[mileszs]

I'm in Indy, also. I haven't lived here long. I think that part of the problem is that there are more startup-oriented people than one would think, but everyone thinks there are no startup oriented people. (A couple weeks ago I found out my neighbor in the apartment above me had applied to YC, and is a HackerNews reader. Tim?)

Perhaps we should have an Indy HN meetup sometime. In what part of Indy are you (you being anyone in Indy reading this) located?

If you like Ruby, there is a monthly Ruby group meeting at the downtown library (which is pretty awesome, in my opinion). Search meetup.com for Ruby and Indianapolis.

Complaining is useless. Maybe we can improve the city's startup scene ourselves, huh? Who else is going to do it?

Edit: To clarify: the library is awesome. I've only been to last month's Ruby meeting, so far. I get the feeling many of these sorts of groups are in their infancy. The Ruby group is sponsored by DealerFlow (http://dealerflow.com/), which is a startup of sorts. The Indianapolis Star (newspaper) employs some Ruby hackers (Indy.com is currently Rails, for now). I work at a data center (ChaCha is a customer) writing our custom intranet apps using Ruby/Rails. There are bright spots in Indy, you just have to dig.

[netshade]

Agreed. I also go to the Indy Ruby Meetup (one of the Star guys), and the city scene is not terrible. (at least, in terms of the talent you'll meet)

In terms of available jobs, it is a bit frustrating. I know the Dealer Flow guys are currently looking for new talent - they're doing some cool stuff w/ Erlang (ejabberd, primarily I believe) and Ruby/Rails. There's a place in town called Sagebit (sagebit.com), which is smaller and does a mix of their own products + consultancy work. I don't know if they're looking, but they're good people to meet regardless. (Ruby/Rails/Merb, btw.) I know there's also some startup stuff going on down in Bloomington, which is (of course, entirely by my own opinion) a bit more likely of a town to make good computer sci. contacts in the greater world, what with your proximity to IUB. I only say that to guess, however.

Additionally, there's a Python meetup group in town, a bit smaller than the Ruby group. They've been regularly meeting at Broadripple Brewpub, and are primarily pushed by Six Feet Up, a company that's pretty active in the Zope/Plone/Python world. SFU is mostly consultant based, not really a startup, but they're good people to meet if you're more into that sorta thing.

AFA an HN meetup in Indy, I'd give a +1 to that.

[indylarry]

+1 for HN meetup. I have lived in Indy almost all my life and love it. However, if you are looking for a hot bed of web startups you are going to be disappointed. It is extremely hard to keep talented people here with the magnetic pull of SF and Boston.

The entrepreneurial community has been growing in the last few years and I believe the local angel investors and VC's are open to ideas revolving around the internet and technology. I have been to a few events put on by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and both had contests for the best startup pitch/idea. Both were run by small startups (a website and a database technology company).

Indy isn't for everyone. I say go where you have to to get what you want.

[Brushfire]

I Would be down to do a HN meetup as well. I had no idea about the ruby meeting... which is awesome.

I know at least 2-3 people which might come to either/both depending on timing/schedules.

Anyone have a good idea for organizing this? Not to re-invent the 'meetup.com' wheel, but perhaps we could create a mini "HN Fans Meetup" web app, that would benefit not only people in Indy but also any other state that isnt CA or MA..

Edit: I live near Broad Ripple, so pretty much anywhere that isnt Greenwood or Westfield is game. Even then, I'll probably come. :)

Brian

[mlLK]

Wow. Awesome thread. This is really encouraging to read given that I also thought I was all alone out here in Indiana. I gotta about one year left to get my degree at IUPUI, which honestly just feels like a waste of time and money, but would loved to involved in something local like this. Maybe we can start a news-letter or something for starters? I dunno, you tell me, just lemme in. BTW, I'm in Fishers. =/

[brent]

I'm also near Broad Ripple. Was a YC interviewee and now a graduate student in Bloomington.

[profgubler]

Mileszs, I am all about having a HN meetup in Indy. That would be great. It could really help people brainstorm and make the right connections. I think as the economy drags, you will see more of the programmers at places like Interactive Intelligence and others wanting to create a startup.

[mileszs]

I'd love an email from anyone interested in attempting to organize some sort of meet-up. See my profile. (I'm down to help organize something, but I'm quite green. Does such a meet-up need an agenda?)

[jreilly]

Let me know if a Indy HN meetup ever forms. I will definitely be up for it. Right now I live right downtown and work up in Carmel.

[FraaJad]

I think there are sufficient people on this thread who are in/around Indy to have a HN meet. Count me in if this is happening.

BTW, I live in Carmel and telecommute to San-Fran.