This story is part of an initiative led by the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) to highlight entrepreneurship and innovation across Indiana’s universities. Learn more about the initiative here.

Indiana is standing at the edge of a massive economic shift. As the “Silver Tsunami” approaches—the wave of retiring Baby Boomer business owners, thousands of established Indiana companies will soon need new leadership.  

“How big of an effect this will have on Indiana is hard to predict, but what is clear is that rural areas have the most at stake. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, so-called Main Street businesses represent 84.8% of total businesses in rural areas and 54.3% of total jobs,” stated Brian Schutt, Director of Indiana’s new Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in an IBJ article earlier this year.  

In Indiana, these businesses aren’t just numbers on a page, they’re anchors, connectors, and legacies. The stakes couldn’t be higher: if these businesses don’t find successors, our communities lose their economic backbone. 

This is where Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) comes in. 

ETA is a proven path for aspiring entrepreneurs to skip the “startup” phase and buy an existing business. Instead of building from scratch, you take the reins of a company with a proven track record and established customers.  

Building a Community for Growth 

Over the past 18 months, it has become clear that Indiana needs a hub where ETA professionals, active SMB owners, local founders, and the entrepreneurship-curious can connect. We believe these groups have more in common than they realize. Whether you are searching for your first deal or you’ve been operating for a decade, the real work begins after the deal closes. 

Join Us: The First Indiana ETA Conference 

To catalyze this movement, Butler University’s Lacy School of Business is hosting Indiana’s first-ever statewide Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition Conference. 

  • When: Monday, January 26, 2026 
  • Where: Butler University, Indianapolis 
  • What: A one-day, two-track conference featuring 40+ expert speakers with and top-notch networking with buyers, sellers, advisors, and lenders shaping the future of business ownership in our state.  

Join us if you are…
• An aspiring entrepreneur looking for your path to entrepreneurship.
• A business owner planning your successful transition.
• A seasoned owner looking for your next opportunity.
• An advisor or ecosystem partner strengthening the ETA pipeline. 

Thanks to generous sponsors, registration is incredibly affordable—and even more so with discount code for 25% off: ETAPARTNER26.  

The “Great Wealth Transfer” is happening now. Financial experts estimate that tens of trillions of dollars will shift hands over the next 20 years. Indiana has the data, the talent, and the momentum to turn this challenge into our greatest entrepreneurial opportunity. Let’s ensure Indiana’s legacy businesses continue to thrive. 

 

Don’t miss out on the conversation that will help shape Indiana’s business landscape for the next two decades. 

👉 Register for the Butler ETA Conference here! 

 

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Across Indiana, our universities are fostering the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators who are shaping our state’s future. In collaboration with our university partners, CICP is excited to share and amplify those stories; which highlight students, faculty, and alumni who are turning ideas into action. By celebrating these efforts, we aim to strengthen the connections between higher education, industry, and community, and to shine a light on the innovation happening throughout our state. Click here to learn more about this initiative.