Inside Indiana's Biggest Tech Night… and What's Changing for Startups | Chelsea Linder, TechPoint

On today's show I sat down with Chelsea Linder, VP of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at TechPoint, to preview the 27th annual Mira Awards (April 24 at the Palladium in Carmel), which spotlights Indiana's digital economy across innovation, talent, and community.

Chelsea discusses TechPoint's mission, talent programs like the externship, and how the Mira Awards evolved into a larger gala as the ecosystem grew, including the long-running Trailblazer Award and past standouts like Republic Airways and SEP.

She outlines new 2026 awards with CICP partners, including an Innovation with AI award and cross-industry innovation categories culminating in an overall Innovation of the Year.

She also highlights diverse finalists statewide, discusses founders' challenges amid rapid AI-driven shifts in building, fundraising, and go-to-market strategy, and shares TechPoint resources like the Indiana Founders Network and the AI Innovation Network. If you like this episode and want to hear more Get IN. episodes where I interview Hoosiers making a difference, visit getindiana.com/podcast.

You are going to learn about: - The Mira Awards - TechPoint's Mission and Externship Program - Mira Awards Finalists and Challenges They Face Because of AI

Thank you to our partners: Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance Fire and Ice Café

Check out these great clips from the show: 00:00 AI Funding Snapshot 01:40 Mira Awards Preview 03:31 Origins of Mira Awards 04:16 TechPoint Mission Pillars 04:53 Extern Program and AI Shift 06:45 Early Winners and Big Institutions 08:30 Trailblazer Award Legacy 11:10 Standout Past Winners 15:16 Mira Night Experience 17:06 New Awards and CICP Partners 21:00 2026 AI Award Nominees 26:09 Founder Questions in AI Era 30:33 Founder and AI Networks 35:32 Tickets and Event Details 35:58 Favorite Award Category 36:21 Startup Nominees Rundown 37:34 AI and Sports Tech Picks 40:51 Rising Entrepreneur Spotlight 43:32 Tech Company of Year 47:39 Innovation Beyond Indy 49:40 Why Community Matters 51:30 Deal of the Year and VC Trends 56:04 Data as the New Moat 59:27 Indiana Q&A and Hidden Gems 01:03:49 How to Join

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