inVenture: Advancing Innovative Businesses May '07 
News in a Flash

ExactTarget Exec Coming for Special Genius Groups Session!
Please join the Small Business Development Center and inVenture in welcoming Chris Baggott, the visionary behind Exact Target on-demand email software, as our Genius Groups special guest.

You will have the opportunity to meet, learn from, and discuss important business issues with one of the country's hottest entrepreneurs.

A leader in database marketing for more than 20 years, Chris has been recognized by BtoB Magazine as a "Who's Who in Business to Business Marketing." His blog was voted "Best Online Marketing Blog" by MarketingSherpa readers and "Best of the Web" by Forbes magazine. As co-founder and chief marketing officer of ExactTarget, Chris led the company to more than 5,000 customers in under five years and recognized as the fastest-growing SaaS company on the 2006 Inc 500 list.

This exclusive session will be held on Wednesday, May 9th, from 11 am-1 pm at the Hilton Garden Inn. The session fee is $59, which includes lunch.

Seating is limited and will sell out quickly—reserve your place today!

Eleven Indiana Cities Make "Best Places For Business" List
Forbes magazine has published its 2007 list of the "Best Places for Business and Careers." Eleven Indiana cities made the cut. Bloomington is listed in the top ten of the Best Smaller Metros category coming in at 6th nationwide. Indianapolis, which fell 17 spots on this year's list, comes in at 27th for the Best Metros category. Despite the drop, the Circle City continues to beat out other major metropolitan cities in the Midwest, including Chicago which ranks 125th on the list. The Indy Partnership Interim Chief Executive Officer Gordon Hendry says the ranking for Indianapolis is still positive. See the full article for complete details.

BioConvergence Marks First Anniversary of Facility by Announcing Expansion Plans
BioConvergence will expand its Bloomington headquarters and nearly double its number of employees by the end of the year. Officials with the life sciences company made the announcement to celebrate one year at their Zenith Drive facility.

The multimillion-dollar investment will add about 20,000 square feet to the north side of the company’s existing 50,000 square foot facility, and add about 15 employees to an existing base of 21 staffers.

The company plans to break ground on the expansion in a few weeks, BioConvergence CEO Alisa Wright said.

The new space will be used to increase the company’s materials management services, allowing it to store different types of materials in the condition required, she said.

BioConvergence offers material management, product development and consulting for companies in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. See The Herald-Times for more information.

 
Small Business Spotlight

South Central Indiana's area economy is made up of many unique small businesses which often are overlooked. Each month learn about a local small business that you might have not known about!

Threehawks Cleaning Services, LLC
Founded by Susan Threehawks in Nashville, Indiana in 2001, Threehawks Cleaning Services LLC is a woman-owned business, and Women in Business Enterprise (WBE) Certification status is pending. Currently, Threehawks has contracts with government agencies at the federal, state, and local level.

When life-changing events happened in 2000 for Susan, she began cleaning residential homes to support her three small children as well as herself. Thus began the birth of Threehawks Cleaning Services LLC in a small artist studio office in Nashville, Indiana. Today, there are two offices with 16 employees during the off-season and 25 full-time employees during the busy season. The company continues to expand each year.

Threehawks Cleaning Services LLC provides industrial, commercial, and residential cleaning services to government agencies, for-profit businesses, and non-profit organizations.

Professional services include: facility maintenance, sterile environments, general janitorial services, interior detailing, and exterior power washing. Also, total home and office cleaning, move-in/move-out sanitizing, floor care and construction clean-up.

Threehawks customizes a plan that fits the needs of each client, in addition to offering flexible schedules, free estimates, and a professional staff. Threehawks is bonded and insured (and provides its own equipment and supplies) to give clients peace of mind and the gift of time.

Please visit the Threehawks website or call today: 812-988-9905.

 
Tech News

Bloomington's downtown Certified Technology Park includes a diverse group of technology development businesses. Each month learn news about these innovative businesses and other initiatives impacting the Park tenants!

Biotech Startup's Goal: Predicting Your Health
Founded in 2004, Predictive Physiology and Medicine (PPM) is working to correlate biomarkers in human blood with proclivity to certain diseases. The goal is to create a new tool for improving human health: the NetFit Health and Wellness Index Report. This report would be sent to the patient and their doctor, along with links to websites with advice on how to address identified risks. With repeat tests, patients would be able to monitor their progress.

The biomarker technology was developed by David Clemmer, an IU chemistry professor. He co-founded PPM with Stephen Naylor, CEO. Learn more about PPM.

 

 
Tips of the Month

Getting Noticed
Getting a little publicity for your company doesn't take a lot of glitz, glamour, and spectacle. What your firm does need to do is take a few simple steps to make your company media-friendly. Then discover the best tactic for your business to raise your company's profile in the public eye.

Before embarking on any publicity campaign, lay the groundwork with a few basics:
1. Define your goal
2. Remember ethics
3. Determine your target audience
View the complete list for other tips.

 
Upcoming Events

May 1: Community Chats
What: A weekly series to discuss issues facing Bloomington and the broader region.
Where: Village Deli, 409 East Kirkwood Ave.
Time: 7:30 - 8:30 am

May 2: Business Orientation Start-up Session (BOSS)
What: Learn what it takes to start your own business and become your own boss.
Where: SBDC, 501 N. Morton St., Suite 100
Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm
Cost: $25
Contact: SBDC, 812-339-8937 (registration required)

May 4: New Economy, New Rules Seminar
What: Series of video conference presentations from industry leaders geared toward the information technology industry.
Where: inVenture, 501 N. Morton St., inVenture Conference Room
Time: 8:00 - 9:30 am
Contact: Marilyn Skirvin, Bloomington Economic Development Corporation, 812-335-7346

May 8: Community Chats
What: A weekly series to discuss issues facing Bloomington and the broader region.
Where: Village Deli, 409 East Kirkwood Ave.
Time: 7:30 - 8:30 am

May 9: Genius Groups Presents: Chris Baggott, ExactTarget
What: Presentation and discussion with ExactTarget's Chris Baggott, one of the nation's hottest entrepreneurs
Where: Hilton Garden Inn, 245 N. College Ave.
Time: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Fee: $59
Contact: Reserve online (early registration strongly encouraged)

May 15: Tech Tuesday
What: A series of video conference presentations with a networking and educational component for Bloomington technology businesses.
Where: inVenture, 501 N. Morton St., inVenture Conference Room
Time: 7:30 - 9:00 am
Contact: Terri Brown, inVenture, 812-335-7356

May 15: Community Chats
What: A weekly series to discuss issues facing Bloomington and the broader region.
Where: Village Deli, 409 East Kirkwood Ave.
Time: 7:30 - 8:30 am

May 15: Life Sciences Lunch Series
What: The Indiana Health Industry Forum and Barnes & Thornburg present a monthly seminar series on critical issues in life sciences.
Where: Ivy Tech Community College, Bloomington Campus
Time: 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Contact: BEDC, 812-335-7346

May 16: Business Orientation Start-up Session (BOSS)
What: Learn what it takes to start your own business and become your own boss.
Where: SBDC, 501 N. Morton St., Suite 100
Time: 3:00 - 5:00 pm
Cost: $25
Contact: SBDC, 812-339-8937 (registration required)

May 16: Icebreakers :: GET CONNECTED
What: Bloomington's after-hours networking event for entrepreneurs' tech-based businesses.
Topic: Upland expansion and technology in the brewing industry
Where: Upland, 350 W. 11th St., Bloomington
Time: 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Cost: Free
Contact: inVenture, 812-335-7356

May 22: Community Chats
What: A weekly series to discuss issues facing Bloomington and the broader region.
Where: Village Deli, 409 East Kirkwood Ave.
Time: 7:30 - 8:30 am

May 22: Artists After Hours Workshop
What: Bloomington Area Arts Council monthly Artists After Hours
Topic: Workshop on Creating a Business Plan for Artists
Presenter: Carolyn Wiethoff, Ph. D.
Where: John Waldron Arts Center, 122 S. Walnut
Time: 5:15 pm

May 29: Community Chats
What: A weekly series to discuss issues facing Bloomington and the broader region.
Where: Village Deli, 409 East Kirkwood Ave.
Time: 7:30 - 8:30 am

May 30: Business Orientation Start-up Session (BOSS)
What: Learn what it takes to start your own business and become your own boss.
Where: SBDC, 501 N. Morton St., Suite 100
Time: 3:00 - 5:00 pm
Cost: $25
Contact: SBDC, 812-339-8937 (registration required)

June 1: New Economy, New Rules Seminar
What: Series of video conference presentations from industry leaders geared toward the information technology industry.
Where: inVenture, 501 N. Morton St., inVenture Conference Room
Time: 8:00 - 9:30 am
Contact: Marilyn Skirvin, Bloomington Economic Development Corporation, 812-335-7346

 

USeful Links
Web sites to help your business succeed.

 

SBDC Business Solutions

Wayfinder Business Feasibility
Thinking of starting a business? The Wayfinder Business CD-ROM can help!

This interactive CD-ROM will help you:
• evaluate whether you possess the characteristics most common to entrepreneurial success,
• determine if your idea makes good business sense,
• explore the market for your new business idea,
• and estimate the basic financial feasibility of your business.

Contact the SBDC office at 812-339-8937 for more information.

View More Small Business Solutions

Thank you to the financial supporters and partners of inVenture and the South Central IN SBDC: Bloomington Economic Development Corporation, Bloomington Urban Enterprise Association, Cairril.com Design & Marketing, City of Bloomington, Indiana Economic Development Corporation, Indiana University, Ivy Tech Community College-Bloomington, Monroe County Government and the US Small Business Administration.

Sponsor:

Kiva

This newsletter is produced by the inVenture and is intended to keep our clients and partners informed of current programs and small business issues. Out of respect for your time, we will only send one announcement a month. If you would prefer not to receive this newsletter, please to be removed from our mailing list.

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inVenture: Advancing Innovative Businesses