The Herald-Times
Posted: Thursday, September 24, 2015 6:51 am
Editorial staff
The annual Cook Institute for Entrepreneurship shines a light annually on the possibilities for those who follow their own idea down a path to success. Accomplished speakers share their experiences and leave those who hear them realizing that risk can often result in great reward.
Tuesday’s speaker was Scott Dorsey, who started the company ExactTarget in Indianapolis with two other guys and the help of investments from his family and friends. Original financing in 2000 was about $200,000.
In 2013, the company salesforce.com bought the firm for about $2.7 billion. The company has been integrated into a new division that’s been renamed Salesforce Marketing Cloud.
Dorsey told the crowd that keys to starting a company are perseverance and having strong enthusiasm for the business idea. Those were instrumental for the Cooks, Bill and Gayle, for whom the Cook Institute is named. They launched their medical device company from a small apartment on the east side of Bloomington into an international group of companies headquartered on the city’s west side.
This event always highlights what can happen to someone with an idea and the drive to see it through.
Who’s next?
Linked In | courtesy photo
Scott Dorsey
About Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech Community College is Indiana’s largest public post-secondary institution and the nation’s largest singly accredited statewide community college system. Ivy Tech serves more than 200,000 students annually and offers associate degrees, certificates, and workforce training in more than 70 programs across Indiana. The College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is committed to providing affordable, high-quality education aligned with the needs of Indiana’s workforce.
