Tech Tying Two Innovative Fishers Spaces Together

As construction continues on The Yard at Fishers District, which will feature a culinary incubator, the founder of another nearby innovation space says technology will shape the future of the culinary scene. The incubator is one part of the $110 million mixed-use community, which will include hotel, retail, residential and dining properties. Indiana IoT Lab Founder Wechsler says the culinary incubator is on pace to open in about a year.

In an interview with Mary-Rachel Redman at an event focusing on culinary technology, Wechsler said plans call for the culinary incubator reach beyond cooking skills. "The neat thing is, we’re not going to teach them how to cook, right, because that’s something they’re really good at," he said. "What we want to try to do is wrap around information about how you build a business, how you hire and fire staff, how you sign a lease for your first restaurant. Those are the important business touches that we think the restaurateurs, the chefs and the culinary entrepreneurs really need to pick up to be successful."

The sensors and other technology developed in the Internet of Things world, Wechsler says, positions his space to potentially be on the forefront of innovations in the culinary world. "Increasingly, technology is changing the world," he added, "and no more than in the restaurant business. If you look at the way we order our meals, they’re delivered a lot of times now. The technology in the kitchen is changing at a very rapid pace."

Officials broke ground on The Yard at Fishers District in June and construction on one of the 17-acre development’s signature components — a dual-branded Hyatt Place and Hyatt House hotel — is expected to be complete toward the end of next year.