Technology Professionals

What is Marketing 501?

Tuesday, August 2, 2011 by Community Blogger

by Daniel Herndon

CEO and Founder
redwall LIVE

It sounds like a few steps above marketing 101 but it's actually a great way to increase ROI.

As a digital marketing firm in the Indiana tech sector, just like the cobbler's shoes, our marketing has been less than it could be because of our preoccupation with clients. In June we had a record month. Our sales were higher than ever, but we were $501 away from a perfect round number ... so we decided we would create an email campaign based on that number to cap off the record month of sales.

redwall LIVE's Marketing 501 campaign has helped the digital marketing firm earn a total of four new clients since the effort began in June 2011.
In only 2 hours - with 3 hours left to spare to the month - we ended up designing an original email, coding it and sending it out to our database. This flash marketing campaign resulted in a successful response from a startup company that purchased the offer, and several positive responses from customers and contacts congratulating us for our growth.

We decided that each month (for a little while, at least) we would do a $501 deal to end the month out with a special limited time offer. In July, we featured a simple video we did for a sponsorship with the regional economic development group Indy Partnership.

Here's why we believe this campaign is working well for us:

1. Highlighting a project we did and show our work
2. Connecting with customers and prospects in an interesting way
3. Giving startups and other small-budget businesses the opportunity to try our services
4. Succeeding in securing 4 new paying clients from the campaign so far ...

Daniel Herndon is founder and CEO of redwall LIVE, Experiential Marketing an Indianapolis marketing firm that creates campaigns, strategies and tools for relationship marketing. Daniel was named in Indianapolis Business Journal’s 2011 “Forty Under 40” featuring local business and professional leaders who have achieved success and excelled in their field before the age of 40. He is also authoring “Facebook All In One For Dummies” on Wiley Publishing.

Funding Law: How Much Money Does Your New Business Need?

Wednesday, March 23, 2011 by Community Blogger

by David Castor

Last night, I lectured on this topic (Funding Law) to my entrepreneurial capstone class at Purdue. It is possibly the most basic question for any Indiana technology startup looking to raise capital for an emerging business technology or other venture, but it is often not approached correctly. In my experience most entrepreneurs take a wild guess at their number.

The correct approach for Indiana technology companies is the same for almost every other kind of business, which is to look at your cash flow projections and determine it from there. For a new startup the goal is to get to "break-even" and beyond. For later stage companies, the projections may address strategic growth milestones. Either way, the cash flow proforma is the most important financial statement available to you.

If there is one thing I have learned in my entrepreneurial law practice it is that:

Employees care about salaries
Managers care about margins
Banks care about net income
Entrepreneurs care about cash flows

Your proforma should address the month by month inflows and outflows of cash based upon your revenue model(s) and cost projections. Your goal is to find out where you bottom out. That bottom out number is the base for the capital needed.

I have never seen a startup hit its first year projections. Entrepreneurs who do their homework should be able to be within 5% or so of their cost projections, but revenue projections are much harder to hit. Even with the best market research, strategic risk, random risk, dumb luck and unfortunate events cause revenue projections to miss their mark.

Most business plans build in contingencies for variable costs (or certain key fixed startup costs) based on revenue milestones being missed. Take these contingencies into consideration when determining how much capital you will need.

A few other thoughts:

1.) Know your A/R model. Whether you require payment up front or a long pay cycle will make a huge difference on your cash flow projections. Also, if your business model carries a lower realization rate on A/R, build in that strategic risk factor into your projections.

2.) Know your inventory model. This is especially important for manufacturing and distribution companies.

3.) Get an operating line of credit from a bank. This is extremely helpful for those payroll weeks where the company is short on cash. This happens to nearly all early stage start ups, and that is what lines of credits are intended to protect.

4.) Plan for taxes. Whether your company is a C-Corp or a pass through entity which is making tax distributions to owners, you need to figure these amounts (both as savings and payouts) in your cost projections. I see a number of early stage business plans that do not consider tax distributions in their cash flow proforma.

5.) Prepare for reserves. If your startup cash projections tell you that the business will bottom out at a negative $150k in month seven, do not plan to raise $150k. Determine the risks associated with your model, look at the revenue projection contingencies, and determine an appropriate dollars amount above and beyond the cash bottom out number to hold in reserves. Any sophisticated private equity investor will want (and expect) you to carry reserves.

The key for technology professionals, information technology businesses and others when raising capital from angel or private equity investors, is to be able to clearly explain why you need the money you are asking for. Use your cash flow proforma and refer to your sources and uses and be confident about how much you need.

Name: David Castor
Company: Alerding Castor Hewitt LLP
E-mail: dcastor@alerdingcastor.com
City: Indianapolis
State: Indiana

Optimism in technology sector makes headlines

Monday, February 7, 2011 by Joshua Hall

The top story for today's news cycle is good news for the Indiana technology sector. Results from a survey of 4,000 business professionals throughout the state indicate that technology business trends are on the minds of many, and for all the right reasons.

The Indiana Business Council survey, conducted through a partnership between Inside Indiana Business and Indianapolis-based Walker, revealed that tech companies expect customers to spend more in 2011 and that they plan to hire new employees to meet the increased demand of technology sector growth.

79% expect customers to increase spending in 2011
54% plan to add jobs in 2011 (which is much higher than overall expectations)
85% feel there will increased need for their technology products and services in 2011

In an interview on Inside Indiana Business with Gerry Dick, Slingshot SEO President Kevin Bailey said that more availability of funding and an increased focus on sales were both important, but that he believes innovation is the key to success for Indiana's technology sector.

"At Slingshot we are always trying to focus on, we gotta have something great to sell," Bailey said. "Being innovative I think is, for my company, always first and foremost. We want to have the most innovative product in search engine optimization for enterprise companies, so with that innovation we have something great to sell. So I would still put innovation at the top of my list but sales is right there under that because obviously sales drives growth."

Indiana's tech sector has good reasons to be optimistic as the economy continues its climb out of recession because of its performance during the recession. Even during the height of the global recession, Indiana GAINED 1,200 new tech jobs, according to TechAmerica's Cyberstates report.

Investors are also betting on the Indiana tech sector and emerging business technology coming out of Hoosier companies. While venture capital nationally was at a 10-year low during the recession, Indiana grew venture investment by double digits, including a 70% leap in 2008.

During the interview on Inside Indiana Business, Kevin Bailey said that Indiana has great leaders that mentor startups and that the culture of Indiana's tech sector is collaborative and helpful to small technology businesses.

Three Indiana Executives Named Finalists in SLMA Award

Friday, November 19, 2010 by Community Blogger

Jenny Vance, president and co-founder of Indianapolis-based LeadJen, Richard Cunningham, VP, marketing and Troy Burk, at Right On Interactive, have been nominated for the “50 Most Influential Sales Lead Management Professionals’ -award.

This award is sponsored by the Sales Lead Management Association (SLMA), which helps provide best practices, for marketing and sales management. Members and non-members may vote at the SLMA website: http://www.salesleadmgmtassn.com/top50_vote.htm

We are asking for support from TechPoint and its membership to support three local technology executives. The voting process is fast and each voter can cast three ballots. We appreciate the support of Jenny, Richard, and Troy to receive this award from SLMA.

Jenny Vance co-founded LeadJen in 2004 where, under her leadership, LeadJen grew into a multi-million dollar company serving more than 200 clients that range from start-ups to Fortune 100 companies. LeadJen is able to enable any company to improve their marketing campaign and their sales lead growth through their database building, marketing campaigns, and B2B appointment setting. Jenny joined LeadJen from NoInk Communications (acquired by Everypath, Inc.) where she served as the Director of Marketing and Inside Sales. Prior to NoInk, Jenny served in numerous marketing and inside sales roles at Aprimo, Incorporated. Jenny has a B.A. in Economics from DePauw University where she participated in the Management Fellows Entrepreneurial Honors program.

Richard Cunningham is a veteran of corporate marketing and field marketing operations with business-to-business companies ranging from start-ups to Global 100. His passion is developing demand generation programs that produce measurable results. Cunningham currently serves as vice president of marketing at Right On Interactive, a leading provider of Customer Lifecycle Marketing software solutions. He previously served as director of marketing with Aprimo, Inc. He holds a bachelors of science degree from Purdue University.

Troy Burk is the CEO and founder of Right on Interactive (ROI). ROI is a customer lifecycle marketing software provider that transforms the way marketers nurture business relationships – from initial contact to brand advocacy. Prior to founding ROI, Burk was the director of sales in the start-up stages of Exact Target. There he developed the initial sales strategy and methodology that helped grow the company from a few customers to thousands. Burk holds a bachelor’s degree from Ball State University.

Name: Amanda Cunningham
Company: LeadJen
E-mail: amanda@leadjen.com
City: Indianapolis
State: IN

Why should you attend TechPoint's Innovation Summit?

Wednesday, October 20, 2010 by Joshua Hall

We posed the question of why Indiana technology and business professionals should attend TechPoint's Innovation Summit and a few other questions to three Hoosier experts. These three individuals are at the top of their game and they also happen to be presenters on panels for the event (so they know a little something about the valuable nuggets of business knowledge they plan to espouse).

The video speaks for itself. Visit the TechPoint website for more information about Innovation Summit. There you can download the full event agenda with the topics of all four breakout sessions and the participating panelists; find out about the "Funding Innovation" plenary panel; and which venture capital, angel and seed funding firms are scheduled to attend the "Capital Connection" venture networking event.

You won't want to miss the keynote address from iconoclast technology author Nicholas Carr. Carr is famous for his controversial articles "Does IT Matter?" and asking the question "Is Google making us stupid?" in his new book The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains. Agree or disagree with him, Carr makes us think – and that’s the first step towards innovation.

Of course, one of the best parts about Innovation Summit is the "Innovation Exhibition" trade show floor where you can browse booth after booth after booth filled with new technologies and business opportunities. Make sure you have a healthy supply of business cards, make note of the #Summit10 Twitter hashtag, and prepare yourself for Indiana's largest assembly of technology professionals and entrepreneurs.

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Three Reasons to Get Involved with IU Informatics at IUPUI This Fall

Tuesday, October 12, 2010 by Community Blogger

We need your help here at the School of Informatics. We are committed to Indiana technology education and Indiana technology research through the professional development of our students (Informatics, HIA, and Media Arts) into graduates ready for the real world of employment in the Indiana tech sector and beyond.

We need industry professionals working in emerging business technology at information technology businesses willing to impart some wisdom and give honest advice to students on what their field is like and how to best prepare for jobs in their organizations.

What's in it for me you ask? In return for a little of your time your organization:

Gets branded with the student population here at the school. Free viral marketing is very effective!
Gets to interact with students and find those potential interns and employees who are ready for work now.
Can help those students who need to develop further skills by giving them advice that will better prepare them for internships and full-time positions for Indiana information technology jobs in the future...maybe with your company.

Here are dates that are set so far...

Informatics and Health Information Administration Majors Tuesdays - (9:00-10:50am)

Tuesday October 12 - Alumni Panel with Informatics and HIA students
Tuesday October 26 - Classroom Guest Speakers
Tuesday November 9 - Mock Interviews (At school or employer locations)
Tuesday November 16 - Classroom Guest Speakers
Tuesday November 23 - Job Shadows @ Employer Locations
Tuesday November 30 - Job Shadows @ Employer Locations
Tuesday December 7 - Classroom Guest Speakers

Media Arts (New Media) Majors - Thursdays(9:00-10:50am)

Thursday October 14 - Alumni Panel with Media Arts (New Media) students
Thursday October 21 - Classroom Guest Speakers
Thursday November 4 - Mock Interviews (At School or Employer locations)
Thursday November 11 - Classroom Guest Speakers
Thursday November 18 - Job Shadows @ Employer Locations
Thursday December 2 - Job Shadows @ Employer Locations
Thursday December 9 - Classroom Guest Speakers

Getting involved with the IU School of Informatics is a great way to recruit interns and future employees. Let some of our students come visit your organization for job shadows or mock interviews. Come visit our classes and present to students who will all be graduating with a degree in New Media, Informatics, or Health Information Administration. We have two sections of the Directed Studies course this fall. One meets on Tuesdays and the other on Thursdays. If you would like to be involved in one or both please contact me and I will make arrangements with you.

For more information, contact Brian Benedict at bbenedic@iupui.edu or 317-278-7611.

Name: Brian Benedict
Company: Indiana University School of Informatics at IUPUI
E-mail: bbenedic@iupui.edu
City: Indianapolis
State: Indiana

IBJ's 'Forty Under 40' List Should be Filled with Indiana Tech Professionals

Tuesday, August 17, 2010 by Joshua Hall

The Indianapolis Business Journal has announced its request for nominations for its annual “Forty under 40” list. "Forty under 40" is a list comprised of central Indiana’s leading business and professional leaders who have achieved a level of success that is rare at a young age.

We all know Indiana’s tech sector is filled with some of the state’s best and brightest, so let’s make sure to get them nominated so this year’s list is stacked with tech professionals.

Who do you think should be on the list this year?

Click here to nominate.

The Governor Bob Orr Indiana Entrepreneurship Fellows at TechPoint’s Mira Awards

Monday, May 17, 2010 by Joshua Hall

I had the pleasure of working briefly with these five fine young professionals and I must say I’m impressed. They walked into the Mira Awards theater, ran through their speaking parts like pros, and then delivered beautifully during the awards ceremony.

Speaking in front of a room full of peers, mentors and industry veterans is not an easy task. These five future leaders deserve a lot of credit for helping to introduce each TechPoint Mira Finalist.

From left to right in the picture, the Governor Bob Orr Indiana Entrepreneurship Fellows who participated include:

Eric Barnard with RICS Software
Katie Veatch with Angie’s List
Gerald Sims with Author Solutions
Ally Hill with Develop Indy
Bob Reish, also with Angie’s List.

View More Photos from the 2010 TechPoint Mira Awards Gala.

Bob Compton Recognized as TechPoint’s 2010 Technology Trailblazer

Monday, May 3, 2010 by Joshua Hall

Legendary Indiana investor and filmmaker will receive award at TechPoint Mira Awards Gala event May 15

TechPoint is pleased to announce that legendary investor and innovator Robert Compton is its 2010 Trailblazer Award recipient for significant and lasting contributions to Indiana’s high-tech economy. The Trailblazer Award is part of TechPoint’s annual Mira Awards program recognizing Indiana’s technology success stories in various categories for industry, institutions and individuals.

Thirty years ago, Robert Compton chose to forsake the security of a systems engineering career with IBM and venture in a new direction as an entrepreneur and investor. For Indiana’s technology sector, the rest is history – Compton has built an unparalleled record of investing in and supporting firms that became the foundation of the state’s high-tech industry, spawning successive generations of new companies (many of which Compton also became involved in).

Compton’s track record is truly a Hoosier high-tech ‘who’s who’ – firms like Software Artistry, Aprimo, Exact Target, Interactive Intelligence, Vontoo, IndianMathOnline, Compendium Blogware, Compression Engineering, Mezzia, Sci-Tech Ventures, Veregon and Warsaw Orthopedic (which went on to become Sofamor Danek, the world’s largest spinal medical device company, with Compton as its President). In all, he has been active in more than 40 businesses in software, telecommunications, healthcare, medical devices, and education.

“When you try to chart the progress of Indiana’s technology sector over the last two decades, most roads seem to lead back to Bob Compton,” said Jim Jay, TechPoint’s President & CEO. “He has been a catalyst for bringing so many new innovations to market, for making Indiana a hotbed for online measured marketing – the list of achievements goes on and on.

“This award only confirms what every Indiana technology entrepreneur knows to be true – Bob Compton certainly blazed a path that all of us continue to follow.”

Compton’s involvement in entrepreneurship doesn’t end with his direct involvement in for-profit ventures. He also serves as a Trustee of the Kauffman Foundation, a $1.8 billion institute dedicated to accelerating entrepreneurial activity. His recent exploits as a filmmaker – most notably the documentary “2 Million Minutes” – has explored the critical role of education to success in an entrepreneurial, knowledge-based economy, taking a look at the differing approaches employed by the U.S., China, and India.

“Bob is a venture capitalist in two senses of the phrase – he invests both intellectual and financial capital in companies and causes that he cares about,” added Mark Hill, Chairman of TechPoint and managing partner of Collina Ventures. “Indiana’s tech community has certainly been a beneficiary of his work, and this Trailblazer in Technology recognition is a well-deserved and long-overdue expression of our appreciation.”

For the last decade, TechPoint’s annual Mira Awards have put a spotlight on Indiana’s high-tech all-stars, understanding that celebrating success is one way to create more of it. The Mira Awards are Indiana’s largest and most visible technology awards program; learn more at http://www.techpoint.org/Mira/. This year’s Mira Gala awards ceremony will be held on May 15th at the Westin – Downtown Indianapolis. Tickets are available for purchase through the website.

About TechPoint
TechPoint is Indiana’s only statewide technology initiative, representing industry stakeholders including publicly-traded companies, private businesses, colleges and research universities, and local economic development organizations. The group’s mission is to accelerate Indiana’s emerging and vibrant information technology sector by: promoting the successes of information technology companies and professionals; supporting the formation, expansion, and attraction of IT companies; and advocating appropriate public policy. TechPoint is an initiative of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership. Visit www.techpoint.org.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MIRA AWARDS GALA
LEARM MORE ABOUT BOB COMPTON

FormSpring's John Wechsler to speak at next Tech Thursday

Wednesday, January 20, 2010 by Dane Benton

John Wechsler, President of FormSpring, will be the guest speaker at TechPoint's Tech Thursday tomorrow, January 21.

Not familiar with Tech Thursday? Watch this short video:

Tech Thursday is sponsored by LightBound and hosted at Baker & Daniels - Indianapolis North. Each month, Tech Thursday is an opportunity for professionals from Indiana technology companies (and technology professionals from companies in other industries) to come together for networking and insights into new products or developments in the market.

WHAT: Tech Presentation, Networking, Drinks and Hors d'oeuvres

WHEN: Thursday, January 21, 2010, from 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Baker & Daniels LLP, Indianapolis North
600 E. 96th Street, Suite 600, Indianapolis, IN 46240

There is no charge to attend, but please register so that we are able to provide adequate supply of drinks and hors d'oeuvres.

LEARN MORE ABOUT JOHN WECHSLER | REGISTER FOR TECH THURSDAY | ADD TO CALENDAR

IU School of Informatics' Dean Bobby Schnabel to Speak at Next Tech Thursday

Thursday, December 3, 2009 by Joshua Hall

Bobby Schnabel, Dean of the Indiana University School of Informatics will be the guest speaker at TechPoint's Tech Thursday on December 10th.

Not familiar with Tech Thursday? Watch this short video:

Tech Thursday is sponsored by IQuest Internet and hosted at Baker & Daniels - Indianapolis North. Each month, Tech Thursday is an opportunity for professionals from Indiana technology companies (and technology professionals from companies in other industries) to come together for networking and insights into new products or developments in the market.

WHAT: Tech Presentation, Networking, Drinks and Hors d'oeuvres

WHEN: Thursday, December 10th, 2009 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Baker & Daniels LLP, Indianapolis North
600 E. 96th Street, Suite 600, Indianapolis, IN 46240

There is no charge to attend, but please register so that we are able to provide adequate supply of drinks and hors d'oeuvres.

LEARN MORE ABOUT Dean Bobby Schnabel | REGISTER

Aprimo's GM Robert Boehnlein to Speak at Next Tech Thursday

Friday, November 6, 2009 by Joshua Hall

Robert C. Boehnlein, General Manager of Aprimo's Enterprise Business Unit will be the guest speaker at TechPoint's Tech Thursday on November 19.

WHAT: Tech Presentation, Networking, Drinks and Hors d'oeuvres

WHEN: Thursday, November 19, 2009 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Baker & Daniels LLP, Indianapolis North
600 E. 96th Street, Suite 600, Indianapolis, IN 46240

There is no charge to attend, but please register so that we are able to provide adequate supply of drinks and hors d'oeuvres.

LEARN MORE ABOUT Robert C. Boehnlein | REGISTER

Indiana's Measured Marketing Leadership -- Conference Next Week

Friday, October 16, 2009 by Jim Jay

Indiana continues to lead in the development of measured marketing businesses - business that deliver return on investment for your marketing dollar. Entrepreneurs are finding that Indiana is the place to start these businesses because of the qualified workforce and the hotbed of companies already here like Aprimo, Compendium, Delivera, ExactTarget, Autobase, and 70 others.

You can learn more about measured marketing, whether a technology entrepreneur, technology professional or interested marketer at the Master of Business On-line conference coming to Carmel, Indiana on Wednesday, October 21.

Visit http://2009.GetYourMBO.com to learn more and register.

TechPoint's Chairman and technology entrepreneur, Mark Hill will be the conference keynote speaker. Twenty-two other speakers will discuss on-line marketing throughout the day.

AIT Labs' VP & CIO Ron Thieme to Speak at Next Tech Thursday

Friday, October 9, 2009 by Joshua Hall

Ron Thieme, Ph.D., Vice President and CIO for AIT Laboratories will be the guest speaker at TechPoint's Tech Thursday on September 17.

WHAT: Tech Presentation, Networking, Drinks and Hors d'oeuvres

WHEN: Thursday, October 15, 2009 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Baker & Daniels LLP, Indianapolis North
600 E. 96th Street, Suite 600, Indianapolis, IN 46240

There is no charge to attend, but please register so that we are able to provide adequate supply of drinks and hors d'oeuvres.

LEARN MORE ABOUT Ron Thieme | REGISTER

Driving Job Creation through Real Indiana Innovation

Tuesday, September 22, 2009 by Jim Jay

Most-welcome news is starting to arrive. Believable reports of abating economic turmoil increase daily, accompanied by fresh intelligence that the crushing global recession is nearing its long-awaited end.

As Indiana commences on recovery over the coming months, we all need to refocus our efforts to accelerate recovery and replace lost jobs.

The task of creating jobs is not going to be an easy one, but it does represent a unique opportunity. Although the Hoosier state lost thousands of jobs as the global economy nose-dived over the past 18 months, the state did enter the worldwide fiscal era of carnage in dramatically better financial shape than its neighbors. Now is the time to leverage that enviable position and advance Indiana quickly.

How can these new jobs be organically created over the coming months and years? Earlier in September, BusinessWeek magazine had a most interesting comment for Hoosiers to consider:

“Name an industry [presently in the United States] that can produce one million new, high-paying jobs over the next three years. You can’t, because there isn’t one. And that’s the problem.”

Adrian Slywotzky, a partner for national management consultancy Oliver Wyman, went on to illustrate for BusinessWeek readers how real American innovation from the mid-20th century – the transistor, cellular telephony, photovoltaic solar cells and others – all became building blocks for new industries and the subsequent creation of millions of new jobs. The paramount task at hand, according to Slywotzky, is for American entrepreneurs, scientists and business professionals to redouble their efforts and produce the next set of truly transformational building blocks.

Those of us living in Indiana would do well to consider how real innovation can dramatically accelerate our own respective position in the national – even global – economy.

“How so Indiana?” one might say. Take a look at Indiana University. Through some amazing and creative collaboration, IU is now a player in the top ranks of supercomputing horsepower. That gives the state an attractive tool for transformational development and innovation through the university’s Big Red supercomputer, which is already available to entrepreneurial businesses and technology entrepreneurship in the state.

Take a look at Purdue University. The Boilermakers raised more than an eyebrow or two when Purdue pulled down a $105 million grant from the National Science Foundation – the largest in the university’s 140-year history – for earthquake research and education. Purdue will now lead no less than 14 other major research universities in this endeavor, positioning even more firmly the state’s outstanding resources, such as Discovery Park in West Lafayette.

The list of Indiana technology innovation and Indiana technology research assets, emerging business technology and the positive impact on Indiana technology jobs and Indiana economic development goes much farther.

If you’re serious about job creation – and you should be – consider gathering with us on Sept. 29 for the statewide Innovation Summit. The Summit’s keynote speaker Clayton Christensen is the Harvard avatar responsible for defining disruptive innovation and how to achieve it. He will be joined by dozens of successful innovators, technologists and finance professionals striving to ignite Hoosier innovation.

Will you be part of the Hoosier solution to drive real transformation and innovation? Join us.

LEARN MORE ABOUT INNOVATION SUMMIT | DOWNLOAD AGENDA | REGISTER

Bob Compton to Premiere New Documentary Film Win in China at TechPoint’s Innovation Summit

Monday, September 14, 2009 by Joshua Hall

New film from businessman Bob Compton examines entrepreneurship in China and the country’s rise to a global superpower

INDIANAPOLIS (September 14, 2009) — The Indiana premiere of Win in China, Bob Compton’s new documentary on the explosion of entrepreneurship and new venture creation in China, will be part of TechPoint’s Innovation Summit at the Indiana Convention Center on Sept. 29.

Compton, creator and executive producer of the provocative documentary on global education, Two Million Minutes, said he wants Indiana CEO’s and university students to see his new film to better understand the challenges they will face from a tidal wave of Chinese entrepreneurs.

“In Communist China, the country’s heroes are not sports stars or entertainers but entrepreneurs, because they create jobs, wealth and strengthen communities,” Compton said. “Indiana has many successful entrepreneurs who have advanced the state’s economy, but the Chinese are investing in entrepreneurship education, infrastructure and venture capital on a scale unimaginable to Americans.”

He continued, “Remember what you saw at the Beijing Olympics, and imagine that scale of money, talent, energy and coordination being applied to building the entrepreneurial sector of China’s economy. Now double everything. The Politburo’s efforts are on a massive scale, and Americans are entirely unaware.”

“The point of the film and my desire to reach out to the TechPoint Innovation Summit audience isn’t to criticize Hoosiers or Indiana businesses – quite the opposite,” Compton said. “Indiana’s tech sector is our state’s future, and I believe this film can be a catalyst for renewed commitment to Indiana’s new venture initiatives by Innovation Summit attendees.”

Win in China is a 60-minute documentary film that centers on the largest, most lucrative business plan competition in history. Organized as a Donald Trump-like TV show, it was broadcast across China on CCTV3 and serves as a metaphor for the country’s dramatically increased entrepreneurialism.

Win in China follows the path of China from Cultural Revolution and abject poverty to the Entrepreneurial Revolution and rise to be the third largest economy in the world. It vividly illustrates the role entrepreneurship has played in the dramatic changes China has undergone over the past 30 years.

The Indiana premiere of Win in China will follow the national plenary panel at the Innovation Summit entitled “Funding Innovation,” which will feature Bob Compton and other venture capitalists from both coasts including:

Mathias Schilling, Senior Partner at BV Capital – San Francisco
Michael Arpey, Managing Director, Customized Fund Investment Group, Credit Suisse – New York
Michael Brown, General partner of Battery Ventures – Boston

The panel is sponsored by Alerding Castor Hewitt LLP and will be moderated by David Castor, partner at the firm.

The keynote speaker for the luncheon at the Innovation Summit will be renowned innovation expert, entrepreneur, bestselling author and Harvard Business School professor Clayton Christensen.

The screening is scheduled to begin at approximately 5:15 p.m. at the Indiana Convention Center. You must be a registered Innovation Summit attendee to attend the screening. Early-bird tickets cost $150 in advance or $175 after Sept. 22. Visit http://www.techpoint.org/summit/ for more information about TechPoint’s Innovation Summit.

About Win in China
Win in China is a documentary film about the world’s largest and most lucrative business-plan competition, held not in the United States or any western country, but in communist China. Over 120,000 entrepreneurs compete for prize money in excess of $5 million with the winner receiving nearly $1.5 million dollars to invest in a new business plan. Documentary filmmaker Ole Schell was given unprecedented access to the show’s creator, the contestants and the judges. His documentary opens a window into Chinese capitalism, which differs in many ways from Western capitalism. Beneath the game show’s surface lies a nuanced, subtle view of Chinese business practices, ambitions, ethical norms and competitive behaviors. For more information, please visit www.WinInChinaMovie.com.

About TechPoint
TechPoint is Indiana’s only statewide technology initiative, representing industry stakeholders including publicly-traded companies, private businesses, colleges and research universities, and local economic development organizations. The group’s mission is to accelerate Indiana’s emerging and vibrant information technology sector by: promoting the successes of information technology companies and professionals; supporting the formation, expansion, and attraction of IT companies; and advocating appropriate public policy. Visit www.techpoint.org.

- 30 –

CONTACTS:
Joshua Hall, TechPoint, 317-464-5416, jhall@techpoint.org
Meghan Devitt, Dittoe Public Rel., 317-202-2280, ext. 11, meg@dittoepr.com

Indiana Premiere of Bob Compton's New Film "Win in China"

Thursday, September 10, 2009 by Joshua Hall

Preview Win in China with Mr. Compton Immediately Following Innovation Summit at 5:15 p.m. on September 29 at the Indiana Convention Center.

Entrepreneurship has exploded in the East and Win in China follows competitors in the largest, most lucrative business plan competition in the world, which is broadcast on Chinese television. But the competition goes largely unnoticed in the rest of the world outside of China. More than 120,000 entrepreneurs compete for prize money in excess of $5 million with the winner receiving nearly $1.5 million to invest in his or her new business plan. However, Win in China is more than a lucrative business plan competition - it is an opportunity for the government to educate, motivate and inspire the entrepreneurial talent in the most populous nation on earth.

The film's executive producer -- Indiana entrepreneur, angel investor and professional venture capitalist Bob Compton -- will screen the film and speak about it immediately following the National Funding Plenary Panel at Innovation Summit.

In addition to Bob Compton, the National Funding Plenary Panel will feature venture capitalists from both coasts:

Mathias Schilling, Senior Partner at BV Capital – San Francisco
Michael Arpey, Managing Director, Customized Fund Investment Group, Credit Suisse – New York
Michael Brown, General partner of Battery Ventures – Boston

The panel is sponsored by Alerding Castor Hewitt LLP, and will be moderated by David Castor, partner at the firm.

INNOVATION SUMMIT | REGISTER | Win in China

Next Tech Thursday: Lilly VP of Discovery Chemistry Research & Tech

Thursday, September 10, 2009 by Joshua Hall

Alan D. Palkowitz, Ph.D., Vice President of Discovery Chemistry Research & Technologies for Lilly Research Laboratories at Eli Lilly & Company (Phew! Now that's a title ...) will be the guest speaker at TechPoint's Tech Thursday on September 17.

Not familiar with Tech Thursday? Watch this short video:

Tech Thursday is sponsored by IQuest Internet and hosted at Baker & Daniels - Indianapolis North. Each month, Tech Thursday is an opportunity for professionals from Indiana technology companies (and technology professionals from companies in other industries) to come together for networking and insights into new products or developments in the market.

WHAT: Tech Presentation, Networking, Drinks and Hors d'oeuvres

WHEN: Thursday, September 17, 2009 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Baker & Daniels LLP, Indianapolis North
600 E. 96th Street, Suite 600, Indianapolis, IN 46240

There is no charge to attend, but please register so that we are able to provide adequate supply of drinks and hors d'oeuvres.

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Innovation Summit Ticket Prices Go Up on Sept. 22

Tuesday, September 8, 2009 by Joshua Hall

TechPoint's Innovation Summit is coming up quickly and business professionals should buy their tickets soon because the price increases from $150 per ticket to $175 after September 22.

According to Kristee Stewart, TechPoint’s director of programming and events, this is the first year for the early-bird pricing, but it will help the organization save a great deal of money.

“The sooner we are able to submit an accurate attendee count to the Indiana Convention Center the better,” Stewart said. “In the past, we have had to wait until the very last minute to turn in attendee estimates and it has cost us and our sponsors too much money that could have been used for programming. This year, we already have more than 600 tickets sold in advance and we believe the new early-bird pricing structure is a good incentive for hundreds more to buy their tickets before the price increase goes into effect after September 22.”

Innovation Summit features keynote speaker Harvard Business professor Clayton Christensen, the author or coauthor of six books including The New York Times bestsellers “The Innovator's Dilemma” and “The Innovator's Solution.” In 2008, he released Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns, a groundbreaking examination of America's education system through the lens of disruption. His latest book, The Innovator's Prescription: A Disruptive Solution for Health Care, applies the principles of disruption to the nation's broken health care system.

Innovation Summit includes seven different breakout panels following the keynote address that feature 35 national, regional and local experts who will tackle critical issues facing Indiana life sciences, advanced manufacturing and logistics, clean-technology or clean-tech energy, information technology, education, and commercialization of academic research and development.

The full lists of speakers and panel descriptions are available on the following pages of the TechPoint Innovation Summit website (www.techpoint.org/summit):