Submissions Open through October 15
Mira Awards Gala | Nominations and Event Details
INDIANAPOLIS — TechPoint, today announced key components of its upcoming submission and judging process for the 26th Annual Mira Awards gala. Award submission will be available beginning on September 12, 2024, through October 15, 2024.
“Our team continues to look for ways to enhance the Mira Awards and build upon the event’s platform to honor success stories within our state’s tech industry and advanced industries across the board,” said TechPoint President and CEO Ting Gootee. “We looked at our event process from start to finish, and with the community’s input, we are excited to create more opportunities for innovators to compete.”
Companies, organizations and individuals are encouraged to submit for the awards quickly, as each category will accept a maximum of 25 submissions. The shortened nominee submission process will include a section on why nominees deserve the award alongside categories to highlight the years of service and operation, and requires less detailed information compared to past years.
TechPoint staff will review and forward submissions that meet the required criteria for live interviews with judges, who will review and vote for the winners. The Top 10 finalists for each category will be announced the week of December 2, 2024.
“Over the years, we have found that it is in the presentations where judges are most compelled to choose the winners,” Gootee said. “The new process lessens the emphasis on preparing information for judges to read or watch in advance of live presentations and gives the finalists more time to focus on developing their pitches to panels of their peers – something that will help them beyond the Mira Awards process.”
Winners will be announced during the Mira Awards Gala on Thursday, February 27, 2025, at the Palladium in Carmel.
Gootee said the judging criteria for the Mira award winners remains rigorous.
“Succeeding in the highly competitive and ever-changing tech sector demands innovators to tell their stories well,” Gootee said. “Through the judging process, the Mira Awards will showcase the incredible talent and innovative thinking happening across Indiana.”
Award Categories for the 2025 Mira Awards are:
Talent Awards
- Tech 25 Emerging Leader Award presented by Ascend Indiana (Individual) (This reflects merging the former Tech 25 Awards program into the Mira format. A top award will be made from among the group.)
- Talent Impact Award (Organization or Company)
- Nextech K-12 Computer Science Teacher of the Year (Individual K-12)
- Higher Education Innovative Award (University)
- TechPoint Foundation for Youth Bridge Builder Award (Individual)
- Rising Entrepreneur Award (Individual)
- Exceptional Employer Award (Company)
- TechPoint Resilience Award (Individual)
- BioCrossroads Life Sciences Innovation Team of the Year (Company)
- Trailblazer
Innovation Awards
- AgriNovus Indiana Agbiosciences Innovation Award (Company)
- Conexus Indiana Manufacturing Innovation Award (Company)
- Digital Transformation Award (Company)
- Tech Innovation of the Year (Company)
- Community Impact Award (Organization)
- Innovation Service Partner of the Year (Company)
- Startup of the Year (Company)
- Tech Company of the Year – 0-500 Employees
- Tech Company of the Year – 500+ Employees
- Deal of the Year (Company and Investor) *
*Deal of the Year and Trailblazer awards are not adjudicated, will not have a submission process and will be selected by a TechPoint Executive Committee.
Since 1999, the Mira Awards have been pivotal in promoting and celebrating the state’s top technology innovators, disruptors, business leaders and game-changers. They are a testament to the incredible technological achievements coming out of multiple industries, as well as the spirit of innovation that characterizes the digital innovation landscape in Indiana. Only 329 Mira Awards have been presented in the past 25 years, amongst thousands of nominations.
This year’s award ceremony, which was held in April, honored 18 categories of innovation and excellence, including the Tech Innovation of Year, Student Entrepreneur and Company of the Year. TechPoint also partnered with AgriNovus Indiana to announce its HungerTech Challenge winner and Conexus Indiana on its Manufacturing Innovation Award.
– 30 –
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. Visit miraawards.com for more detail on the awards process and gala.
Media contact: Cheryl Reed: cheryl@techpoint.org
