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ZIONSVILLE – The chief executive officer of Evansville-based SafeKeeping says the tech startup’s win last week at the inaugural zWORKS Pitch Night in Zionsville is another step in its growth trajectory. The company, which provides a communication and collaboration platform for long-term care facilities, took the top prize in the competition, which includes a year of office space at the zWORKS coworking space. Doug Wilcox says the startup launched its platform in July 2018 and is working to expand its footprint.

In an interview with Inside INdiana Business, Wilcox said the pitch competition provided more than he expected.

ZIONSVILLE – Zionsville-based 120WaterAudit LLC has closed on a $7 million Series A round of funding. The company says it plans to use the funding to enhance its digital water cloud platform and expand sales and marketing efforts. The funding round was led by Indianapolis-based HG Ventures, with participation from Allos Ventures in Indy and California-based Greenhouse Capital Partners.

120WaterAudit’s platform includes software and testing kits to help government agencies, public water systems and schools, among other clients, manage their drinking water programs. In a news release, Chief Executive Officer Megan Glover says the funding will allow the company to continue optimizing its current capabilities and expand into other industry and water management programs on a national scale.

INDIANAPOLIS – Two Indianapolis-based furniture retailers are teaming up. Kittle’s Furniture and e-commerce retailer Parker Gwen have announced a strategic partnership agreement they say will accelerate the “already rapid growth” of Parker Gwen.

Parker Gwen was founded in late 2017 and is on pace to more than double its sales volume from 2018, according to Kittle’s. As part of the agreement, Kittle’s says it will make a “significant investment” in the startup and the company’s principals will provide initial seed capital as Parker Gwen prepares for a seed round of funding.

EVANSVILLE – Two Indiana startups took home prizes last week at the Venture Club of Indiana’s regional pitch competition in Evansville. The winners were selected out of five companies and will move on to the statewide Innovation Showcase competition in August.

Evansville-based Heliponix won first place, which included $500 cash and $5,000 of in-kind services from InGen Technologies. The company produces the GROPOD, an in-home hydroponic appliance that can grow fresh produce.

SafeKeeping LLC in Zionsville won second place and $1,500 of in-kind services from Gutwein Law. The company offers an integrated care dashboard app for long-term care facilities. The app connects residents, families and caregivers.

This week Inside INdiana Business Host Gerry Dick speaks with Jason Whitney, Indiana University Philanthropic Venture Fund, Manager of Strategic Partnerships

Megan Glover, an Angie’s List and Compendium Software alum, started 120WaterAudit in 2016 with the idea of targeting residential consumers nationwide with a water-testing kit that cost $120 every four months.

With water problems in Flint, Michigan, top of mind, the market had some traction. But in 2017, Glover encountered strong interest in the service from a different clientele base—municipal water utilities.

BEST NEW HOME: It’s hard enough to build a house that delivers style, function, and energy-efficiency. To do so on a limited budget is laudable. This year’s Best New House—a collaboration between Dan Porzel of Cedar Street Builders, architect David Rausch, and homeowners Kelsey and Tyler Johnston—is a perfect example.

SAN FRANCISCO – Zionsville-based 120WaterAudit LLC is adding to its list of accolades. The cloud-based water testing and services platform took the top prize this week in a pitch competition as part of the ImagineH20 global accelerator, which featured a dozen other companies from five countries.

INDIANAPOLIS – Indianapolis-based Brackets For Good Inc. is changing up its annual fundraising program. The sports-themed fundraising organization has launched Champ’s Charity Challenge, in which users can fill out brackets for the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament in the name of their charity of choice.

Female entrepreneurship is growing across the nation, and Indiana is one of the more fertile places for women-owned businesses. A study commissioned by American Express revealed that four out of every 10 businesses are owned by women, reflected a 58 percent growth rate during the past decade.