Bringing Innovation to Campus and the Community

Dushan Nikolovski, clinical associate professor of entrepreneurship, joined the Valparaiso University faculty in the summer of 2022 as director of the University’s Innovation Hub (IHub) at Clyde H. McMillan Hall. Since then, he has been working to let the Northwest Indiana community know that the IHub is not just here for students, but as a resource for everyone interested in the business world.

“You’ve got people out there who aren’t necessarily in business, but want to be in business. We should be a resource to them as well as to our students,” Professor Nikolovski says. “It’s for community members who may have an idea, but they want to learn a little bit about the first step in following it through. Think about how many people may have a hobby that they want to turn into a business.”

Those people include Auntie Anne, whose pretzels — originally made as a hobby for a nearby flea market — are now popular nationwide. The same story applies to Mrs. Fields Cookies, whose titular creator started out in her own kitchen. Professor Nikolovski hopes that the IHub can give students and members of the community the knowledge and resources needed to work towards that kind of success.

“Our goal is to help nonprofits and small businesses connect with us and see what kind of help we can provide,” Professor Nikolovski says.

As someone bringing 30 years of business and entrepreneurship experience to the University, Professor Nikolovski is already leveraging his sizable network of professional contacts to benefit students. Representatives from Chicagoland Popcorn have recently collaborated with students to create a unique Valpo-branded popcorn flavor to be sold exclusively in the local area, and that’s exactly the kind of business experience and opportunity he’s trying to bring to the public with the IHub.

For students, the programs at the IHub will — like their popcorn project — bring them the kind of industry education that a classroom setting typically doesn’t provide.

“You’ve got to follow a book, take quizzes, take exams,” Professor Nikolovski says. “But over here, you’re sitting down with a small business owner that can share the steps they needed to take that you won’t learn in a book. They’ll tell you how to deal with employees, or taxes, or payroll — those things that most books will only give you a generic answer for.”

Professor Nikolovski plans for spring events at the IHub this spring semester to include a series of speaking engagements and lunch and learn events open to both Valpo students and the general public. One upcoming event will feature experts from Amazon, who will go over the best practices for selling products on their website. He also plans to work with the Valpo community’s vast collection of professional alumni and partners to bring their collective knowledge and expertise to those that need it.

“If you’re a patent attorney, you might be willing to come in and do a workshop on patents. If you’re an accountant, you might come in and do a workshop on how to incorporate your business,” Professor Nikolovski says.

Outside of business experts and successful entrepreneurs, there are a variety of other ways that an interested individual or business can help support the IHub’s initiatives.

“We’re looking for individuals and companies to be partners in what we’re trying to do,” he says. “If we provide more small business opportunities for everyone in Porter and Lake counties, it makes our community better. I would welcome the chance to meet with anyone who is interested in supporting the IHub.”

The IHub programming aligns with the goals in Valpo’s new strategic plan, Uplift Valpo, to be a more active, positive influence, not just for the students, but for the Region as a whole.

“It’ll be a great opportunity to get our students and the University known as part of the community,” Professor Nikolovski says. “That’s the goal: community engagement.”

The IHub is located at the northeast corner of campus, just past the roundabout connecting Lincolnway and Sturdy Road. Public events at the IHub will begin during the spring semester. Official announcements will provide details in regards to time and cost for attendees.