A Successful TechPoint Summit for 2011

Wednesday, January 11, 2012 by Bree Meadows
This year's TechPoint Summit was filled with inspiring stories, new ways to innovate and many developers reaching out with their product and to others products as well. One positive side that has arisen in response to the down turn of our economy is the strong urge for new development and innovation within the world of Technology. The drive and excitement needed to fuel this was filling the air during The TechPoint Summit and events leading up to it! When speaking to innovators, developers and...Read More »

Will internal email die

Friday, December 2, 2011 by Chris Stephen
Initially, I will state for the record the apologies of your friendly, neighborhood Indiana Technology Lawyer for not posting a blog in a while.  I know that you, my loyal readers, have been waiting with bated breath in the hope that I would again grace cyberspace with my knowledge and wit.  And, alas, I have failed to deliver.  In my defense, this little technology law firm has been experiencing exponential growth and prosperity, which has dictated more work for yours truly.   But, that is...Read More »

TRITON BREWING COMPANY UP & BREWING

Thursday, October 20, 2011 by Bree Meadows
t1
The Grand Opening of Triton Brewing Company took place over Labor Day Weekend, 2011. Triton  offers many favorite beers from the Midwest including a unique blend of their very own brewed beers.

Triton beers that are offered: Four Barrel Brown, Deadeye Stout, Rail Splitter IPA, Field House Wheat, and Magnificent Amber.

To brew their beer, Triton uses reverse osmosis filtration. They build their own water "recipes" to ensure perfect calibration in all of their beers.

Triton Brewing Company is a...
Read More »

Developing Your Capital Strategy – Part 3

Wednesday, October 19, 2011 by David Castor
As stated in Part 2 of this series, a business’ capital strategy is both directed by the market strategy and leadership team required to carry out the strategy as well as directing to the market strategy and team.  A solid capital strategy is based on understanding where you are and where you need to go.

The first step in developing a capital strategy is to know your revenue projections.  If you had the money and team you need, what can you sell and when?  In developing a market strategy the...Read More »

Developing Your Capital Strategy – Part 1

Thursday, October 13, 2011 by David Castor
Over the last three weeks I have visited the west coast twice and Toronto once to help clients work through funding rounds and strategic acquisitions.  I also visited with two angel investment groups which I work with.  The primary purpose of each trip was to help clients develop and realize their capital strategy for growth.  While most of these entrepreneur clients are in technology fields, others include a tax planning firm and a Bollywood project out of Toronto.

It does not matter what world...Read More »

Eric Davis Nationally Recognized in October's Issue of The ABA Journal

Friday, October 7, 2011 by Bree Meadows


Success StoryEric Davis

One of our very own, Eric Davis, is being nationally recognized for his success in the October issue of The ABA Journal. Eric has long  been a leader in entrepreneurial expertise and business law, and is a strong exterior source contributing to our firm, Alerding Castor Hewitt, LLP. The article discusses about how Eric jump-started his career and the many roads on which it has taken him.  In the article, Eric considers himself a "hybrid" because he does not necessarily fit in just one firm....

Read More »

Learning To Pitch BEFORE You Start Raising Capital

Wednesday, September 14, 2011 by David Castor
The following is a guest post by a fellow Gravity Ventures member and friend, Dr. Tony Ratliff:

Learning to Pitch Before You Start Raising Capital
By Dr. Tony Ratliff

It only took about six months of deal flow and a handful of “pitches” before I realized that most entrepreneurs are really, really bad at “selling themselves” and “pitching” their ideas and companies to investors.

I cringe every time I listen to a great start-up idea or read a well-written business plan, and then watch in horror as...Read More »

Indianapolis: The Midwest Silicon Valley (or is it Silicorn Valley)

Wednesday, August 10, 2011 by Chris Stephen
I don't often re-post articles in full glory, but I couldn't resist with this one.  This is a great article from the OMMA (a magazine of online media, marketing & advertising).  There are some great quotes from quite a few movers and shakers in the Indiana technology area.  As a technology legal counsel located in Indianapolis, it warms my heart to see this kind of great press for the area.  Personally, I think all technology firms should move or open offices here.   

Big hat-tip to Jay Baer for...Read More »

Team ACH on the links for charity

Thursday, June 23, 2011 by Meg Shireman
Once again, Alerding Castor Hewitt sent at team to participate in the O'Reilly's Irish Bar & Restaurant golf scramble, benefitting The Alliance for Responsible Pet Ownership.  

On Monday, June 20th, Team ACH assembled a crack team of two litigators, the client relations manager, and our Butler intern - who just happens to also be on the Butler Women's Golf Team - for an fantastic day out of the business law office and onto the links.

Team ACH





















Maribeth, Meg, Scott, and Chris

Meg and Maribeth
Ready to get our Rory McIlroy...Read More »

Determining Your Pre-Revenue / Pre-Money Valuation

Thursday, May 26, 2011 by David Castor
Determining a valuation for a pre-revenue company is a difficult process.  A Harvard VC formula does not make sense at this stage as available P/E ratios essentially compare apples to oranges, cash flow projections are too untrustworthy to use a DCF method, and there is no such thing as a true market comp.  Investors must rely on qualitative factors in connection to valuation formulas to determine how much they think the thing is worth.  Some qualitative factors include:

•    Is the...
Read More »

Lawyered

Wednesday, May 25, 2011 by Meg Shireman
"A champion is someone who is ready when the gong rings - not just before, not just after - but when it rings."
-Jack Dempsey

GONG

Tooting your own horn, ringing your own bell...We've decided to bang our own gong.  

Welcome the newest fixture to the Alerding Castor Hewitt office, the official New Client/Wrapped Mediation Gong.

The litigation and transaction teams didn't have a celebration worthy of new business, so partner Michael Alerding came to me with the idea to buy a ship's bell to ring for each...Read More »

Seventh Circuit decides SaaS litigation case

Tuesday, May 24, 2011 by Chris Stephen

There is a new Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals opinion that is likely to have a significant impact on SaaS providers.  In Digitech Computers, Inc. v. Trans-Care, Inc. (link here), the 7th Circuit focuses on a SaaS agreement for Digitech to provide certain management software licensing components for Trans-Care (an ambulance and medical transportation service).  The Court ultimately upheld a breach of contract claim in favor of Digitech, significantly reduced Digitech’s damages award, and...

Read More »

How To Pitch Complex Technologies To Angels

Tuesday, May 24, 2011 by David Castor
Angel investment groups tend to quickly dismiss investor presentations that cover complicated products and markets.  They tend to lean towards investment opportunities which they easily understand the market – often even if it as a worse valuation or lower expected return than other more complex products or markets. 

This is a problem for those more complex technology companies.  If this is your company, don’t fret.  They key of any angel investor group presentation is NOT to get them to commit...Read More »

Slingshot SEO raises the bar again and again

Tuesday, May 10, 2011 by Meg Shireman
Slingshot SEOOn Friday, May 6th, Slingshot SEO announced in a meeting with Governor Mitch Daniels and Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard that the company will create up to 114 new jobs by 2013.  As one of Alerding Castor Hewitt's most beloved clients, we could not be more thrilled to see how far the search engine optimization firm has come since its 2006 founding.

In just three short years, Slingshot has seen a dramatic increase in employees from 9 to its current 65, and the companIEDC Press Conferencey plans to invest upwards of...Read More »

Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 2011 - Attorneys for Tatas

Wednesday, April 20, 2011 by Meg Shireman
The Alerding Castor Hewitt faithful braved the chill and the rain of Saturday, April 16th to participate in the 2011 Susan  G. Komen Race for the Cure.   We're proud to announce that the team surpassed its goal of raising $1000 to assist the Komen Foundation's mission to end breast cancer forever and had a fantastic time walking in downtown Indianapolis.

We'd like to send a big 'Thanks!' to those who donated to the team's efforts and share a special 'Way to go!' with the team members, along with...Read More »

Funding Law - Don’t Post Your Private Offering On The Internet – PLEASE!

Tuesday, April 19, 2011 by David Castor
All securities offerings fall into one of three classes:

1.    Registered,
2.    Exempt, or
3.    Illegal.


Private offerings of securities are just that – “private”.  The key for any private offering is that the offerer may only solicit investors through private methods.  There are all sorts of rules around what constitutes private solicitations and to whom the solicitations can be made, but in general "private" means that which is not public.  If a business attempting a private offering makes a...Read More »

You knew it would happen. Government wants its share of the Net

Tuesday, April 12, 2011 by Chris Stephen
Dollar SignVery interesting article from CNet regarding the proposal to be made by Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill).  The article can be found here.   Basic point of the article is that Senator Durbin wants to add sales taxes to on-line sellers like Amazon and iTunes (although I would note that I think iTunes already has a tax component) for all purchases.  The idea being that brick and mortar stores in a given state shouldn't have to foot the bill for these new-fangled on-line superstores.  They should have to...Read More »

Facebook v. Winklevoss et. al. : The end has arrived

Monday, April 11, 2011 by Chris Stephen
The end is finally nigh for the ongoing litigation roller coaster that is the Facebook/Mark Zuckerberg v. Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss saga.  This has always been an interesting piece of software litigation based upon (a) the personalities involved and (b) the scale.  It is safe to say that when you are one of the fastest growing companies in the country, you are going to face litigation.  In fact, that's why you call me.  And it is equally logical that when you are creating a website or working...Read More »

Gauge Telematics Launch Party - Event Photos

Tuesday, March 15, 2011 by Meg Shireman
As promised, here are a few photos from Alerding Castor Hewitt LLP and KSM's 3/3/11 launch party for Indiana technology company Gauge Telematics.  

It was a fantastic evening for all involved, and we're very excited to share some moments of it with you.

Photo credit - Kayla Marie Photography.  Enjoy!

Gauge Telematics Launch Party
Mike's speech

Gauge Telematics Launch Party
Dave's words of welcome

Gauge Telematics Launch Party
Adrian demoing MileMarker

Gauge Telematics Launch Party
Dan demoing Fleet Telematics

Gauge Telematics Launch Party
Mike making the rounds

Gauge Telematics Launch Party
The event space

Profile in client success: Gauge Telematics

Monday, March 7, 2011 by Meg Shireman
It isn't often that business law firms have the opportunity to really celebrate the success of clients.  Typically, the day to day is more about filing regulations with the SEC, setting up corporations and the like with the IRS, and drafting contracts, agreements and subscriptions.

Always out to break the law firm mold, Alerding Castor Hewitt, along with KSM Consulting, had the privilege of hosting a launch party for our client, Gauge Telematics, last week to both honor their success to date and...Read More »