The South Bend/ Michiana Region was once a national hub of innovation and entrepreneurship. Studebaker Corporation, Singer Sewing Machines, Bendix Corporation, among others, all once called Michiana Home. Unfortunately, at the decline of the Industrial Revolution, these companies dissolved, and left large factory buildings vacant, swaths of people unemployed, and a culture devoid of bold ideas, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Perhaps more troubling, despite the numerous educational institutions in the area, many of the region’s young, educated talent are forced to leave due to lack of local employment prospects. This cyclical lack of hope and opportunity only perpetuates growing economic and social problems. enFocus (Entrepreneur Focus) is a local nonprofit organization that seeks to address this systemic problem by inspiring, empowering, and accelerating entrepreneurship as a tool for economic development. enFocus’ pilot program, the “Michiana Venture Fellows (MVF) Program,” will connect aspiring entrepreneurs with the resources and knowledge to transform innovative ideas into entrepreneurial/intrapreneurial ventures.