Lesley Weidenbener: Startups deliver big, bold ideas
IBJ strayed from its usual format last week to bring you our annual Innovation Issue, which this year featured 20 startup companies worth watching.
Entrepreneurship
Articles
Venture Club event hopes to capitalize on momentum from adjacent global gathering
The Venture Club of Indiana’s annual Innovation Showcase is an official side event of this year’s Global Entrepreneurship Congress, and the Venture Club is hoping to capitalize on the momentum of that much larger event.
Rally innovation conference to continue as planned, likely without state support
Rally innovation conference creator Elevate Ventures says Rally will take place as planned this year, but organizers are not counting on financial support from the Indiana Economic Development Corp.
Bloomington entrepreneurship center The Mill names new CEO
The new leader replaces The Mill’s founding CEO, Pat East, who announced his departure in January.
Q&A with Ginger Rothrock: Blending entrepreneurship, chemistry training at HG Ventures
Rothrock’s personal resume includes both entrepreneurship and academic training in chemistry—a perfect combination for what she’s now doing as senior director of HG Ventures.
Rose-Hulman receives $10M gift for new entrepreneurship program
The donation will be used to establish the Noblitt Entrepreneurship Program, which will provide opportunities to work with faculty on “experiences related to entrepreneurship and the principles of the free market.”
Purdue University launches business accelerator program
The program for Purdue-connected companies offers the university a way to rekindle or establish the startup founders’ Indiana ties.
Rootstock Hospitality Group grows portfolio with Aberdeen Social House
For Andrew Vudis and Ryan Craig, former Ruth’s Chris Steak House executives who established Rootstock Hospitality Group in 2017, Aberdeen Social House represents a bold culinary statement.
Mark Cuban to headline Global Entrepreneurship Congress in Indianapolis
A program of the Global Entrepreneurship Network, the event is an annual convening of business and investment leaders from around the world.
IBJ Podcast: Tech founder on building teams, loving pivots, fostering startup hustle in high schools
Scott Lingle, the co-founder of fast-growing Remodel Health, took a big leap at an age when most folks are getting more conservative. Now he’s helping hundreds of local high schoolers learn to launch businesses.
Q&A: IU basketball player making a play with software platform for college athletics
IU basketball player Anthony Leal is building his company, Motion Sports, as a go-to platform for collegiate athletic programs.
Republic Airways, Accutech Systems among 2025 Mira Award winners
Indianapolis-based TechPoint, which supports the state’s tech sector, honored Republic Airways, Accutech and 18 other winners at its annual Mira Awards gala Thursday night.
Q&A with Scott Lingle: Planting the seeds to succeed
High School Hustle, which helps teens start their first business, is now active in 13 local schools and is set to reach about 1,000 students this year.
Q&A with entrepreneur Brian Schutt on tariffs: ‘It’s just math’
“I don’t think there’s going to be a company immune to the rising tide of costs.”
Growth in Indiana and beyond is blueprint for Black Orchid Barbers
The roster of Black Orchid Barbers locations stands at five in Indianapolis and Carmel, and owner Travis Moore said he’s eager to open shops elsewhere.
Elevate Ventures introduces host committee for 2025 Rally conference
Elevate Ventures, the creator of the annual Rally innovation conference, says now that the event is in its third year the time was right to launch a host committee that will oversee event planning.
Q&A with Le’Deana Brown, magazine founder and cultural connector
Brown spoke with IBJ about Midwest Leak magazine, the magazines she read as an adolescent, why she opened a community gathering space and what it’s like to be part of the “Keepers of Culture” mural.
Executive director of Bloomington entrepreneurship center The Mill announces departure
“The Mill has significant momentum and I feel great about the foundation I’m leaving for the next leader to build upon,” founding executive director Pat East said in his announcement.
Q&A with Kristin Sherman: Life sciences veteran is fighting for women’s health
Kristin Sherman leads startup Kovina Therapeutics, which is still in the early stages of developing ways to stop human papillomavirus infections before cancer develops and to treat HPV cancers after detection.
Christopher Day: A public service announcement—innovate or evaporate
To help get your mind around how to think about AI, focus on the four emerging themes: autonomous AI, boost developer productivity, empower with total experience, and deliver human-centric security and privacy.