Fishers-based marketing-tech firm Vibenomics acquired
Vibenomics, which has raised about $32 million in investment capital since its 2016 launch, is now owned by Austin, Texas-based Mood Media, a much larger player in marketing tech field.
Susan Orr
Articles
Steak n Shake rebounds with self-service push
Indianapolis-based Steak n Shake has spent $50 million to eliminate table service at its restaurants in favor of self-service ordering—an investment the company says has allowed it to regain profitability after three straight years of losses.
Ag-tech startup Athian secures investors for $5M funding round
Athian expects to begin beta testing for its first product this month. The company was launched last year by Greenfield-based Elanco and Indianapolis-based High Alpha Innovation.
Elevate Ventures launching new multiday innovation conference
The new event, called Rally, will take place at the Indiana Convention Center and feature a $5 million pitch competition, more than 200 speakers, and opportunities for entrepreneurs to demonstrate their innovations and meet individually with potential investors.
Local software startup Elate lands $4.9M VC investment
Indianapolis-based Elate was founded in 2019 by two former coworkers at another local software firm, Springbuk. Elate offers a platform to help organizations develop and execute their strategic plans.
Cummins expects big growth from its alternative-fuels business, CEO says
Cummins brought in $176 million—a tiny fraction of its overall revenue—from its electric and hydrogen products last year. But the company expects revenue to hit as much as $13 billion in 2030.
Cummins reveals Accelera as new brand for its green-tech power biz
The rebranding is an attempt to differentiate what until now had been known as Cummins’ New Power business unit, giving it a separate identity from the rest of the 104-year-old company, which has traditionally been known for its diesel engines.
Indianapolis-based Sanctuary Wealth ousts CEO, but won’t say why
Ousted CEO Jim Dickson founded Sanctuary in 2018 after the firm acquired Indianapolis-based David A. Noyes & Co., which in 2020 changed its name to Sanctuary Securities Inc.
Zionsville-based Group 1001 reports ransomware attack
The insurance holding company says all of its systems are back online following the Feb. 9 discovery of a ransomware attack that affected several of its subsidiary firms. But it hasn’t yet said how many individuals might have be affected by the attack.
Republic sues flight school students over deal for reduced tuition
The Indianapolis-based airline and its flight school have sued a dozen former students the airline says failed to honor their commitment to fly for Republic after graduation.
Ivy Tech to roll out new Ivy+ tech training program this month
Ivy+, which will offer non-degree credentials and skills training, launches in mid-March in Muncie, with an expected statewide rollout by the end of the month. Ivy Tech says it expects to enroll a cumulative 6,000 students by the end of next year, helping to ease Indiana’s tech workforce shortage.
Stifel sues rival financial firm over mass exodus from Indianapolis office
Stifel is suing a newly-formed competitor firm, Sapient Capital, alleging that Sapient conducted an “orchestrated raid” of Stifel’s 96th Street office, convincing nearly all the employees to jump ship and attempting to bring their clients and their $10 billion in assets with them. Sapient characterizes the situation differently.
For many Indy law firms, downtown remains where it’s at
Downtown law firms say they have good reasons to remain in the heart of the city—from logistical concerns to the desire for a central location to the prestige factor they associate with a downtown address.
New Purdue president outlines vision for school’s future in Indianapolis
The university intends for its realigned Indianapolis campus to act as a center for the fields of cybersecurity, data analytics, manufacturing, microelectronics, artificial intelligence and engineering—“the fields from which the biggest changes are coming.”
Judge dismisses wrongful death suit against Indy, IMPD in ex-IU football player’s shooting death
Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt disagreed, writing in her order that the complaint “is devoid of facts that any defendant acted to create or enhance a danger Chris Beaty otherwise would not have faced.
Pay-transparency trend reaches Indiana as push for equity gains momentum
Compensation has long been a taboo topic around most watercoolers, but that’s changing as more states are forcing companies to open up about their salaries.
Settlement reached in civil suit against former Celadon execs
The settlement comes more than three years after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed suit against former Celadon executives Eric Meek and Bobby Peavler.
Indiana gets the nod to proceed with federal hydrogen hub proposal
The Indiana coalition, which received U.S. Department of Energy encouragement to submit a full proposal, is now deciding whether to join forces with other applicants for a better chance of securing a portion of $7 billion in federal funding.
Some companies captured the rise in venture capital but now see slowdown
Local sources see the current slump in venture investing as a correction following a period of overheated activity.
Pier 48 keeps serving as legal wrangling continues
The saga of disputes among the restaurant’s four founders has a new chapter, with a lawsuit filed last month against one founder by an Indianapolis financial adviser whose allegations offer a different version of events than do previous complaints.