Articles

Upswing causing slowdown in startups

The number of newly formed Indiana companies slumped in 2013, the first such dip since the recession, but the small drop could actually be a positive sign for the economy. Established companies have more job openings than a few years ago, meaning workers have less incentive to start their own businesses, as thousands did when the economy tumbled.

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Apple buyout in ChaCha’s future?

Apple has applied for a patent that sounds pretty familiar to the folks at Carmel-based ChaCha Search Inc. Enough so that ChaCha founder Scott Jones has suggested that his business is well-suited for an acquisition by one of the largest companies in the world.

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Indiana-born coat-checking firm gains steam after ‘Shark Tank’ appearance

Derek Pacqu&eacute, who started CoatChex in 2010, appeared a year ago on the ABC show in which entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to prominent investors. Billionaire Mark Cuban offered to invest but wanted a large ownership stake. Pacqu&eacute said no, and has since grown his company.

But really, he said, the company is doing just fine without the billionaire.

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Carmel firm’s bird feeders perched in 2,700 Walmarts

Sisters Jan Long and Chris Mowery had little more than an idea in 1995 when they trekked to Kmart’s corporate headquarters to pitch a product they thought had potential: a recyclable bird feeder their father had designed to promote his plastics business. They left with their first big contract.

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Fishers plans new development on train-station site

Incentive deals are on the table to keep two high-potential businesses in Fishers, and the town is poised to pull the trigger on redevelopment of the Fishers Train Station property—where one of the firms could occupy third-floor office space.

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New gadget revives waterlogged cellphones

Joel Trusty realized that if he could remove all the atmospheric pressure from a chamber, he could turn liquid—even liquid inside a cell phone—into a gas at a much lower temperature than otherwise possible.

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Angel-investing event may bolster startups

An emerging network of angel investors from around the state will team with Indiana University next month on a workshop that will put them in the same room with entrepreneurs who’d like their backing.

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Life sciences venture capital dips again

Venture capital surged in the first half of 2012, to $51.6 million in Indiana. But the pace of activity here fell off sharply in the second half of last year, and remained sluggish into 2013.

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Former Pacer invents device to increase leg strength

In April, Jonathan Bender launched a company based on a device he invented to help others avoid the knee troubles that put an end to his promising NBA career. Already, he’s brokered a deal with California-based Relax The Back retail chain.

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