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The end of the first half of the legislative session comes early next week. Your Indiana Chamber advocacy team is once again leading the way on several key technology and entrepreneurship measures. Here is a brief rundown: Senate Bill 563, also known as Gov. Holcomb's economic development bill, has many important provisions to help attract talent, businesses and capital. The [...]
New Indiana Chamber VP Adam H. Berry (INDIANAPOLIS) — Adam H. Berry is the new vice president of economic development and technology for the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. Berry is a former policy director and attorney for Governor Mike Pence’s administration where he focused on small business economic development and entrepreneurship policies. Berry is also the co-founder of [...]
While many facilities focused on entrepreneurship and innovation are relative newcomers, the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center (The NIIC) has been leading in this space since 2000. We've profiled the organization and companies/ideas emerging from within its walls at various times over the years. Big news came in late December with the announcement of federal Economic Development Administration funding to [...]
Women tech business builders are experiencing greater success in launching and growing their businesses through the Launch Women Business Builder Program in Northeast Indiana. Simply ask Melissa Hall, Sample Snap Founder. When the first cohort of the program completed phase one earlier this year, the milestone was marked with a pitch competition. Sample Snap was named Launch Women Business [...]
There is no shortage of news about Indiana places and spaces to boost creativity and innovation. A few of the recent highlights: The Mill, part of the downtown Trades District, is billed as Bloomington’s center of gravity for innovators, remote workers, entrepreneurs and innovators. The 19,000 square feet was part of the Showers Brothers Furniture Factory built in 1915. [...]
One of the key selling points of a franchise business – that it mitigates some of the risk of starting a business – can give franchisees a false sense of security, says a University of Michigan researcher. Economist Francine Lafontaine analyzed U.S. Census data for industries where franchising activity is strongest, such as restaurants and traveler accommodations, and found [...]
Everyone is looking for a value. How about this one? A 30-minute (plus a few more) conversation with Scott Jones yields far more in innovation insights and entrepreneurial observations. Jones' geographic path went from computer science at Indiana University to Boston (including MIT and the invention of voicemail) and back to Indiana to be an early leader of developing the [...]
Quarterly venture capital reports have become a popular barometer of financial activity in the entrepreneurial world. They provide a helpful snapshot, but also have their shortcomings – including a lack of complete data. Angel capital numbers have been far less organized, in part due to the nature of the investments. But the Angel Capital Association (ACA) is seeking to [...]
The entrepreneurial bug is busy in Indy. It almost sank its teeth into me this summer (and I don’t have any entrepreneurial bones in my body!) as I chatted with folks at several start-ups. All were graduates of gBETA Indy – a free, seven-week program for early-stage companies. gBETA Indy, Indiana’s first public accelerator, is a program of nationally-ranked [...]
The Heritage Group (THG), an Indianapolis-based business holding company, has typically operated somewhat quietly. But that lack of public notice should not be confused with any shortcomings in the success category. Founded in 1930 and controlled by the Fehsenfeld family, THG has an ownership interest in 31 companies and about 6,500 global employees. Approximately half of those people work [...]
