Entrepreneur starts hydroponics container farm on vacant urban lot
DeMario Vitalis, a descendant of cotton-plantation slaves and sharecroppers, sees ironic ties between his family’s past and his farm ownership.
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Startup pushes social media app meant to keep things local
Indianapolis-based Plug aims to connect people professionally and socially through a single app and offer features no other network does. Co-founders Landon Price and Cesar Paz are as unique a pairing as their startup firm’s hyperlocal focus.
Eleven Fifty Academy aims to make ‘transformational impact’ with Lilly Endowment grant
Eleven Fifty Academy and several partners will use the grant money to implement strategies designed to improve the livelihoods of individuals and families facing complex and varied challenges associated with poverty and financial insecurity.
Supreme Court sides with Facebook in text message dispute
Democratic lawmakers and consumer groups said the court opened a gaping hole in the law, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, that would subject anyone with a cellphone to endless automated calls and messages.
New tools empower non-techies to build variety of digital apps
The no-code/low-code movement gives people with little to no programming experience the power to create websites and digital apps, sometimes in just hours or days.
HG Ventures only investor outside Europe chosen to participate in UK initiative
HG Ventures, the corporate venture arm of Indianapolis-based The Heritage Group, announced on Thursday a partnership with Innovate UK to leverage HG Ventures investments in environmentally sustainable innovation in the United Kingdom. HG Ventures joins a handful of other venture groups in the program following a competitive selection process
Local tech firm PactSafe acquired by San Francisco company
PactSafe Inc., an Indianapolis-based tech firm that offers clients a cloud-based contracting platform, was founded in 2012 and has 40 employees.
High Alpha portfolio company raises $3.5M in seed funding
Indianapolis-based Trava Security Inc., which makes and markets an automated risk-management and cyber-insurance software platform, said it would use the funding on product development and to boost its workforce.
Chip shortages force more cuts at North American auto plants
Consultant AlixPartners has said the global chip shortage could cost automakers $61 billion in lost sales this year. The recent setbacks could further delay an expected second-quarter recovery in output.
Bill to aid U.S. publishers vs. Google, Facebook rises again
The measure aims to give publishers better leverage with the tech companies, while only allowing coordination that benefits the news industry as a whole, amid a long-running decline in local news.
John Thompson: Sports technology a strategic opportunity for Indiana
There are strategic elements in place today, including a 5G lab in downtown Indianapolis and the Indy Autonomous Challenge scheduled at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this year.
Indy, Fishers will be test sites for contactless deliveries, automated cars
Three pilot programs planned for this year are more than just robo-taxi and delivery-bot science experiments. They’re dry runs for the real thing—possibly coming soon.
Intelligent Fiber Network to be acquired by Colorado firm
Boulder, Colorado-based Zayo Group Holdings Inc. expects to close the transaction during the second half of 2021. IFN officials say they are confident the deal will grow the firm’s presence here.
120Water on growth tear, closes on $4.5M funding round
The fast-growing Zionsville firm plans to hire 157 additional workers by the end of 2022, company officials told IBJ this week.
Jobvite moves HQ from California to Indianapolis, plans to add 200 employees
The recruiting technology company, which entered the local market with a single-employee office in 2014, began growing its Indianapolis operations after acquiring Canvas Talent Inc. in early 2019.
Amazon jumps into health care with telemedicine initiative
The tech giant announced it will immediately expand Amazon Care to interested employers in Washington state. By the summer, it will expand nationally to all Amazon workers and to private employers across the country who want to join.
Angie’s List, parent company change name, roll out new app
For the first time since its founding in 1995, Angie’s List is getting a new name. But the reference to co-founder Angie Hicks isn’t going away.
Hurco gets first new chief executive in 20 years
The manufacturer on Friday announced an immediate shuffle in its leadership ranks that moved longtime chief executive Michael Doar into the position of executive chairman of the board.
Startup seeks to foster better relationships between police, civilians
The digital platform makes it easier for residents to report and track interactions with police, and for the police to track, monitor and analyze interactions with residents.
Local podcast platform startup Casted receives state tax credit, plans to grow staff
Casted plans to invest $425,000 and hire 62 more workers, which led the Indiana Economic Development Corp. to offer it up to $1.2 million in tax credits.