StepStone Business Partners Unveils New Name, New Strategy for Indiana Innovation Ecosystem

Mar 03

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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