Venture Club of Indiana & Innovatemap: Rich History, Big Impact

The Indianapolis startup ecosystem thrives on collaboration, innovation and the strategic gathering of minds and resources. A pivotal player in this ecosystem is Venture Club of Indiana, a cornerstone for capital, founders and experts. 

“You need organizations like Venture Club of Indiana to galvanize the capital, the founders and the experts in one place, and they’ve always done that. No ecosystem can be healthy without someone like them—they’re a community connector,” said Mike Reynolds, CEO at Innovatemap.

Venture Club of Indiana boasts a rich history, holding the title of the oldest venture club in the United States. For more than 80 years, they have played a crucial role in creating a community focused on investors. 

As a supporting ecosystem partner, Innovatemap collaborates closely with Venture Club, helping investors de-risk their portfolios by working with founders to differentiate with world-class strategy and design. 

When Venture Club of Indiana was searching for a partner to rebrand and tell their story, they needed someone who knew their space and members like they did. A partnership with Innovatemap was the obvious choice. 

The Challenges & Opportunities of a New Chapter

To maintain and amplify their impact, Venture Club of Indiana needed to increase membership, aiming to become the state’s network for investors. 

“Venture Club of Indiana engaged with Innovatemap because we needed to refresh our 25-year-old brand and bring some new energy to the website,” said Chelsea Linder, Venture Club of Indiana Board Member.

But a brand refresh involves more than the design itself. In Venture Club of Indiana’s case, they needed to resonate with loyal, existing members and attract a new generation of investors. 

The question for Innovatemap was: “How does the new brand and message strike a balance between honoring Venture Club of Indiana’s storied past, and launching themselves as an innovative community?”

There was another opportunity at play with their signature annual event, the Innovation Showcase. It held a lot of brand equity, but it wasn’t always clear that Venture Club of Indiana was the organization behind it. 

To Innovatemap, that called for another level of brand strategy for this refresh: a clear brand hierarchy for the organization and the acclaimed event. 

“We needed to strategize a better way to tie the two brands together, so that they could work together to promote growth for the Venture Club, while still giving the Innovation Showcase its own unique look and feel,” said Maria Otteson, Senior Product Marketer at Innovatemap. 

Innovatemap’s Impact: Where Venture Club of Indiana is Today

Today, the Venture Club of Indiana stands revitalized with a new brand, story and website.

“Embarking on the journey of a new website and brand was painless with Innovatemap’s guidance and expertise,” said Claire Neuman, Executive Director at Venture Club of Indiana. “Not only do we now have a fresh look, but membership has increased and marketing is more effective.”

From monthly luncheons and panels to the Innovation Showcase, it’s clear which organization is responsible and their impact on the venture capital ecosystem. Venture Club of Indiana sports a brand that investors are proud to be a part of. 

“Since refreshing our brand and website, we’ve seen a drastic increase in traffic, event attendance and new members joining,” said Chelsea. “We’re grateful we have partners in our community like Innovatemap to help us reach our goals!”

The partnership between Innovatemap and Venture Club of Indiana highlights the power of strategic collaboration in driving growth and innovation within Indiana’s venture capital ecosystem. By modernizing Venture Club of Indiana’s brand and enhancing their digital presence, Innovatemap has helped ensure that this storied organization continues to connect investors with transformative ideas, fostering a vibrant and dynamic entrepreneurial landscape in the state.

Learn how Innovatemap can help your company attract the right audiences with a compelling brand, message and website.