gistfile1.rb

# Let's say I have the following user.

user = User.create(:company_name => "The cheappo restaurant")

# And the following User finder that works with `starting_with`.

def self.find_all_by_indexed_company_name(term)
  Sunspot.search(self) do |q|
   q.text_fields { with(:company_name).starting_with(term) }
 end.results 
end

# Now let's try some queries

User.find_all_by_indexed_company_name("the")
=> user
User.find_all_by_indexed_company_name("the ch")
=> user

# Now if I search for "estaurant"
User.find_all_by_indexed_company_name("estaurant")
=> []

# This is why I say `starting_with` partially works for me, 
# I would like to have an indexed search using something like `LIKE`:

User.find(:all, :conditions => ["company_name LIKE ?", "%estaurant%"])
=> user