HR-tech firm UKG eliminating 2,200 jobs, including some in Indianapolis
UKG informed employees earlier this week that it was cutting about 14% of its workforce so the company could “aggressively focus on critical areas of growth.”
Technology
Elevate Ventures announces finalists for $1 million IN-Prize pitch contest
For this year’s contest, 10 of the 25 finalists are Indiana-based startups. In last year’s contest, only two finalists were based here.
Indiana’s Heartland BioWorks Hub to receive $51M in CHIPS Act funding
Indiana’s Heartland BioWorks Hub was one of 12 hubs chosen to split $500 million in implementation funding stemming from the CHIPS and Science Act.
Indianapolis tech startup Arrive calls off planned merger
Smart-mailbox startup Arrive AI, which in December announced plans to merge with Canada-based Brüush Oral Care Inc. and become a public company, says it has called off the deal.
Hacked firm says all auto dealers should be live again by July 4
CDK suffered two cyberattacks that forced its systems offline for days, slowing down everything from scheduling, service repairs, parts deliveries and car purchases at auto dealerships in both the U.S. and Canada.
New High Alpha startup, Luster, offers AI-powered sales training
Luster, which launched out of Indianapolis-based venture studio High Alpha, offers a software platform that creates custom training sessions for salespeople. The company had its public debut this week and already has landed a few paying customers.
Broad Ripple-based PR firm Blastmedia acquired by Boston firm
Blastmedia, a public relations firm which serves business-to-business software companies, is now doing business as PANBlast, a division of PAN Communications. All 40 Blastmedia employees have remained with the company, PAN announced Thursday.
OpenAI delays launch of voice assistant, citing safety testing
The company first showed off the tools in a demo last month that triggered excitement from ChatGPT users—but also the threat of a lawsuit from actor Scarlett Johansson.
Car dealerships in North America revert to pens and paper after cyberattacks
CDK Global, a company that provides software for thousands of auto dealers in the U.S. and Canada, was hit by back-to-back cyberattacks Wednesday. That led to an outage that has continued to impact operations.
Apple accused of violating EU’s new tech competition rules
In a set of preliminary findings, the European Union found the company to be the first in breach of the Digital Markets Act, a sweeping set of rules designed to prevent Big Tech from stifling competition.
Car dealerships disrupted by a multi-day outage after cyberattacks on software supplier
For prospective car buyers, that may mean delays at dealerships or vehicle orders written up by hand, with no immediate end in sight.
Local tech exec R.J. Talyor launches marketing startup with $2M in seed funding
Talyor is the CEO and one of the four locally based co-founders of Backstroke, which uses generative artificial intelligence to create customized marketing emails at scale
Nvidia’s stock market value tops $3.3 trillion, making it No. 1 in S&P 500
The company’s journey to be one of the most prominent players in AI has produced some eye-popping numbers. Here’s a look:
McDonald’s ending its test run of AI-powered drive-thrus with IBM
Numerous fast food chains have begun exploring the implementation of AI across operations over recent years, with many pointing to possibilities of maximizing speed and cutting costs.
Surgeon general asks Congress to require warning labels for social media
Dr. Vivek Murthy said social media is a contributing factor in the mental health crisis among young people and should carry warning labels similar to those now mandatory on cigarette boxes.
2024 Corporate 100: Telamon thrives by connecting people, products
Today, Telamon operates in 13 states, India, Mexico and Macedonia and designs, builds and installs networks that support telecommunication networks, appliances and industrial processes.
Indianapolis-based tech startup Holder ceases operations
Holder, a blockchain-focused marketing tech firm, launched out of Indianapolis venture studio High Alpha in 2022. Its CEO told IBJ the company was too early to market in an emerging industry.
Young, other lawmakers from Indiana urge U.S. to give SK Hynix funding from CHIPS act
SK Hynix is planning to build a $3.87 billion semiconductor packaging facility at the Purdue Research Park in West Lafayette.
High Alpha closes on $125M investment fund, downsizes staff
Fund IV marks some shifts in Indianapolis-based High Alpha’s operating strategy—notably, it plans to launch fewer companies per year than it traditionally has in the past, and it has cut its staff nearly in half.
Apple leaps into AI with array of upcoming iPhone features, deal with ChatGPT
Apple has jumped into the race to bring generative artificial intelligence to the masses, spotlighting a slew of features designed to soup up the iPhone, iPad and Mac. And it’s counting on OpenAI to make its often-bumbling virtual assistant Siri smarter and more helpful.