Hoosier Expatriates: VC Chief James Eifert Wants You Back in Indiana

(Here’s an example of efforts in Indiana to bring home their best and brightest. Russ)

The mission of The Hoosier Coefficient, which appears on http://www.MidwestBusiness.com every Thursday, is to profile the often-overlooked rich technology development and commercialization in Indiana. The Hoosier state is home to four of the top technology research and engineering universities in the nation and tech pros ignore Indiana at their own peril.

In a few days, the leadership baton will pass at the Indiana Venture Center when technology titan James Eifert steps in on Aug. 1. Eifert succeeds Steven Beck – a noted serial entrepreneur and longtime banker – who is departing to start seed capital firm IVC Equity Partners (more on that later).

How will Indiana’s premier entrepreneur link fare under its new leadership? Eifert’s gold-plated resume includes establishing and leading Rose Hulman Ventures and a term as dean of faculty at the Rose Hulman Institute of Technology, which was recently named for the seventh straight time as America’s No. 1 private engineering college.

In an interview with MidwestBusiness.com, Eifert praised founder Beck for his vision at the Indiana Venture Center, which has been involved with more than 500 companies since its creation three years ago. According to Eifert, it will be “business as usual at the Indiana Venture Center” with one exception: “I’d like to see Indiana start recruiting start-up companies from outside Indiana and literally from other continents.”

Full Story: http://www.midwestbusiness.com/news/viewnews.asp?newsletterID=15111