Menguin, an online suit and tuxedo rental company, has been acquired by Generation Tux for $25 million. Menguin is one of 13 companies in the Innovation Indiana Fund portfolio. According to a news release, Menguin has experienced three years at an 800 percent compound annual growth rate. Menguin and Generation Tux will continue to operate… Read more »
Economic Development
IU researchers awarded $1.4 million grant to promote regional economic development
A two-year project called Regional Economic Development has received a $1.4 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. The project will apply advanced data analytics to promote regional economic development and design policies appropriate for a particular region’s characteristics. The project will build a complex computational model that integrates data science and regional economic… Read more »
CREED meeting focused on Public Policy Institute, Manufacturing Policy Initiative and School of Public Health
The Indiana University Council for Regional Engagement and Economic Development, or CREED, held its first meeting of the 2017-18 academic year Sept. 13 on the IUPUI campus. David Gard provided updates from the university, including the opening of the $45 million Arts and Sciences building at IU Northwest; partnerships in the first Internet of Things… Read more »
Salesforce’s chief equality officer to open Economic Club of Indiana’s 2017-18 luncheon speaker series Sept. 14
Tony Prophet, chief equality officer at Salesforce, will speak Thursday, Sept. 14, during The Economic Club of Indiana’s opening luncheon of the 2017-18 season. The luncheon will take place from noon-1:30 p.m. at the Indiana Convention Center, 100 S. Capitol Ave., Indianapolis. A member of the company’s executive team reporting to Chairman and CEO Marc… Read more »
B-Start pre-accelerator program to accept applications from entrepreneurs in high-growth startups through Sept. 22
Entrepreneurs who live in Bloomington, including Indiana University students, faculty and staff, are encouraged to apply for the five-month B-Start pre-accelerator program, which provides business development workshops, consultations with local experts and a pitch competition. The deadline to apply is Sept. 22. B-Start has graduated 18 companies through the program since it launched as an… Read more »
State business, academic and community leaders establish Applied Research Institute to generate tech transfer, commercialization activity
A new organization has been established by leaders in Indiana government, research universities, industry, and the largest military asset to generate technology transfer and commercialization in military defense and other sectors of the state’s economy. The Applied Research Institute provides streamlined access to more than $1 billion in state-of-the-art laboratories, equipment and research facilities across… Read more »
The Bee Corp. completes its Series A round of funding
Congratulations to The Bee Corp., founded by three Indiana University alumni, for concluding its Series A funding round. It received investments from Jane Martin, general partner at Village Ventures and the lead investor; Scott Dorsey, High Alpha Ventures; and Elevate Ventures. In a news release, Martin said, “While I am making this investment on profit… Read more »
Director of the IU Innovation and Commercialization Office to promote university’s startup program on webinar
University leaders developing programs to encourage faculty entrepreneurship and startup creation, which can strengthen economic development in a region or state as inventions are developed and taken to market, will learn about one of the best programs in the country during a webinar next week. Dave Wilhite, director of the IU Innovation and Commercialization Office,… Read more »
IUPUI, Indy Chamber partner on event to connect vendors, consultants and business owners with the university
Business owners and consultants met with IUPUI procurement officers during an Aug. 15 event co-hosted by the IUPUI Office of Community Engagement and the Indy Chamber to strengthen the city’s business climate, revitalize its neighborhoods and enhance the region’s workforce. Innovate Indiana was a co-sponsor. Michael Huber, president and CEO of Indy Chamber, and Amy Conrad Warner, IUPUI vice chancellor for… Read more »
IU partners with DirectEmployers Institute, NSWC Crane to encourage STEM students
Indiana University; DirectEmployers Institute; and Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division have worked together for two years to encourage Southern Indiana high school students to excel in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The Workplace Simulation Project was launched in the Bloomfield School District two years ago. It was made possible by several grants,… Read more »