New goals for a new year
Whether we make hard-and-fast resolutions or more squishy wouldn’t-it-be-great goals, most of us can’t avoid imagining what 2013 will bring.
Small Business
Articles
Legal fight fuels tensions in tight-knit tech world
A trademark-infringement case brought against App Press LLC threatens to smother the tech startup in legal fees before it reaches its potential.
Butler introduces major in entrepreneurship and innovation
Students will be required to take an existing practicum class—now optional—during which they work in teams to operate businesses for a semester.
Startup’s stuffed toys help kids do good
Indianapolis-based Promise Monsters makes and sell plush toys that promote kindness through secret “missions” kids are asked to complete.
Angie’s List alters pay formula for huge sales force
In a move to improve cash flow by an estimated $10 million a year, Angie’s List is changing the way it pays its sales staff. Salespeople compose at least 600 of the more than 1,000 employees at Angie’s, which publishes consumer reviews of plumbers, pet groomers and other service providers.
IEDC seeks $30M fund to stoke life sciences firms
The Indiana Economic Development Corp. is looking to renew its commitment to life sciences by creating a $30 million venture fund. The amount dedicated to one sector would be equal to the state’s allocation for all high-tech startups over the past two years.
Deal to save racing show had many twists, turns
In a matter of a few months, operators of the Performance Racing Industry show and its upstart rival, the International Motorsports Industry Show, went from being bitter rivals to merging—a deal that will return the world’s largest motorsports trade show to Indianapolis next December.
Tax software upstart proves appeal to major companies
AppealTrack’s simplicity gains attention in growing market for firms managing property tax appeals.
Lawmakers may tighten grip on gold-buying business
State lawmakers and Indianapolis officials are looking to regulate the gold-buying business, which police say provides an easy outlet for stolen goods. Cash-for-gold stores have multiplied as prices more than doubled since 2007.
Midwest Energy oil firm drilling for $15M
An Indianapolis investment advisory oil firm has been looking for blowouts in its own back yard. Midwest Energy Partners is preparing for its seventh—and largest—round of funding to pay for oil drilling in southwestern Indiana and southeastern Illinois.
Indiana SBA lending drops in 2012, but still exceeds 2010
Indiana businesses borrowed $424.7 million through U.S. Small Business Administration programs in 2012, an 18-percent decline from 2011, latest SBA statistics show.
How 3 real estate entrepreneurs expanded during slowdown
Aasif Bade of Ambrose Property Group, Tadd Miller of Milhaus Development and Joe Whitsett of The Whitsett Group saw opportunity as many rivals retrenched.
East-side biz incubator’s new owner is old owner
The Indianapolis Enterprise Center on the near-east side has been acquired by a local investor group led by the former owner of the troubled business incubator.
Slinky maker hoping to purchase bankrupt Fundex
Plainfield-based Fundex Games Ltd., which filed for bankruptcy protection in September, said Poof-Slinky Inc. is the only potential purchaser that has shown interest in acquiring the company’s assets.
WOJTOWICZ: Is small-business ownership for you?
The horror stories are sobering: Dun & Bradstreet reported earlier this year that businesses with fewer than 20 employees have only a 37 percent chance of surviving four years and just 9 percent will be around 10 years.
VC funds hope to help early-stage life sciences firms
Early-stage venture capital has been harder and harder to come by for life sciences companies in recent years, but two Indianapolis investors are working to raise sizable funds to help fill the gap.
Record number of companies grow Indiana operations
The Indiana Economic Development Corp. said 220 businesses have expanded or started here, and the number could grow before the end of the year.
What’s New: MaxTradein
Meet Justin Bates and Peyman Rashid, who founded MaxTradein last fall and hope to have the online used-car marketplace operating in 30 markets within six months.
Small stores vie for slice of holiday-shopping pie
National retailers are licking their chops over the $586 billion consumers are expected to spend during the holiday season, and small-business owners also are bellying up to the buffet.