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INDIANAPOLIS, March 5, 2014 – – Last year was a busy one for VisionTech Partners, LLC. The Indianapolis-based investment firm has announced it completed five investments in early stage/early growth companies in 2013 through VisionTech Angels. This represents one of the most active years for VisionTech Partners, which was founded in 2008 as StepStone Business Partners.

Two companies received initial rounds of capital from VisionTech. They are Diagnotes, Inc., an Indianapolis-based healthcare information technology solutions company with a product that streamlines and automates workflows involving on-call healthcare providers; and Noxilizer, Inc., which produces NO₂-based sterilization technology for medical device/pharmaceutical and biotechnology manufacturers and hospitals.

Three companies received “follow on” investments from VisionTech, having been previously funded by the group. These include Courseload, an Indianapolis-based whose novel approach eliminates the barriers to print-to-digital textbooks for academia, while reducing the cost to students and institutions; Sentio MMG, a Michigan-based company that has developed proprietary nerve mapping technology that helps surgeons avoid injury nerves during minimally invasive surgical procedures; and SonarMed, Inc., an Indianapolis-based which provides advanced solutions for precise, real-time endotracheal tube monitoring aimed at improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs and risks.

VisionTech Partners Managing Director Oscar Moralez says the company expects to match 2013’s pace of investment in 2014. “Our deal flow from technology-based startup companies is very strong, which is good news for Indiana as it reflects the pro-business atmosphere of the state. It’s also favorable for VisionTech Angels as we are actively seeking promising technologies and companies in which to invest.”

Don Scifres, managing partner with VisionTech Partners, agrees a strong record of investing will bring more and better opportunities for both entrepreneurs and investors. “We consider ourselves the source of ‘smart capital and better results.’ It’s the product of having knowledgeable, engaged investors and advisors who recognize and support promising companies, and entrepreneurs who want to align themselves with strong investor partners.”

VisionTech Partners currently has five VisionTech Angels angel investor chapters: Bloomington, Lafayette, Indianapolis, Warsaw, and a “virtual” angel investor chapter, which enables people outside these geographic regions to participate in VisionTech Angels’ investment opportunities.

About VisionTech Partners

Founded in 2008, Vision Tech Partners is a privately held company focused on linking investors to high-potential early-stage companies. Headquartered in Indianapolis, one of the most vibrant innovation regions in the country, VisionTech Partners is where inventors, entrepreneurs, investors, universities, and strategic partners converge to share, develop, fund, and launch innovative technologies. Learn more at www.VisionTech-Partners.com.

Contact: Melanie Lux, Lux + Associates, Inc., 803.331.4794 or Email.

INDIANAPOLIS, March 3, 2014 – – StepStone Business Partners, a mainstay in Indianapolis’ business community, is taking a bold step, launching a new name and a new strategy for enhancing Indiana’s innovation ecosystem.

VisionTech Partners, LLC, a name chosen to reflect the group’s entrepreneur-centric focus, is the new name and managing partners Oscar Moralez and Don Scifres are eager to share their vision.

“Indiana is among the best states in the country to do business. As the economy has begun to strengthen, the stars are aligning for greater success here. We’ve got top research universities, great business and government leadership, and a very positive, supportive environment for entrepreneurs and startup companies,” said Oscar Moralez.

“The timing is right to expand our presence in the innovation food chain by positioning VisionTech Partners as the place inventors, entrepreneurs, investors, and strategic partners converge to advance new technology and grow the economy,” he added.

Since its founding in 2008, StepStone Partners has focused primarily on angel investing. Now, as VisionTech Partners, the company is expanding its network of angel investor chapters in Bloomington, Lafayette, Indianapolis, and Warsaw, adding a “virtual” angel investor chapter, while also planning to establish a sidecar fund.

Don Scifres explains. “The number of people who want to invest in new technology and startup companies is growing, in part because of the social phenomena of crowd funding. Investing is not without risk, particularly with early stage companies. We see an opportunity to offer more people the chance to invest, but to invest in companies that have gone through a rigorous due diligence process. VisionTech Partner’s virtual angel chapter will allow investors from across the country to participate in Hoosier startups and technology.”

The sidecar fund will provide another funding source for startups that are gaining traction and need additional capital to take them to the next level,” he added.

As part of its new strategy, VisionTech Partners plans to assume a higher profile in the state’s innovation ecosystem, reaching out to universities and others in the public and private sectors with a stake in entrepreneurship and business formation to educate, support, and build momentum for business and job creators.

“It is an exciting time,” said Moralez. “At one end of the spectrum, the state is working aggressively to make Indiana the best in the nation in which to do business. At the other end, universities and others are expanding resources for inventors and entrepreneurs. VisionTech Partners plan to be in the middle of everything with smart capital and better results.”

About VisionTech Partners
Founded in 2008, Vision Tech Partners is a privately held company focused on linking investors to high-potential early-stage companies. Headquartered in Indianapolis, one of the most vibrant innovation regions in the country, VisionTech Partners is where inventors, entrepreneurs, investors, universities, and strategic partners converge to share, develop, fund, and launch innovative technologies. Learn more at www.VisionTech-Partners.com.

Contact: Melanie Lux, Lux + Associates, Inc., 803.331.4794 or Email.

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Welcome to the first blog for VisionTech Partners and VisionTech Angels. We are completing our transition from StepStone to VisionTech and are very excited about the future this milestone represents.

This is more than a name change. It also represents a significant expansion of our vision—hence the name change—to grow and expand our services to the entrepreneurial community in Indiana and the Midwest. For five years we have been involved in our state’s innovation ecosystem, and played an important role in developing a more robust entrepreneurial environment that is bringing long-term benefits to Indiana. Much of our efforts have focused on angel investing, and it’s been exciting to support, encourage and fund promising young companies and their technologies. Equally rewarding is our relationship with investors from across the state who are eager to participate in and fund young companies. Quite frankly, it’s been a blast and we look forward to continued involvement with angel investors—son, from across the country!—entrepreneurs and all of the other folks who support this effort.

Over the coming weeks and months, we will share interesting stories and perspectives with you regarding the entrepreneurial community in which we operate as well as provide you with important updates and milestones as they relate to our progress. We encourage you to reach out to us and get to know us as your partner in this community. We will also make best efforts to become more involved in areas where we touch the vital innovation ecosystem and welcome discussions about how we can partner and participate.

We are all extremely busy with our professional and personal lives, but we must place a high priority on our entrepreneurial business development efforts as a community in order to ensure that Indiana remains competitive and continue building a world class business environment.