Work hard and build things.

Those are the words emblazoned on the walls of The Workbench – Fort Wayne’s space in the Urban Enterprise building.

Jon Rehwaldt, the founder of The Workbench – Fort Wayne, was introduced to entrepreneurship in 2015 after joining the board at Start Fort Wayne. The experience piqued his interest in helping passionate entrepreneurs in the community start businesses.

Jon saw the need for a makers space in this community that specifically caters toward entrepreneurs in the manufacturing business. The goal for The Workbench – Fort Wayne is to make starting a business more accessible to those whose business plans include manufacturing.

Additionally, The Workbench – Fort Wayne will serve as a space for people who have been operating out of their kitchen or garage transition their business into a more professional and stable manufacturing space.

For those entering the manufacturing business, production costs become inaccessible to the average budding entrepreneur. Jon hopes to lower the barrier to entry for people who are looking for production-based resources and workspaces by making The Workbench – Fort Wayne more accessible to those passionate about getting their businesses off the ground.

Jon is now working full-time at The Workbench – Fort Wayne to focus on its success. His short-term goal is to help start 10 businesses in its first calendar year. Long term, Jon hopes that The Workbench – Fort Wayne can make starting a manufacturing business more accessible to those entrepreneurs have drive and passion, but need a space to start.