National Search Underway for AgriNovus Indiana’s Next President and CEO
AgriNovus Indiana, an initiative to grow the agbioscience economy, has launched the search for its next President and CEO following Mitch Frazier’s departure from the organization after a five-year tenure. Indianapolis-based Medallion Partners, a national organization development and executive search firm, will lead the search with the help of a committee of industry leaders identified by the AgriNovus Executive Committee. Members include: Karen Plaut — executive vice president for research at Purdue University – chair of the AgriNovus Board of Directors and committee lead Trent Torrance – chief operating officer at United Animal Health – vice-chair of the AgriNovus Board of Directors David Pugh – chief financial officer at AgReliant Genetics Jeff Simmons – CEO of Elanco Wes Sprinkle – CEO of Indiana Farmers Insurance “Growing and advancing agbioscience innovation is critical to Indiana’s economy,” said Karen Plaut, executive [...]
IU unveils architectural design plan for IU LAB at 16 Tech
Originally posted by IBJ on June 12, 2025. Read original press release here. Indiana University said Thursday that its board of trustees has approved an architectural design plan for the IU Launch Accelerator for Biosciences, or IU LAB, building in the 16 Tech Innovation District in Indianapolis. The five-story, 150,000 square-foot building will be built next to the Herron School of Art and Design’s Eskenazi Fine Arts Center on Indiana Avenue. The facility will include research and teaching labs, classrooms, collaborative workspaces as well as startup and incubator space. In a news release, IU said IU LAB is place where “biosciences and technology converge, serving as a hub for discovery, innovation, entrepreneurship and industry partnerships.” Construction is scheduled to start this fall with an expected completion in summer 2027. IU LAB officially began operations in January. In December, IU announced [...]
AgriNovus Indiana to award $75,000 to entrepreneurs at Velocity Demo Day June 18 in Indianapolis
Three winners to receive $25,000 each for solutions to challenges in bioinnovation, farmer-focused innovation and food is health AgriNovus Indiana, an initiative to grow the agbioscience economy, will host its first Velocity Demo Day from 3 to 6 p.m. on June 18 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, awarding three winning teams $25,000 each. In partnership with the Indiana Corn Marketing Council, Indiana Soybean Alliance, Elevance Health, Beck’s Hybrids, Ag Alumni Seed and Gutwein Law, the event culminates a six-month startup accelerator designed to inspire creation of tech-enabled businesses that address research-defined challenges in bioinnovation, farmer-focused innovation and food is health. “Velocity is designed to accelerate development of solutions to some of the toughest challenges facing the food and agricultural economy in Indiana and around the globe,” said Mitch Frazier, president and CEO of AgriNovus. “Demo Day will spotlight entrepreneurs [...]
Mitch Frazier, AgriNovus President and CEO to Step Down
Organization Launches National Search for New President and CEO AgriNovus Indiana announced today it is launching a search for a new chief executive officer following the resignation of its current CEO Mitch Frazier who will depart from the organization June 6. Frazier, who has served as president and CEO of AgriNovus since June 2020, will become President of IBJ Media Corporation June 16. “It has been an honor to serve alongside the team at AgriNovus and work with partners across the state and around the world to build the next chapter of the agbioscience economy in Indiana,” said Frazier. “Together we have built a powerful engine to accelerate growth in this economy, and I know the passion that fuels this team will continue to deliver results well into the future.” During Frazier’s tenure at AgriNovus, the organization refined its [...]
Conexus Indiana names 2025 Rising 30 cohort of emerging industry leaders
Conexus Indiana today announced its fifth annual Rising 30 class, recognizing outstanding young professionals making significant early-career contributions to Indiana’s advanced manufacturing and logistics (AML) sectors. The Rising 30 program, presented by Purdue University, continues Conexus Indiana’s commitment to strengthening and promoting Indiana’s vital manufacturing and logistics ecosystem. These honorees represent exceptional talent under the age of 30 who are already reshaping Indiana’s largest industry sector and will lead it into the next era of innovation. Selected for their remarkable achievements and forward-thinking approaches, this year’s cohort embodies the bright future of Indiana’s manufacturing and logistics industries. “When I visit our manufacturing facilities across Indiana, I’m always struck by the ingenuity of our young talent,” said Jay Wirts, President and CEO of Conexus Indiana. “These Rising 30 honorees aren’t just building products—they’re building the future of Hoosier manufacturing and ensuring [...]
Celebrating Connection: 16 Tech Bridge Opens to the Public
Originally posted by 16 Tech on April 30, 2025. Read original press release here. Today, 16 Tech Community Corporation, alongside city leaders and community stakeholders, will celebrate the opening of the signature 16 Tech Bridge. Spanning 342 feet over Fall Creek, the bridge serves as a vital link between the 16 Tech Innovation District and Indianapolis’ research and medical corridor. To highlight the bridge’s multimodal and community-led design features, 16 Tech will welcome an Indy 500 Pace Car driven by Indy NXT driver Miles Rowe, the Riverside Riders local cycling group, and students and faculty from Indiana University Indianapolis and Purdue University in Indianapolis led by Sampson Levingston of Through2Eyes as the first to officially cross the bridge this afternoon. “The 16 Tech bridge was designed by the community, for the community — a physical and symbolic connection that [...]
TechPoint’s IN Tech Connect to accelerate innovation and business growth in Indiana
June "Do Business in Indiana" event to unite enterprise leaders with high-potential SMBs and tech talent As Indiana rapidly emerges as a hub for digital innovation, TechPoint is doubling down on its mission to catalyze collaboration across the state’s thriving tech ecosystem. On June 17, TechPoint will host IN Tech Connect, to ignite partnerships between Indiana’s largest tech-driven enterprises and the state’s expansive network of small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs). The event is a direct outcome of insights from TechPoint’s Indiana CIO Network. Recognizing the untapped potential within Indiana’s 9,000+ tech firms, these CIOs are championing more intentional collaboration with SMBs, companies that are agile, ambitious, and ready to scale. “TechPoint is proud to bring together leaders from Indiana’s tech community – including our largest companies – with small and mid-size companies to spark meaningful connections that drive real business outcomes,” said [...]
IU LAB announces accelerator partnerships with Gener8tor, Plug and Play
Originally Originally posted by IBJ on Thursday, April 24, 2025. Read original press release here. Indiana University’s Launch Accelerator for Biosciences, known as IU LAB, on Thursday announced partnerships with three organizations that will recruit and accelerate the growth of high-potential startups that can strengthen Indiana’s place as a leader in life sciences. Gener8tor, a Madison, Wisconsin-based startup accelerator, will run a pre-accelerator program for early-stage startups that have an idea but not yet a viable product. And San Jose, California-based venture capital firm Plug and Play and the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership will collaborate on an accelerator for startups that have a potentially viable product, have demonstrated initial market traction and are preparing for fundraising. In addition, IU LAB announced that its accelerator programs will now be called IU Health Incubator at IU LAB, thanks to a $4.5 million, [...]
