Software firm Perq raises $5 million from tech heavyweights
The company’s founders used millions of dollars in capital from their original company—which offered print and direct-mail services—to launch a software division.
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State’s largest hops grower finds crop is labor intensive but rewarding
Crazy Horse Hops started with five acres of hops and has expanded steadily since. It’s also putting the finishing touches on a warehouse and processing facility.
Naptown Thrift founder, hip-hop artist finds success by blending the two interests
Aaron Marshall has used his passion to fuel his business—and the result is Naptown Thrift, a vintage clothing store specializing in the 1980s and 1990s.
IBJ Podcast: How an IU student turned her beekeeping hobby into a star startup
Ellie Symes, CEO of The Bee Corp., talks with host Mason King about being a young entrepreneur, taking risks and pivoting when you have to to make your company stronger.
Five firms selected for tech accelerator’s fall class
Nationally ranked firm Gener8tor has announced the five participants for its gBeta Indy fall class. They range from a company automating emotion recognition for user experience researchers to a consumer app for organizing, editing, and sharing milestone baby photos.
Venture Club’s Innovation Showcase is a go
After InXInnovate LTD suddenly cancelled its local event this fall, the Venture Club of Indiana was forced to hustle to re-schedule their annual Innovation Showcase. With the help of The Heritage Group and other corporate supporters, it’s now set for October.
Q&A: Fishers firm uses plants in pods to battle food insecurity
Jonathan Partlow is founder of Fishers-based ag-tech company Aggressively Organic, a company focused on ending food insecurity by innovating agricultural practices.
Indiana IoT Lab in Fishers helps small tech firms think big
The new tech venue in Fishers gives companies that specialize in connecting devices to the internet the access they need to hardware, talent and capital.
Co-working haven Speak Easy names new executive director
After a period of rapid growth for The Speak Easy, Julie Heath wants to refocus its energies on membership development and providing startups in central Indiana the resources necessary to grow.
2018 Innovation Issue: Mike Pellegrino recommends sometimes ignoring expert advice
Many successful entrepreneurs provided good advice early in my career, but I found a surprising number provided absolutely poor advice.
Purdue grads’ app-driven bike-share business picking up speed
In 2016, Purdue University students Candice Xie and Edwin Tan were looking for an affordable, easy-to-use means to get around campus. So they started a company to fill the need.
Indiana startups raised $34.5M from venture capitalists in first quarter
The second quarter is off to a fast start, a sign that this could be a strong year for raising capital in the state.
Quirky Stutz complex is growing spot for techies, but still home to artists
Twenty-five years after developer Turner Woodard purchased the old Stutz factory complex at 10th Street and Capitol Avenue, the sprawling facility hosts 200-plus tenants.
Boutique tech event in Bloomington aims for big-time stature
The Combine’s goal is to be “at the intersection of community, capital, creativity, culture and code,” said its leader.
Soup maker answers call for locally made goods
Lisa Sprunger founded frozen-soup company Urban Ladle in the kitchen of her north-side home, nurturing it into a line of seven frozen soups sold at various, mostly Indiana, retailers.
Q&A: Bobby Mattingly and Cody Peczkowski of Moontown Brewing
After years of dreaming and planning, the pair opened the brewery in January in the historic Whitestown High School gym.
Local ed-tech firm acquired by industry goliath, to keep local presence
VeriCite Inc., a Fishers-based maker of plagiarism-detection software, is being acquired by Turnitin, a Silicon Valley-based leader in the plagiarism-detection industry. Turnitin officials said they will maintain and grow its local presence.
Wisconsin-based startup accelerator plants flag in Indy
Gener8tor, which takes ownership stakes in startups in return for providing intensive guidance, will launch a free program in Indianapolis this spring that will provide coaching for seven weeks to five promising Hoosier companies.
Indy-based startup matches parkers with underused spaces
FlexePark has five lots—three in Broad Ripple, one in Mass Ave and one in Bloomington—that are available to parkers for $4 to $10 during evening and overnight hours.
Venture capital for Indiana startups surged in 2017 on fewer deals
Thanks to a strong fourth quarter with a $40 million deal, the amount of venture capital invested in Hoosier firms surged 50 percent in 2017 over the previous year.