It is difficult to imagine a world where INVANTI, West.SB, South Bend on Purpose, and Vested Interest exist without Pete Buttigieg first being elected mayor. His resurgent vision and talented administration have turned South Bend into a “shining model of urban reinvention.”But the resurgence cannot stop at city hall. South Bend and the countless American cities it resembles rely on entrepreneurs to make new things. Enter INVANTI.

INVANTI is a startup generator based in South Bend that activates and attracts entrepreneurial talent to start companies that make communities stronger. The current cohort comprises seven people from New York, Washington D.C., St. Louis, Miami, Ireland, and Mishawaka focused on building scalable ventures to support America’s small business owners.

On Thursday, February 7th Pete Buttigieg interviewed a panel of the cohort members about their time in South Bend and the problems they aim to solve. This evening took place inside a newly renovated wing of The Exner Office, a collaborative workspace currently home to INVANTI, West.SB, South Bend on Purpose, and Hurry Home.