In 2020, members of the IU Angel Network announced a $300,000 investment in Sacred Serve, a fully organic, plant-based gelato company headquartered in Chicago and founded by Indiana University alumna Kailey Donewald. It was the first-ever investment in a consumer goods company by the network, one of four major investment programs managed by IU Ventures,… Read more »
Tag: IU Ventures
Todd Yeagley to help kick off Venture Summit
The best of Indiana University’s venture community will get the opportunity to hear from one of the best collegiate soccer coaches in the nation when Todd Yeagley, head coach of the IU men’s soccer team, helps launch the inaugural IU Founders & Funders Network Venture Summit next month. Yeagley, who will enter his 13th season… Read more »
‘Best in Tech’ nominees reflect strength and success of IU Ventures’ expanding investment portfolio
This week saw Indianapolis-based technology growth accelerator TechPoint unveil its nominees for the 23rd annual Mira Awards, honoring the “Best of Tech in Indiana.” The Mira Awards are the state’s largest, best known and most prestigious technology awards. Once again, the Mira Awards are shining a light on IU’s recent success in advancing the startup… Read more »
Creating opportunities to build connections and the next Hoosier success stories
Note: Sodam Kim, assistant director of research communications for the IU Office of the Vice President for Research, contributed to this story. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Indiana University has accelerated efforts to build connections among its global community of entrepreneurs, innovators and investors, while also advancing business ideas with the potential to create new high-quality… Read more »
Shoebox Fund makes two new investments in student-led innovation
IU-led fund invests in smartphone app for new music discovery and battery part supplier targeting the electric vehicle market Two more student startups have been selected to benefit from the Shoebox Fund, an investment fund that supports student innovation at Indiana University. Established earlier this year through a gift of $60,000 from Donna and John… Read more »
IU expertise, connections and funding capital are energizing Bloomington’s innovation and startup culture

Ten years ago, Ravi Bhatt considered his college town of Bloomington, Ind., when he was deciding where to locate his promising new business venture. He loved Bloomington, and equally adored his alma mater, Indiana University. In the end, though, he chose Chicago, believing that the Windy City offered the best mix of talent, infrastructure and,… Read more »
IU startup founders create buzz as Forbes’ newest “30 Under 30” honorees
Six years ago, the news and communications team I led at the time was eager to show off its storytelling skills on behalf of Indiana University and, more importantly, to spotlight the work being done at IU to advance the top priority of the university’s newly adopted Bicentennial Strategic Plan: ensuring student success. Our creative… Read more »
Helping to steer the growth of Indy’s fast-growing startup community
Earlier this week, Detroit-based Purpose Jobs, which bills itself as the Midwest’s largest startup community, unveiled its list of Top Indianapolis Startups to Watch in 2022. The 17 Circle City companies that made the list were selected based on a number of factors, including their success in attracting investment, increasing their workforce and launching innovative… Read more »
Giving thanks for a collective innovation culture

Heading into Thanksgiving week, Indiana University is seeing a cornucopia of major developments on the innovation front. Here’s a sampling of several recent advancements, which reflect how IU and its partners are furthering a collective innovation culture across Indiana. Furthering the IU-Crane connection. Earlier this week, at a signing event that included IU President Pamela… Read more »
IU students dominate recent 5G ‘hackathon’ competition
Talk about being “dialed in.” Students from Indiana University’s School of Informatics and Computing at IUPUI swept up several of the biggest prizes at the recently held AT&T 5G Sports Hackathon, the fifth tech competition that AT&T has hosted in central Indiana in the last six years. This year’s event, which was held at Butler… Read more »