Nominations are open now and tickets are on sale for the gala event at the Old National Centre on April 26
INDIANAPOLIS — TechPoint today announced a partnership with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) for the highly anticipated 25th anniversary Mira Awards gala honoring the “Best of Tech” in Indiana as the first-ever marquee presenter. Leading up to the Mira Awards gala, IEDC is co-sponsoring IDEA Week with TechPoint and the innovation festival’s creator, the University of Notre Dame.
The Mira Awards program recognizes excellence and innovation in 18 different award categories that highlight organizations and individuals who represent the best and brightest innovators across the state. Simply being a Mira Award nominee has garnered honorees the attention of investors and potential partners and employees who want to work with exciting enterprises.
IEDC’s support will also help Hoosier startup founders through TechPoint’s Innovation programs and help to increase the number of skilled tech workers available to Indiana employers through TechPoint’s Talent programs.
“Indiana is leaning in like never before to support and grow the state’s entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem,” said Indiana Secretary of Commerce David Rosenberg. “We’re excited to expand our partnership with TechPoint, which is on the front lines of cultivating Indiana’s tech community, as we work together to drive talent, innovation and opportunity forward.”
Since 1999, the Mira Awards have been pivotal in promoting and celebrating the state’s top technology innovators, disruptors, business leaders and game-changers. After multiple years of sell-out crowds at its previous venue, TechPoint announced a new location and format for the awards and expects to double the number of attendees to 2,400.
TechPoint President and CEO Ting Gootee said the IEDC’s support for the Mira Awards gala, as well as TechPoint’s innovation and talent programs, is well-invested because a prosperous technology community helps all of Indiana.
“The Mira Awards program is a proven catalyst for new discovery, new ventures, new capital investments and new relationships that shape future economic development wins for Indiana, and it’s gratifying that IEDC recognizes this value,” she said.
The Mira Awards nomination process is open through January 19, 2024. Anyone can nominate achievers and innovators to be considered for Mira Awards using this nomination form. Nominees will be notified and prompted to complete a more detailed entry form. Potential honorees are not required to wait for a nomination but may enter the awards directly, using this official entry form.
Sponsorship of the gala is limited to 100 of the most innovative and visible brands operating in the tech space throughout Indiana. Organizers hope to close sponsorship opportunities before announcing the 2024 list of Mira award nominees on February 13, 2024.
Nominations and entries from across all industries throughout the state are welcome, including technology, life sciences, advanced manufacturing and logistics, agbioscience and academia. The award categories reflect TechPoint’s dual focus on talent pathways into tech careers and the digital innovation that continues to drive disruptive change on a global scale. The following are the 2024 Mira Award categories:
Talent & Pipeline Awards
- Talent Impact Award (Company or Organization)
- Nextech K-12 Computer Science Teacher of The Year (Individual Educator)
- TechPoint Foundation for Youth Bridge Builder Award (Individual)
- Innovation Team of The Year (Team or Small Group)
- Student Entrepreneur of The Year (Individual)
- Rising Entrepreneur Award (Individual)
- Mission41k Exceptional Employer Award (Company or Organization)
- TechPoint Trailblazer Award (Individual)
- TechPoint Resilience Award (Individual)
Digital Innovation Awards
- Digital Transformation Award (Company)
- Tech Innovation of The Year (Company)
- Conexus Manufacturing Innovation Award (Company)
- AgriNovus HungerTech Challenge Winner (Company or Team)
- Deal of the Year (Company and Investor)
- Community Impact Award (Organization)
- Innovation Service Partner of The Year (Company)
- Startup of the Year (Company)
- Tech Company of the Year (Company)
The 2024 Mira Awards gala—known as the “Oscars of Tech in Indiana”—will be held on Friday, April 26, 2024, at Old National Centre in Indianapolis. Tickets to the ballgown and black-tie event are $150 each and may be purchased online. Additional opportunities to attend the gala are available via volunteering. A limited number of sponsorship opportunities are available. View the 2024 Mira Awards Prospectus for details on becoming a sponsor, to learn more about the categories and to nominate individuals and organizations.
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About TechPoint: TechPoint, is the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership’s industry-led growth initiative for Indiana’s digital innovation economy and overall tech ecosystem. The team is focused on working with public, private and industry partners to expand tech talent pipeline, enhance resource connectivity for enterprise organizations and startups alike, and elevate the industry by activating the community and amplifying stories of success. For more information, please visit www.techpoint.org.
About the Mira Award process: More than 50 independent and diverse subject matter experts evaluate and rank the award entries to determine the nominees, which will be announced on February 13, 2024. Next, nominees deliver presentations and answer questions in front of a panel of judges on March 6, 2024. Following the interviews, the judges deliberate and select the winners. The process culminates in the gala on April 26, 2024. Go to miraawards.com for more details.
