Indy Tech on the Move

Indy Chamber News Archives

IndyCars weren’t the only thing on the move this month in Indy. Our technology sector added some major wins garnering international attention and further solidifying our growing reputation as an emerging tech hub.

On May 20, Salesforce commemorated the grand opening of Salesforce Tower with a celebration downtown. Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb and Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett were on hand to welcome Salesforce with unmatched Hoosier Hospitality, and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff announced their commitment to Indy. As part of that commitment, Benioff says Salesforce will commit over 800 new jobs to fuel economic development in Indy, implement an apprenticeship program to train 500 workers for a career in tech, and expand access to education by volunteering in public schools.

On May 23, India-based technology giant Infosys announced that they will locate their first U.S. tech and innovation hub in Indy, investing more than $8.7 million and hiring up to 2,000 workers by 2022. Moving to a space in the OneAmerica Tower downtown, Infosys will contribute to the thriving tech ecosystem in downtown Indianapolis and create a culture that contributes to entrepreneurship and tech start-ups.

To wrap up an already stellar week, cloud-based software provider myCOI announced plans to expand its headquarters by creating up to 185 jobs, and Galvin Technologies is adding up to 37 new, high-wage jobs to bolster their Salesforce consulting activities.

These latest announcements only add to what we already know: tech innovation in Indy is thriving. In the annual ‘Tech Thirty’ report released Fall 2016 by commercial real estate firm CBRE, Indy ranked 5^th among major metros for tech employment gains over the last two years, outpacing even Silicon Valley. ­According to SmartAsset, Indy was ranked the fourth best city for women in tech in 2017, up one spot from 2016. In 2016, Forbes called Indy an emerging “tech hub on the move,” while the Brookings Institution reports that Indy is adding high-tech computer systems and data jobs at twice the rate of other big cities.

Also speaking to the culture in Indy, these announcements show that Indy is a place that attracts talent. The Indy Region offers a diverse mix of urban and suburban neighborhoods and lifestyles. Within a 30-minute drive of the Salesforce Tower, employees and their families can choose a walkable urban neighborhood (served by a growing array of public, magnet and charter school options), a suburban community, or find a little more breathing room with affordable property values. With a vibrant downtown at its center, the Indy Region offers plenty of attractions that engage and delight.

Additionally, these announcements recognize that the entrepreneurial spirit in Indy helps contribute to tech growth and innovation. With resources and community connections readily available, entrepreneurs find that the Indy region fosters small business development. The Indianapolis business community is filled with start-ups and small businesses: One of every three local firms is less than five years old, and 90% of metro Indy companies have less than 50 employees; corporate, civic andelected leaders are focused on supporting homegrown enterprise in their own communities, and working together to help them succeed across the region.

To learn more about opportunities for tech companies in the Indianapolis Region, please contact Maureen Krauss, Chief Economic Development Officer at the Indy Partnership, at 317-464-2234 or [email protected]. Our Team looks forward to showing you why this is the hottest region in the U.S. for tech growth.