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.
Startup
Articles
Carmel-based tech startup shifts strategy
As important as business planning is, the path to success is rarely without obstacles—or opportunities. Savvy entrepreneurs like Janell Shaffer and Danielle McDowell recognize that and adjust along the way.
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.
Tech startup PatentStatus counting victories
PatentStatus was named the Entrepreneurship Advancement Center’s Top Emerging Business for 2013. But founder James Burnes is just as proud of another milestone: It’s making money.
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.
New microbrewer embraces history of near-east-side headquarters
A bottling house, which is all that’s left of a brewing campus closed by Prohibition, will be home to two partners’ startup this spring.
’12 worst year for life sciences since 1990s
To understand why Indiana’s life sciences entrepreneurs are frustrated with the flow of venture capital, look no further than this statistic from a recent PricewaterhouseCoopers report: 2012 was the slowest year for first-time life sciences investment since 1995.
Purdue: Student inventors own intellectual rights
Purdue University is opening up intellectual property rights to student-inventors who make technological breakthroughs using university resources.
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?
Health care startups hungry for funds
Frustrated by up-and-down state funding for startup life sciences companies, industry leaders are talking up a plan to create a dedicated funding stream that could total $30 million a year.
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.
New ChaCha unit to pair celebrities, advertisers
The ever-evolving information/answers service ChaCha Search has launched a startup within the 7-year-old company. Social Reactor will match advertisers with participating celebrities and other “social influencers,” who will use social media tools such as Twitter to drive fans to advertisers. Verge founder Matt Hunckler was tapped to get it rolling.
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.
Startup’s stuffed toys help kids do good
Indianapolis-based Promise Monsters makes and sell plush toys that promote kindness through secret “missions” kids are asked to complete.
IEDC seeks $30M fund to stoke life sciences firms
The Indiana Economic Development Corp. is looking to renew its commitment to life sciences by creating a $30 million venture fund. The amount dedicated to one sector would be equal to the state’s allocation for all high-tech startups over the past two years.
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.
Developers of smartphone app win Startup Weekend
Recoverator helps users catalog belongings and generate professional loss reports for insurance agents and law enforcement.
Diagnotes takes top prize in health care challenge
Diagnotes LLC’s On Call software, which delivers patient medical records to smartphones of an on-call doctor, won the inaugural Hoosier Healthcare Innovation Challenge.
ExactTarget co-founder Baggott turns zeal to natural farming
Chris Baggott has spent the past year and a half raising cattle, pigs and chickens on pasture, rather than conventional feed grain, and without the use of hormones or antibiotics.
Executives backing push to launch pro soccer team
A group of Indianapolis business executives is laying the groundwork to launch a professional soccer team here in 2014. Members of the group won’t identify themselves, but this month they launched a website—indyprosoccer.com—seeking season-ticket commitments.