IU medical school’s push to launch startups bears fruit
The Indiana University School of Medicine has launched 12 companies in the past 18 months—a burst of startup activity the school has never seen before.
Entrepreneurship
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Mobile boutique takes pop-up retail on the road
Heather Hogan Pirowski, owner of Retro 101, is among a growing number of retailers who have chosen the nomadic lifestyle . Looking for an alternative to the fixed overhead of a permanent location, they set up shop at a site for a few days or weeks, then pack up and move on.
Graphic designer advises marketers on nuances of reaching Latinos
Advertiser Carlos Sosa has designed some very recognizable work—including logos for IndyGo and the Indianapolis Indians—but he is more focused these days on helping businesses more effectively market to the Indianapolis Latino community.
Company taps sports market with bacteria-stalking chemical
Anderson-based Coeus Technology has invented a chemical that kills dangerous bacteria, including potentially deadly staph, by forming a germ-killing barrier that lasts two weeks to six months.
Urban biz accelerator giving leg up to startups
Indianapolis-based startup Dreamapolis is finalizing the details of its first Dreamapolis Accelerator class, a 12-week crash course designed to help high-potential urban businesses get up to speed quickly.
Ex-Marcadia executive co-founds software firm
A fixture in Indianapolis' startup community, Marcadia Biotech co-founder Kent Hawryluk is backing a project management software firm.
Online used-car marketplace expands into Cincinnati
MaxTradein, which allows dealers to bid on cars, adds former ChaCha executive to pursue roll-out to 30 markets.
Indiana tech startups deemed seeds of promise
There’s the company founded by a college kid, in his dorm room. Another firm was launched by a guru from the shadowy world of cyber security. And the other was founded by tech veterans old enough to remember IBM punch cards. Three Indiana tech companies have surfaced among standouts in the notes of judges for TechPoint’s annual Mira Awards—the Hoosier tech version of the Oscars.
Crowdfunding startup ready to make connections
The founders of Indianapolis-based LocalStake aren’t in any rush for the SEC to write the rules governing crowdfunding. It can match private companies with small investors now.
Grant-funded projects aim to make Indianapolis nicer
Ten winning proposals were selected from almost 200 applications for “Nice Grants” from local Web marketing firm SmallBox and consumer-ratings service Angie’s List.
Sisters put sophisticated spin on popcorn
Just Pop In! retail stores feature traditional, popular flavors like caramel and cheddar—and an “Indy Style” mixture of the two—but a dizzying array of more imaginative concoctions sets the local chain apart.
Entrepreneurs seek to bolster Hoosier startup community
Five Indiana startup advocates were in our nation’s capital Tuesday, pitching a plan to bolster the state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. What’s on your wish list?
Maker of app that helps not-for-profits gets seed funding
Cause.it, founded by students from I.U. and Purdue, was awarded $500,000 by Innovate Indiana.
Microlenders aim to help businesses grow, survive
Indiana has three certified, not-for-profit SBA microloan intermediaries, which not only make short-term microloans—as any lender can—but also use the SBA grants they receive to offer business coaching along with the financing.
Legal fight fuels tensions in tight-knit tech world
A trademark-infringement case brought against App Press LLC threatens to smother the tech startup in legal fees before it reaches its potential.
Midwest Energy oil firm drilling for $15M
An Indianapolis investment advisory oil firm has been looking for blowouts in its own back yard. Midwest Energy Partners is preparing for its seventh—and largest—round of funding to pay for oil drilling in southwestern Indiana and southeastern Illinois.
How 3 real estate entrepreneurs expanded during slowdown
Aasif Bade of Ambrose Property Group, Tadd Miller of Milhaus Development and Joe Whitsett of The Whitsett Group saw opportunity as many rivals retrenched.
WOJTOWICZ: Is small-business ownership for you?
The horror stories are sobering: Dun & Bradstreet reported earlier this year that businesses with fewer than 20 employees have only a 37 percent chance of surviving four years and just 9 percent will be around 10 years.
Small stores vie for slice of holiday-shopping pie
National retailers are licking their chops over the $586 billion consumers are expected to spend during the holiday season, and small-business owners also are bellying up to the buffet.
Developers of smartphone app win Startup Weekend
Recoverator helps users catalog belongings and generate professional loss reports for insurance agents and law enforcement.