Take a simple idea, add in some personal initiative and grassroots coordination, and what do you get? In the case of the inaugural Indy Tech Tour, a big impact.

Jake Budler, manager of entrepreneur selection and growth in the Indianapolis office of Endeavor, had long been thinking of a way to show off the city’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. So this year he decided to host a tour touting a variety of entrepreneurs, start-up and scale-up companies and facilities that help them succeed. Much of the tour focused on the tech space.

The result was overwhelmingly positive. Consider the following post-tour comments posted on social media:

  • “Indianapolis is fertile ground. When you go here, you grow here whether its corporate work opportunities, entrepreneurial endeavors or something in between, this is the place to be.” –

Olivia West, participant

  • “This was such a great way to learn about what makes Indy world-class, and I can’t recommend the Tech Tour enough to anyone who wants a crash course and instant connection to its vibrant tech community.” – Rebecca Rice, participant
  • “I’ve always heard about all the great things going on in Indy’s start-up ecosystem, but there’s no substitute for actually meeting the people working within it. Even though I wasn’t from Indy, everyone I met wanted to find a way they could help in some way or another.” – Logan Jones, Middle Tech Podcast

Born in Chicago and raised in South Africa, Budler says it didn’t take him long after he relocated here five years ago for work to realize central Indiana is a special place for entrepreneurs. Endeavor is a global network for high-impact founders in high-growth mode. It has regional operations in Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Louisville.

“Candidly, I don’t think we do a great job of branding and marketing the city,” declares Budler, a Wabash College graduate. “I get a front row seat to see a lot of cool things built here. We have amazing innovation and culture and a lot of cool things happening.”

Budler spends his days working with young companies, many of which are in the process of raising Series A or B rounds of capital. So he sees up close what the area’s up-and-coming entrepreneurs are working on. He wants others to see that too. Of course, that type of expose could be helpful in helping the types of companies Endeavor works with make connections and raise capital vital to keep them growing.

“I thought, let’s do a tour and spend a day hearing from the people actually building things here in Indy and committed to the ecosystem,” Budler explains. “Rather than talking to the people in the support system (for young companies), let’s talk to the entrepreneurs.”

Budler put a note on social media and made a few contacts to organizations and venture capitalists that work with start-ups and scale-ups, and in short order sold out the first Indy Tech Tour.

He put together an itinerary that included four stops; Innovatemap, an Indianapolis-based digital product agency; the Speak Easy co-working space in Broad Ripple; 16Tech, a downtown hub for various entrepreneurs and makers; and Casted, a High Alpha portfolio company located at the old Angie’s List campus on East Washington Street.

About 20 tour attendees heard from 12 different local entrepreneurs. The tour – which was held June 17 – ran from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the action was non-stop. The tour included lunch at The Amp at 16Tech and ended with drinks and networking at Indiana City Brewing on the east edge of downtown Indianapolis.

“Everyone on the tour was super engaged,” Budler says. “No one even gave a hint they wanted to duck out or leave early. There was just so much to see, hear and learn.”

Half of the attendees were from outside Indiana, including representatives from Render Capital, BrainStem and Middle Tech Podcast.

Budler says the feedback was so positive, he’s considering hosting the Indy Tech Tour annually or twice annually.

“We found that this tour was great for people new to central Indiana wanting to get plugged into the entrepreneurial ecosystem, anyone in the entrepreneurial support world or anyone across the Midwest interested in the Indianapolis entrepreneurial ecosystem,” Budler states.

“The tour generated a lot of momentum,” he adds. “We want to keep that going. So we’re planning to do this again, possibly as soon as this fall.”

Anthony Schoettle is the director of communications for the Indiana Chamber. He started with the Chamber in 2021 after a long career in journalism. He’s won multiple awards for his storytelling ability on a wide range of business topics.