MAKER to market accelerator

Grow Your Product. Grow Your Business.

The Maker to Market Accelerator is a new, free six-month cohort designed for makers, artists, and small manufacturers who already have products and are ready to strengthen their business.

Through hands-on learning, individualized coaching, fabrication support, and real-world market experiences, participants will refine their products, strengthen their market presence, and grow alongside a community of fellow entrepreneurs.

Thanks to generous support from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation's Community Collaboration Fund, the inaugural Maker to Market Accelerator is offered at no cost to selected participants.

Applications open in August. Join the interest list to be the first to know when applications become available.

POWERED BY COLLABORATION

The Maker to Market Accelerator is a collaborative initiative led by MadJax Maker Force in partnership with Ball State University's Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute, the Indiana Small Business Development Center, and Hartford City. Together, we're helping product-based entrepreneurs turn great products into stronger businesses.

Is this program for you?

The Maker to Market Accelerator is designed for product-based entrepreneurs who:

  • Have an existing product or product line

  • Have sold their products at markets, online, or through retail

  • Are ready to improve pricing, production, branding, or sales

  • Want to learn alongside other makers and entrepreneurs

  • Can commit to a six-month cohort experience

The program is open to makers, artists, and small manufacturers located in Delaware County and Blackford County. Ideal applicants already have products in the marketplace and are ready to intentionally grow their business.

Whether you create furniture, jewelry, ceramics, textiles, home goods, artwork, or manufactured products, this program is designed to help you move your business forward.

What You’ll Experience

Participants will receive:

  • Six monthly cohort learning sessions

  • Individualized coaching from business experts

  • Hands-on technical support using MadJax's fabrication equipment

  • Peer learning with other product-based entrepreneurs

  • Opportunities to apply new skills through established market opportunities across the region, including Muncie Makers Market and The People’s Marketplace

  • Practical tools and resources to strengthen pricing, production, merchandising, and business operations

Every month you'll learn something new, apply it to your business, test it in the marketplace, and return with new insights to continue improving.

Program Focus Areas

Throughout the six-month accelerator, participants will explore topics including:

  • Business foundations

  • Pricing and profitability

  • Production planning, inventory management, and workflow

  • Branding and merchandising

  • Customer engagement and marketing

  • Business growth planning