Indiana venture activity shows signs of strength in down market, report says
PitchBook’s first-quarter venture report, released this week, shows that venture activity declined sharply year-over year nationwide, but the picture was rosier in Indiana.
Susan Orr
Articles
High Alpha launches startup that helps marketing teams coordinate work
Indianapolis-based Tenon, which has been operating in stealth mode since December, offers a software platform that helps marketing teams plan and execute campaigns.
Former Celadon execs to pay $50,000 to settle accounting fraud case
The judgment also bars Eric Meek and Bobby Peavler from serving as an officer or director of a public company for the next three years.
Chicago startup lands $3.8M in incentives to move to Indiana
Socian has developed a drone that can help gather information from the scene before police arrive. The founder says he was convinced to move to Indiana after having a good experience at an Indianapolis business accelerator program.
Jim Hallett leaving executive leadership at KAR after 30 years
Hallett is retiring from his positions as executive chairman and board chairman, the Carmel-based company announced Friday. He will remain a member of KAR’s board of directors.
Indianapolis-based consulting firm lands huge Space Force contract
Indianapolis-based Agility Consulting was one of 18 U.S. companies awarded a 5-year contract giving it a piece of $900 million in spending on data software services for the U.S. Space Force.
Chase exec Al Smith set to retire after six decades in banking
Smith, 82, will be wrapping up a 59-year banking career when he retires in May. He has spent his entire career working for banks that are now part of J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.
Banking upheaval presents opportunity
The failures of both Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank earlier this month mean venture investors and startups in Indiana and elsewhere are rethinking how and where they bank.
Carmel-based startup Blue Agilis lands $2.5M seed investment
Founded in 2021, Blue Agilis helps health care providers customize their care based on research and provides a structure to make sure that care gets delivered.
Indianapolis-based angel investor group eyeing ‘record year’ in 2023, executive director says
VisionTech, a group of more than 130 investors, has so far this year made seven investments totaling $1 million. In comparison, the group made a total of 16 investments totaling $2.4 million in all of 2022.
Indianapolis-based Studio Science acquires RevTech360
Steve Pruden, CEO of design and innovation consulting firm Studio Science, said the acquisition of RevTech360 adds new technical capabilities to Studio Science’s lineup.
Fishers-based marketing-tech firm Vibenomics acquired
Vibenomics, which has raised about $32 million in investment capital since its 2016 launch, is now owned by Austin, Texas-based Mood Media, a much larger player in marketing tech field.
Steak n Shake rebounds with self-service push
Indianapolis-based Steak n Shake has spent $50 million to eliminate table service at its restaurants in favor of self-service ordering—an investment the company says has allowed it to regain profitability after three straight years of losses.
Ag-tech startup Athian secures investors for $5M funding round
Athian expects to begin beta testing for its first product this month. The company was launched last year by Greenfield-based Elanco and Indianapolis-based High Alpha Innovation.
Elevate Ventures launching new multiday innovation conference
The new event, called Rally, will take place at the Indiana Convention Center and feature a $5 million pitch competition, more than 200 speakers, and opportunities for entrepreneurs to demonstrate their innovations and meet individually with potential investors.
Local software startup Elate lands $4.9M VC investment
Indianapolis-based Elate was founded in 2019 by two former coworkers at another local software firm, Springbuk. Elate offers a platform to help organizations develop and execute their strategic plans.
Cummins expects big growth from its alternative-fuels business, CEO says
Cummins brought in $176 million—a tiny fraction of its overall revenue—from its electric and hydrogen products last year. But the company expects revenue to hit as much as $13 billion in 2030.
Cummins reveals Accelera as new brand for its green-tech power biz
The rebranding is an attempt to differentiate what until now had been known as Cummins’ New Power business unit, giving it a separate identity from the rest of the 104-year-old company, which has traditionally been known for its diesel engines.
Indianapolis-based Sanctuary Wealth ousts CEO, but won’t say why
Ousted CEO Jim Dickson founded Sanctuary in 2018 after the firm acquired Indianapolis-based David A. Noyes & Co., which in 2020 changed its name to Sanctuary Securities Inc.
Zionsville-based Group 1001 reports ransomware attack
The insurance holding company says all of its systems are back online following the Feb. 9 discovery of a ransomware attack that affected several of its subsidiary firms. But it hasn’t yet said how many individuals might have be affected by the attack.