Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Elevate Southwest Indiana
Eric Steele currently serves as the Entrepreneur-in-Residence for Elevate Ventures in Southwest Indiana. Eric has founded and worked for a variety of startups in industries ranging from telecommunications to e-commerce.
After graduating from Indiana University, he cofounded ForePoint Networks, a wireless internet service provider that was acquired in 2009, and RareShare, a network for individuals with rare medical disorders that was acquired in 2014 based in New York City. Subsequent positions included roles in mergers and acquisitions, and strategic initiatives/partnerships, and most recently CFO of Nadine West, an e-commerce startup based in Austin, TX.
- What is the most important thing you do for Elevate Ventures’ clients/constituents? I help entrepreneurs view their business from an investor’s perspective. This includes preparing a compelling investment strategy and a pitch that addresses the questions and needs of the investor.
- What from your past experience directly impacts your work today? Like all of the EIRs, having started, grown, and sold prior businesses allows us to connect with entrepreneurs. Having been in their shoes, we can find solutions that not only position them for investment but also take into consideration their growth and goals as an entrepreneur.
- What is the one critical thing you want people to know about you? I’ll give anyone 30 minutes of my time. Whether your idea is ultimately a fit for Elevate or not, I am willing to sit down and hear about your business, and if there’s any way I can be of assistance or advice I can give, I am happy to help.
