Why Indy will be the Next Great Tech Hub

Indy will be the next great tech hub.

If you don’t have that mindset, then the fight is already lost. One thing I’ve learned from working with Scott Jones and other great leaders early in my career is that success is a state of mind, not something that you turn off and on. Of course, Indy won’t be built into the next great tech hub overnight, but there are three key assets Indy (and Indiana, in general) has going for it which have convinced me to establish roots here.

The first is the access to talent. Institutions like Notre Dame, Purdue, Rose-Hulman, Butler, and numerous others are producing top-tier talent that is hungry to take on big, audacious challenges. There are phenomenal initiatives likeNextech, Eleven Fifty, and TechPoint’s Xtern program that are all focused on creating and attracting the next generation of tech talent. Eleven Fifty had over 600 students take classes in its first year from 20+ states and four countries, and trained more than 25 Apprentices who launched into intro software development roles. The Xtern program grew from 50 interns in its inaugural year to 108 from ten different states in 2015.

The second is the current state of momentum in Indy. In physics terms, momentum is calculated as mass multiplied by velocity. Not only is the “mass” of the Indy tech community increasing, but it’s also doing so at an accelerated rate. Indy tech companies have raised almost $200 million in capital in 2015. That is four times higher than any year since ExactTarget and Angie’s List were raising money before 2012, according to a recent IBJ article. I think that will continue, considering the many companies on great trajectories such as HC1.com,Bluebridge, and Tinderbox. This momentum is getting noticed by the world outside of Indy as well, with companies like Appirio, Emarsys, and Return Pathmaking major investments in offices here in Indy.

The third, and in my opinion most important factor, is support. I’ve talked with technology folks and entrepreneurs throughout most areas of the country and am a big believer in that “something” that the Midwest has that sets the people apart. The RFRA hiccup aside, I think the climate in Indiana is very favorable for technology companies. Groups like TechPoint, Verge, the Co-Working spaces are big components of what makes me so confident. I personally have received way more support than I could have ever imagined was possible during my very young career here in Indy. My hope is that I can continue to be a small part in the success of the great Indy tech community that has welcomed me so warmly.

I’m curious to hear your thoughts on this, so please comment with any feedback!

Follow me on Twitter @BirchStartups and check out our newest company, PropelUp, at www.propelup.io.

Originally published at www.linkedin.com.