By Doug Theis, Lifeline Data Centers
Indianapolis is the shining technology star of the Midwest. Dozens of technology firms are enjoying success and growth in Indiana’s capital city. Although life sciences and high tech manufacturing receive a great deal of press coverage (see Doug Karr’s post about life sciences), the technology firms are leading the charge to more and better paying jobs in Indy.
Here is the evidence:
- Hoovers lists 73 software as a service (SaaS) firms in Indianapolis.
- Software development firms like Software Engineering Professionals, Fusion Alliance, Ambassador Solutions, Bitwise and startup Developer Town are all enjoying great success.
- Nationally known Aprimo, ExactTarget and Cha Cha all call the Indianapolis region home.
- Fortville’s Six Feet Up is known worldwide in the Python and Plone open source software development communities.
- Marketing technology experts like Doug Karr and Kyle Lacy are helping companies all over the world use social and other new media to build brands and drive more business.
- Lifeline Data Centers, Bluelock, nFrame and Lightbound are delivering outsource data center and cloud solutions to companies across the globe.
- Indiana is starting to pass meaningful legislation to provide tax credits for data centers with $10 million or more in technology investment.
How is this possible in the Midwest?
Purdue University, Indiana University, Rose-Hulman and Ball State are training Indiana students to be experts in technology and business.
Many Indianapolis-based technology firms make it a point to do business with other Indy technology firms. The Indy technology advocate group Techpoint is working to educate or government leaders on the benefits of supporting technology. Networking groups like Techmakers and IT Happy Hour support the technology community with monthly meetings, informative speakers and career opportunities. And companies have choices of building in-house data centers, using high-tech real estate, or employing cloud computing services, all within the city limits.
In the last couple of years, the term “Silicorn Valley” has been used to describe Indianapolis. I’m proud of Indy’s technology sector is doing to keep our economy strong. I encourage you to support the local technology firms. I encourage investors to seek out opportunities in our city. You don’t have to go to the west coast to find great opportunities in technology. It’s waiting for you right here in Indianapolis!
Doug Theis is Senior Vice President of Business Development for Lifeline Data Centers. Doug has 25 years of experience in Information Technology in Indianapolis, both as a vendor and in internal IT operations.
