Chicago Tech Company Picks Indy
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA Chicago-based social media monitoring company is planning to make Indianapolis its largest corporate office, investing $2.9 million and adding about 340 workers over the next five years. Geofeedia Inc. currently employs around 50 at its downtown Indianapolis office. The company's client list includes McDonald's Corp. (NYSE: MCD), Dell and CNN. Its predictive technology has also been used at major sporting events like the recent NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four in Indianapolis and the 2012 London Olympics.
During an interview last month on Inside INdiana Business Television, Vice President of Product Management R.J. Talyor called Indianapolis a “hotbed” for tech startups.
Source: Inside INdiana Business
April 14, 2015
News Release
INDIANAPOLIS. Ind. – Geofeedia, Inc., a location-based social media monitoring platform, announced plans today to expand its operations here, creating up to 336 new jobs by 2020.
The Chicago-based company will invest $2.9 million to lease and equip a 9,200 square-foot office at 55 Monument Circle, located in the Circle Tower building in downtown Indianapolis. Geofeedia plans to develop this location into its largest corporate office, which will focus on developing predictive software technology used by consumer brands, media organizations and public safety agencies.
“The entrepreneurial spirt is alive and well in Indiana,” said Governor Mike Pence. “That entrepreneurial spirt today is boosting a tech sector in our state that keeps adding jobs. And with Indiana adding 1,700 private sector jobs in February alone, it’s companies like Geofeedia that keep Indiana outpacing the nation in growth.”
Geofeedia currently employs 44 full-time associates between its Indianapolis, Chicago and Naples, Florida offices, including 20 in Indiana. The company has begun hiring for business development, marketing, sales and software development positions in the state. Interested applicants may learn more about open positions at www.geofeedia.com/company/careers.
“With the many top-notch colleges nearby and the recent successful IPOs and acquisitions within the city’s tech sector, a strong technology talent pool has emerged in Indianapolis. We expect to build an exceptional team here to help grow the business as we develop our solution and enter new markets,” said Phil Harris, co-founder and chief executive officer of Geofeedia.
Founded in 2011, Geofeedia gathers data across multiple social media sources in real time. Using predictive algorithms, the company’s platform has been used at major events such as the recent NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four and the 2012 London Olympics, as well as by public safety agencies in Los Angeles, Cleveland and Detroit.
Pending approval by its board of directors, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation will offer Geofeedia, Inc. up to $4,400,000 in conditional tax credits based on the company's job creation plans. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. The city of Indianapolis will consider additional incentives at the request of Develop Indy, a business unit of the Indy Chamber.
“Indy’s tech sector continues to thrive, and I am pleased to welcome Geofeedia to the list of companies that are expanding here,” said Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard. “This social media monitoring platform is a terrific example of an innovative concept that is benefitting from our qualified workforce and our focus on attracting even more top talent into the city.”
Technology firms like Geofeedia continue to pick Indiana for their long-term growth. Earlier this year digital healthcare-related tech companies Healthx and Stratice Healthcare both announced plans to expand operations in central Indiana, together creating more than 80 new Hoosier jobs in the coming years.
About Geofeedia, Inc.
Geofeedia is the market leader in location-based social media monitoring. The company’s patented technology platform allows public safety agencies, corporate security groups, marketers and media companies to filter and analyze social media content in real-time across multiple sources from any location in the world. Geofeedia is headquartered in Chicago and was founded in 2011 by Phil Harris, Mike Mulroy and Scott Mitchell. To learn more about Geofeedia visit www.geofeedia.com.
About IEDC
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) leads the state of Indiana’s economic development efforts, focusing on helping companies grow in and locate to the state. Governed by a 12-member board chaired by Governor Mike Pence, the IEDC manages many initiatives, including performance-based tax credits, workforce training grants, public infrastructure assistance, and talent attraction and retention efforts. For more information about the IEDC, visit www.iedc.in.gov.
Source: The Indiana Economic Development Corp.