2026 Innovation Issue: Startups to watch — progress, pauses and partnerships
The 20 companies IBJ featured in last year’s Innovation Issue all appear to still be in business, and some have introduced new products, raised money or made other moves.
Technology
2026 Innovation Issue: Don Brown launches Bioscope.AI
The serial entrepreneur also launched the affiliated Longevity Today, a website that identifies, processes and summarizes life sciences research and offers information to the public through AI personas.
Elon Musk tells his side of OpenAI’s beginnings in trial pitting him against CEO Sam Altman
Despite moments of levity, the stakes are high at the trial, which could sway the balance of power in artificial intelligence.
Valgotech aims for growth with Noblesville battery production facility
Valgotech CEO David Olawale said the company expects its lithium-sulfur batteries to compete against the lithium-ion battery products that dominate the market.
OpenAI breaks free from exclusive AI pact with Microsoft
Monday’s agreement clears the way to OpenAI’s models appearing on Amazon Web Services and other cloud-computing providers.
Rural Hoosiers lean on the law to fight unwanted drone intrusion
Hoosiers in rural Indiana say drones are unlawfully tracking deer for poachers, inexplicably flying around chicken coops and increasingly just making people uneasy.
Defense firm V2X, analytics startup Ekkobar among 2026 Mira Award winners
TechPoint announced 17 awards Friday night at its Mira Awards gala in Carmel. The annual awards program recognizes achievements in Indiana’s tech sector.
Indianapolis-based Rampxchange sees big opportunities ahead in new business partnership
“It’s an exciting time for us around here,” said Kyle McGrath, Rampxchange’s managing director.
AES Indiana details plan to power proposed Google data center southwest of Indianapolis
The pledge to avoid additional costs to ratepayers comes from AES amid an affordability inquiry by Indiana regulators in response to widespread complaints about electricity bills from utilities across the state.
Colleges are turning to oral exams to combat artificial intelligence
The long-term impact of AI use on critical thinking remains to be seen, but educators worry students increasingly see the hard work of thinking as optional.
Decatur Township residents sue to overturn data center approval
The lawsuit asks a judge to review a land-use decision that paves the way for Sabey Corp. to build a $4 billion data center campus on a 130-acre parcel in southwest Indianapolis.
UPDATE: Apple CEO Tim Cook to end nearly 15-year reign leading iPhone maker
Cook will become executive chairman on Sept. 1 and will be replaced by Senior Vice President John Ternus.
New CEO outlines vision for TechPoint’s evolution
As the new president and CEO of Indianapolis-based TechPoint, Eric Christopher’s focus is on helping tech companies — and the state’s tech industry itself — grow and achieve big things.
Scott Dorsey: Indiana needs more entrepreneurs, more venture investment
Speaking at the Economic Club of Indiana on Thursday, local tech leader Scott Dorsey said Indiana needs to develop a higher density of founders, and investors who can support those founders.
Braun commits $10M for investment in Indiana tech startups
The Indiana Economic Development Corp. said Thursday that the $10 million commitment is being made to Indianapolis-based venture capital firm Roll Tack Ventures LLC with the goal of bolstering Indiana’s tech industry.
Braun administration, Eli Lilly to collaborate on nuclear power development
The Indianapolis-based pharmaceutical giant and the state’s Office of Energy Development signed a nonbinding letter of intent to explore the potential deployment of small modular reactors.
Rally innovation conference to take one-year pause, organizer says
Elevate launched Rally in 2023 as an annual event aimed at advancing the state’s innovation economy.
Hottest college major is cooling off. What happened?
There are signs that the 15-year boom in computer science education may be ending or at least morphing.
Atlanta company wants to build data center at east-side Thunderbird site
The property is zoned I-3, intended for heavy industrial use, which does not support building a data center.
Why some workers are embracing AI while others won’t use it, according to new poll
Roughly 3 in 10 employees are frequent users of AI in their jobs, meaning they use it daily or a few times a week.