Skip to main content

ASU American Indian Policy Institute launches Inno-NATIONS initiative to support Native American businesses


Native American businesspeople

The Inno-NATIONS Tribal Business Collision Community promotes entrepreneurship for Native American businesses.

January 31, 2017

The American Indian Policy Institute (AIPI) at Arizona State University, in collaboration with ASU’s Entrepreneurship + Innovation, The Department co-working space, Maricopa County Small Business Development Center and The Visionary Magazine, announces the Inno-NATIONS Tribal Business Collision Community — an inter-tribal initiative championing tribal entrepreneurship and economic development across Arizona.

“This community we are building is really needed in Arizona and in the country. There are no other spaces like it,” said Dr. Traci Morris, AIPI director and Inno-NATIONS founder. “In fact, there are few tribal incubators in the country. We see the need, and the Phoenix Valley has a very large urban Indian population with a strong commitment to tribal business owners and is surrounded by tribes with tribal enterprises. Now is the time and this is the place.”

By spearheading innovative partnerships and leveraging resources from ASU, tribes and community organizations, game-changers at Inno-NATIONS hope the “collision community” will cause a ripple effect of change in tribal communities. The goal is to support up-and-coming Native American entrepreneurs and ignite enterprises to fuel sustainable tribal economies by rejuvenating and modernizing traditional trade networks.

“One of our biggest priorities at ASU is to help diverse entrepreneurs succeed through culturally relevant programming,” said Ji Mi Choi, ASU associate vice president for strategic partnerships and programs. “Inno-NATIONS will support Native entrepreneurs to foster solutions that meet the needs of their communities and create economic impact.”

The inaugural Inno-NATIONS cohort will be housed at startup coworking hot spot The Department in downtown Phoenix on March 1 and 4, with the three-day pilot cohort starting in June.

“This is such an exciting and unique endeavor for Indian Country,” said Nathan Pryor, chair of the AIPI Advisory Board. “Native people have always been entrepreneurs; Inno-NATIONS will provide the means to grow more formalized tribal businesses through dynamic and contemporary means. We are overwhelmed from the positive support that Inno-NATIONS has received from ASU as we launch this new economic opportunity.”

Within a year after launch, plans are in place to expand and relocate the “collision community” to a culturally relevant space housing several anchor tribal businesses, a “maker” space, business incubator and coworking space.

For more information on the Inno-NATIONS program, steps to apply or become a partner, visit Inno-Nations.org, email Inno-Nations@asu.edu or call 480-965-1055.

More Business and entrepreneurship

 

ASU Alumni Sun Devil 100 Awards laid out on a table.

Sun Devil 100 celebrates 10 years with largest class

The ASU Alumni Association has announced the induction of 171 exceptional alumni into the esteemed Sun Devil 100 Class of 2024,…

March 28, 2024
Photo illustration of woman interacting with colorful, digital chart

ASU business school launches AI degree program

Following Arizona State University’s groundbreaking announcement of the first university collaboration with OpenAI, the W. P.…

March 25, 2024
Man leaning on a podium speaking to an audience seated at tables.

Inaugural ASU conference explores sustainable investing

According to Ivo Welch, "When we narrow our focus to (climate change) issues that are both rational and have plausible courses of…

March 21, 2024