re already behind. The right prompts and data can turn AI into a true business co-pilot.
• Education is catching up fast! AI, entrepreneurship, and leadership are merging in real time.

Nicole Driscoll

• Creative entrepreneurs don’t always identify with “entrepreneurial” language. Let’s meet them where they are.
• Advocacy is essential: entrepreneurship drives strong economic development.
• Youth entrepreneurship starts earlier than you think. Middle schoolers can begin building entrepreneurial mindsets today.

Rachael Armstrong

• Test Before You Invest: Real validation comes from real pre-orders, not clicks or compliments.
• Customer discovery matters: Ask better questions, ditch confirmation bias, and focus on what customers really need.
• Entrepreneurs in crisis need more than advice—they need mentors, mental health support, and a strong community behind them.

Philip Roggow

• There’s no better time to launch than now with AI as your teammate.
• Double down on what your business does best. Find the ideal customer. Win there first.
• “Marketing is linear, branding is exponential”.

Mike Fulkerson

• Too often entrepreneurship has been viewed through a narrow lens focused on tech startups, venture capital, and elite business networks. Attending the GEC clearly reinforced the fact that entrepreneurship is for everyone.
• New entrepreneurs bring fresh perspectives, bold ideas, and modern solutions. When mentored by those with experience, their energy is channeled into growth more effectively.
• Indiana is leading the way in breaking down barriers and eliminating gatekeeping within the entrepreneurial ecosystem. We’re focused on building an inclusive environment where everyone has the opportunity to start, grow, and thrive.

We’re excited to bring these global ideas back home, apply them in our work, and help more entrepreneurs thrive!