It’s immensely difficult for tech firms to quickly build and sell technology software or hardware without a sizable venture war chest. Nevertheless, at least a few central Indiana firms have managed to grow at a healthy pace without trading equity stakes for cash.
Many startups, here and elsewhere, secure venture capital funding by touting their market traction, revenue growth and other statistics, all in an effort to prove to investors that they’re good bets. However, a look behind the scenes of High Alpha and three other big venture deals last year suggests that, oftentimes, landing capital has more to do with relationships and luck than with metrics.
Indiana companies landed at least $55 million in venture capital in 2015, according to a new survey. The figure climbs substantially when considering investments not included in the survey.
The Chicago-based firm, which opened an office in Indianapolis last year, will likely use some of the money to continue investing in Indiana tech startups.
Carmel-based DemandJump LLC landed venture capital from local investment firms run by former Aprimo CEO Bill Godfrey and by former ExactTarget executive Tim Kopp.
Firms landed more than $28 million in the third quarter, the highest quarterly total in three years and a sign of accelerating entrepreneurial momentum in the state.
Among the investors locally based Allos Ventures and High Alpha, and coastal VC firm Greycroft Partners.
The Indianapolis-based firm, which sells health care-management software, said it plans to use the funds to grow its sales and marketing teams, and bolster distribution channels.
Indiana hasn’t seen a company launch an initial public offering in nearly two years. When the next IPO comes, it likely won’t be a technology company.
Indianapolis native Danny Chan, a managing director at Iconic Private Equity Partners, a Hong Kong-based firm, is back home in Indiana and ready to launch an angel investing group here that will help fund Hoosier startups of all stripes.
The Austrian software firm, which established its U.S. headquarters in Indianapolis in July, plans to use the money to fuel aggressive growth in North America and Central America.
It’s the first venture funding round for 3-year-old Clear Software, an early mover in the trend of making pre-existing business software easier to use.
Healthiest Employers LLC, which collects and measures corporate health information, plans to use the funds to drive sales of its analytics software.
Hoosier tech firms have sought to raise a total of $55 million in venture capital in the second quarter, according to public filings, up from about $39 million in the first quarter.
The equity round, led by Carmel-based Allos Ventures and St. Louis-based Cultivation Capital, is the third round of financing for the company in less than a year.
The investment was in line with comparable quarters in recent years, but there’s evidence that at least one significant deal didn’t make the list.
Christopher LaMothe, who led the Indiana Chamber of Commerce as president from 1992 to 2002, has been named CEO of Elevate Ventures, a not-for-profit investment group that runs the Indiana Angel Network Fund.
Blue Pillar Inc., which sells energy management software, has raised almost $14 million this year, putting it atop Indiana tech companies in 2014.
Hyde Park Venture Partners plans to establish an Indianapolis office this spring on Monument Circle to be led by former ExactTarget executive Tim Kopp.
Indianapolis-based Salesvue LLC, which produces productivity software products for sales departments, is looking to raise $5 million to grow its sales and marketing team.
