Inventrek Technology Park

07/17/2026

Meet one of this year's Drive Competition finalists: elevatedhippie.co

Founded in Kokomo, The Elevated Hippie is a boutique built on community, creativity, and supporting local makers through ethically sourced, small-batch products.

Competing for $10,000, the business plans to expand its Elevated Hippie Collective by growing private-label products, strengthening wholesale distribution, and creating new opportunities for local artisans.

Watch the "Shark Tank"-style pitches on Oct. 15. The event is free and open to the public, so come cheer on our local entrepreneurs as they compete for the top prize.

Learn more: https://greaterkokomo.com/thedrive/

07/15/2026

Meet one of this year's Drive Competition finalists: Olive Tree Boutique

Founded by Whitnie Mitchell, Olive Tree Boutique was created to help women feel confident with modest, stylish clothing inspired by faith, family, and community.

Mitchell is competing for $10,000 to expand the boutique with custom embroidery and permanent jewelry services, creating new opportunities for growth and long-term sustainability.

Watch her pitch in this "Shark Tank"-style competition on Oct. 15. The event is free and open to the public, so come support local entrepreneurs as they compete for the top prize.

Learn more: https://greaterkokomo.com/thedrive/

07/13/2026

Meet one of this year's Drive Competition finalists: Brix & Co. Candles

Founded by Adrean Lamberg, Brix & Co. Candles creates handcrafted candles and wax melts made with clean, non-toxic ingredients, inspired by a passion for healthy living and cozy spaces.

A returning Drive finalist, Lamberg is competing for $10,000 to build a dedicated production space that will help expand Brix & Co. Candles and her BENTLY. skin & bath brand.

Watch her pitch in a "Shark Tank"-style competition on Oct. 15. The event is free and open to the public, so come cheer on our local entrepreneurs as they compete for the top prize.

Learn more: https://greaterkokomo.com/thedrive/ /

06/18/2026

You know how to use Canva. Now it's time to design with confidence.

Canva 201 will help you transform basic templates into polished, professional marketing pieces that better represent your business or organization. During this hands-on workshop, you'll learn how to customize designs, make stronger layout choices, and build a more consistent brand presence.

Led by Alliance Marketing & Communications Manager Misty Knisely, this session is ideal for anyone who already understands Canva's basics and is ready to create with more intention and control.

Bring a laptop, your logo file, and your brand colors if you have them. We'll help you put it all together.

Get registered here: https://greaterkokomo.chambermaster.com/events/details/linked-to-the-future-canva-201-designing-with-confidence-2741

06/17/2026

The journey to The Drive 2026 is officially underway.

After selecting this year's finalists, Alliance staff is now working closely with each entrepreneur to strengthen business plans, refine financials, and prepare for the live pitch competition on Oct. 15.

Presented by Inventrek Technology Park, The Drive is a Shark Tank-style business pitch competition that gives Howard County entrepreneurs the opportunity to compete for a $10,000 grand prize while receiving valuable coaching and business development support along the way.

This year's finalists are:

• Brix & Co. Candles, founded by Adrean Lamberg, a handcrafted candle and wax melt company focused on clean, non-toxic products inspired by self-care and healthy living.

• Olive Tree Boutique, owned by Whitnie Mitchell, a downtown Kokomo retailer offering modest, faith-inspired clothing and accessories designed to help women feel confident in every season of life.

• Elevated Hippie, led by Claire Cooper, a boutique celebrating individuality through ethically sourced products and support for local artisans.

Over the coming months, these entrepreneurs will continue refining their businesses and preparing to share their vision with judges and the community on competition day. We look forward to following their progress and celebrating their success.

06/05/2026

06/03/2026

Hey, we know The Fresh Fix Cafe! Since they're located right here in Inventrek, we get to enjoy their amazing food every day!

Best part of working at "festival HQ"? Getting free samples of the awesome stuff you can get at the Kokomo Strawberry Festival. And today we got a drive-by sampling from The Fresh Fix Cafe of the amazing strawberry trail mix they'll have at Friday's Strawberry Festival!

Friday, June 5. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Downtown Kokomo. Free admission. Details ➡️ kokomostrawberryfestival.com