#IBJtech — May 5, 2017

Four takeaways from a week that jolted Indy's tech sceneIn less than 16 hours, two huge tech news events happened—Angie's List was sold and Infosys announced plans to add 2,000 jobs here. This isn't the first time I've encountered widely consequential tech news, developments that either marked a milestone (like Salesforce's plans to add 800 jobs and rename the Chase Tower) or that shaped the course of the future (like RFRA, which spurred tech leaders to get more involved legislatively). But this is the first time two such events happened back-to-back. Angie's List, the only publicly traded tech firm headquartered in Indiana, soon will see its operational cockpit shift to Colorado. And India-based Infosys, an IT-services firm, made the largest tech-related job announcement in the state's history. Here are some of my top takeaways from reporting this week. More 

TID-BYTES

>Salesforce started moving employees into Salesforce Tower Monday, a spokesperson said, and will be moving more in throughout the month. The company did not answer questions about which of its three existing downtown buildings employees were moving from, but in the past noted that its long-term plan was to exit the Guaranty Building at 20 N. Meridian St. In a statement, Marketing Cloud CEO Bob Stutz said: "We're thrilled to start moving employees into Salesforce Tower Indianapolis, the tallest office building in Indiana and Salesforce's new regional headquarters. Salesforce Tower Indianapolis embodies Salesforce's commitment to Indiana as one of the state's largest technology employers and will support our continued growth in the area, as we plan to add 800 new jobs by 2021." (Bonus: here's a video of the Salesforce Tower Indianapolis sign being made.)

>TechPoint CEO Mike Langellier was named a Sagamore of the Wabash on April 29, making the 35-year-old the youngest-ever recipient of Indiana's highest civilian honor. Gov. Eric Holcomb granted him the award in a surprise announcement at TechPoint's Mira Awards, a night when Langellier thought he was only going to be dishing awards out. Langellier is now part a club that includes talk-show host David Letterman, racing stalwart Jeff Gordon and NFL placekicker Adam Vinatieri.

>Document-workflow-software firm Octiv tapped former BidPal executive Rachel Clark to be its senior vice president of product, the company announced Tuesday. Clark was previously vice president of product and engineering at fundraising-software company BidPal and has more than a decade of experience managing and leading product, engineering and IT teams. She's also a board member at co-working space The Speak Easy.

>Coding school Eleven Fifty Academy has scholarship money available for women interested in technology careers, thanks to a $75,000 grant from advocacy group Indy Women in Tech. The funds will cover at least $2,000 toward the cost of a SmartStart Java course, which starts June 5. The school also will help with travel assistance. Those interested in scholarships must apply through the normal application process by May 10.

>Sprint is offering customers a free "small cell" device that it says will increase upload and download speeds by 200 percent. Small cells are considered the foundation of future 5G networks, and Sprint said these plug-and-play devices have a signal range of up to 30,000 square feet indoors and more than 100 feet outdoors. Indianapolis and Chicago are the only two Midwest markets where it's available.

>ICYMI: Genesys sees previously granted tax breaks rescinded; tech leaders claim mixed reactions to Angie's List sale; Infosys expansion sparks location debate; health-tech company PolicyStat acquired.

MENTIONED

As tech leaders and educators mull ways to bolster the talent pipeline in the wake of Infosys' major jobs announcement, Indianapolis-based Bluelock product analyst Diana Nolting offers some insights from the front line.

How the Indiana Pacers used local tech firm Sigstr to secure a big sponsor for another year, as told by Mobile Marketer.

Doug Karr, of DK New Media, was tapped to co-host the first episode of Dell Technologies' new Luminaries podcast.

REPOST

NATIONAL SCENE

Robots may do more economic good than harm, a Los Angeles Times columnist opined (citing a paper co-authored by Zionsville's Entropy Economics President Bret Swanson.)
Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff wants to create five million apprenticeships, or training jobs, within the Salesforce network, CNBC reported.

President Trump wants to modernize federal government IT, and he's called tech executives to a June meeting to help, Recode reported.

CALENDAR

Race to Market: 2-Night Business Plan Workshop
Presented by The Hatch
6 p.m. to 8 p.m., May 9, The Hatch, 6161 Hillside Ave., Indianapolis
Cost: $50