Venture Club emerging from recession along with everyone else

One of the oldest entrepreneurship organizations in the city is regaining momentum now that the economy and moods alike are perking up.

Venture Club of Indiana has seen attendance at its monthly meetings swell to between 125 and 172 from the sub-100 levels of a couple of years ago, notes incoming President Curt Hidde.

The rebound was aided to some extent by the demise of Entrepreneurs Alliance, which focused on smaller businesses and sole proprietorships. Hidde, a partner at law firm Barnes & Thornburg who was on the board, says the group had always been difficult to serve.

However, Venture Club is also gaining steam at a time when an upstart organization of 20- and 30-something entrepreneurs—Hackers & Founders—is getting a lot of traction.

Hidde plans to bring back elevator speeches as well as add events and workshops geared to Venture Club’s longtime goal of greasing the movement of venture capital and other funding to young companies.

Do Hidde’s observations square with yours? Are moods in entrepreneurship circles on the rise?