Re-Entry Entrepreneurship Development Initiative (REDi), an anchor program of the Indy Chamber’s Entrepreneur Services division, creates opportunities for current and formerly incarcerated individuals to explore small business ownership as a means of self-sufficiency.

REDi provides a six-week training course and one-on-one coaching for justice-involved individuals. It has helped launch 35 businesses. The training course is a foundational course that teaches things like cash flow, market research, and customer relations. REDi is a program of the Business Ownership Initiative (BOI) that provides over 10,000 hours of business coaching and over $400,000 in lending capital across the Indianapolis region each year.

The Program
The REDi program prepares participants by providing one-on-one coaching and a variety of workshop series that assist in the business planning process. REDi is designed into four key phases taught over a six-week class: Entrepreneurship 101, Business Planning, Start the Business, and Grow the Business.

REDi is currently accepting applicants for their upcoming August – October class. Take me to the application.

ELIGIBILITY In order to participate in the five-week REDi Course, all applicants must meet these basic criteria:

• Must have a criminal history and be at least six months post-incarceration.
• Must have an interest in small business ownership.
• Must have basic reading, math, and computer skills.
• Must have a working phone, phone number, and email address.
• Must be able to commit to six weeks of training, a 2-day week for two hrs. per class.
• Must have stable housing for six months.
• Must be willing to meet with a business coach during and/or after the course.

REDI Pitch Night

The REDi pitch competition provides 5 entrepreneurs an opportunity to present their business to the audience and compete for a first-place $5,000 cash prize and runner-up $2,500 cash prize plus a package of professional services.
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In the Headlines

Inside Indiana Business

In this Inside Indiana Business piece, learn about the 2020 REDi pitch winner. READ: “Chamber Honors Ex-offenders Pursing Business Dreams”

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IBJ

In IBJ’s Q&A piece, Tichina Clark shares how she took the lessons she learned through the REDi program to create her business. READ: “Q&A with Tichina Clark, who turned lessons from prison into a business”

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In the Words of REDi Students

“One of the essential components that allowed me to be where I am now in my life now was being involved in the REDi program. I ended up meeting [my business coach] and it was a pivotal point in my life.” Michael Lacey, Founder of Fort Goat Productions.