Self-funded firms take all the risk, all the rewards
Venture capital is supposed to be the lifeblood of fast-growing tech startups. But a handful of Indianapolis-area companies are defying that widely embraced mindset.
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Tech firm FuseMe could make paper resumes obsolete
The company, which has created software that allows job candidates to forward recruiters their resume and other information by simply holding their smart phones next to each other, recently closed on a seed round of funding and is planning a national expansion.
Elevate Ventures’ startup investments at pivotal point
After nine years of managing the state’s investments in startups, the not-for-profit Elevate Ventures has had some wins, but more losses—as measured by the number of companies that paid back at least as much as they took in.
Kerauno makes acquisition, continues growth spurt
Kerauno, an Indianapolis-based maker of communications-workflow software, this week announced the acquisition of Inverse-Square, a locally based custom software development firm. And the acquisition won’t likely be Kerauno’s last, maybe not even this year.
Don’t sink your startup by creating a product in a vacuum
Entrepreneur Max Yoder failed out of the gate when he launched his first company. No, not Lessonly, the training software firm that is still growing seven years after he co-founded it with the folks who created the High Alpha venture studio. Yoder’s first company was Quipol, which offered a social polling product that he worked on […]
Carmel firm pioneering software designed to give drones digital license plates
Many within the unmanned aircraft industry think identification technology such as that made by Carmel-based Pierce Aerospace is the last piece needed for companies like FedEx and Amazon to start using drones to deliver packages to doorsteps.
Startup claims breakthrough in gauging pain
MindX founders think they’ve found a scientific way to measure pain and other hard-to-quantify mental health conditions, such as suicide risk, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Local company seeks to make Midwestern fans of kombucha, which is trendy on coasts
Indianapolis-based beverage maker Circle Kombucha wants to sell its signature product—carbonated, fermented tea—throughout the Midwest.
Startup accelerator seeks locations to expand statewide
Wisconsin-based Gener8tor, which seeks to helps fledgling companies boost revenue and grow jobs, said it’s one-year pilot program in Indianapolis was so successful that it wants to spread its services to additional Hoosier communities.
Tax credit change poised to boost supply of venture capital from out of state
Indiana startups might soon have an easier time attracting out-of-state investments thanks to a change lawmakers made this year to an instrumental tax incentive program.
IBJ Podcast: A startup’s journey from idea to pivot to series A fundraising
120WaterAudit co-founder and CEO Megan Glover talks to host Mason King about the challenges of raising money and whether being based in Indianapolis helps or hurts those efforts. Her answer may surprise you.
Ball State student’s startup bringing melodies to movies
As someone who has made movies since middle school, Indianapolis resident Von Storm knows the importance—and difficulty—of securing licenses to use music as part of a video production. So the Ball State University senior created License Guru.
Q&A: 120WaterAudit eyes big growth after pivot
Megan Glover started 120WaterAudit in 2016 with the idea of targeting residential consumers nationwide with a water-testing kit that cost $120 every four months. But the company has pivoted to work largely with municipal water utilities and governments.
Once-dilapidated far-east-side shopping center to become home for retail startups
Following a multimillion-dollar renovation, a far-east-side building that was on track for demolition is set to emerge as a retail-startup hub that supporters say could revitalize a neglected part of town.
Startup showcase growing in lockstep with agbioscience sector
AgriNovus Indiana’s Ag+Bio+Science Startup Showcase is growing faster than a corn stalk in June.
In its third year, the showcase attracted a record number of attendees, sponsors and participants for its pitch contest.
Angel investor network VisionTech fills need for startup funding
Founded in 2014, VisionTech has seen its membership, or investors—as well as the amount invested by those members—swell significantly in the last two years.
IBJ Podcast: Bill Oesterle’s TMap is asking former Hoosiers to come back home
The former CEO of Angie’s List is using big data and machine learning to try to solve an emerging problem in Indiana—a stagnate and soon-to-be shrinking workforce.
Local tech startup aims to reinvent currency exchange market
An Indianapolis-based startup is aiming to reinvent the currency exchange market by connecting international travelers directly to the currencies they need.
Bill Oesterle’s new firm TMap seeks to use big data to reverse brain drain
The company’s goal is to find talented people who live out of state but have a connection to Indiana—then lure them here to live and work.
Coal mining in distress? Not to this Fishers startup
American Resources Corp., formed in 2015, specializes in buying distressed coal assets from struggling or bankrupt coal operators.