Bloomington startup lands IU Angel Network investment

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) — A Bloomington-based athletics health and wellness startup is getting a funding infusion from the IU Angel Network. SummaForte founder Jeff Thinnes says the company will use the $35,000 investment to prepare for its first product launch in the athletics market.

An Indianapolis native degrees from the University of Notre Dame, Indiana University, and Harvard University, Thinnes, who the founder and chief executive officer of consulting firm JTI Inc., says his family helped make the decision to start SummaForte. 

“One of my sons, a Kelley School of Business graduate, is helping lead our go-to-market strategy. In fact, all four original founders are IU grads,” Thinnes said. “A little more than a year ago, we decided to plant our flag in the creation of a high-quality, science-backed brand whose products promote both health and performance.”

IU says SummaForte raised more than its goal for its first friends-and-family round of funding after a virtual presentation for the IU Angel Network.

“It’s not just the roots of the company that are in Indiana, but current Hoosier investors who are now offering valuable advice and networks,” Thinnes said. “Yet another example of the Indiana bond is Aaron Burks, a 2011 IU graduate and former member of the Hoosier football team. Based in California with United Talent Agency, Aaron is providing valuable support for our influencer strategy.”

Specific details on SummaForte’s future product offerings were not released, as the company is currently in “stealth mode.” However, the company plans to have a product ready to sell on a digital platform later this year.

“Everything from the science to the production is being vetted through careful due diligence, because we are committed to being at the top of the quality pyramid,” Thinnes said.