Indiana tech innovators and talent development leaders hail from Bloomington, Carmel, Evansville, Gary, Indianapolis, Muncie, South Bend and West Lafayette  

TechPoint, the industry-led growth initiative for Indiana’s digital innovation economy, today honored 20 Indiana tech sector innovators and tech talent development leaders at the 2025 Mira Awards gala, commonly known as “The Oscars of Indiana Tech.”

More than 1,500 members of the Indiana tech sector gathered at The Palladium at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel for the annual gala, now in its 26th year. The Mira Awards are designed to elevate the most innovative companies in Indiana’s tech ecosystem. Winners were selected by a rigorous judging process who reviewed 221 submissions.

“Indiana’s tech ecosystem is growing deeper and more innovative every year,” said TechPoint President and CEO Ting Gootee. “It’s always a difficult decision, choosing among the state’s wide array of promising leaders and innovators, and this year was no exception. It’s inspiriting to be in the room with this group.”

Mira award winners announced are below.

 

AgriNovus Indiana Agbioscience Innovation Award: ReproHealth Technologies (Indianapolis)

This new award recognizes outstanding startups and innovators within larger agbioscience corporations that are solving some of the world’s biggest challenges while also contributing to economic growth.

ReproHealth Technologies enables farmers to be more sustainable and efficient. Its founding team has more than 25 years of experience across human and veterinary reproductive medicine, embryology and biomedical engineering and has multiple innovations in reproductive care and technology.  Founder and CEO Dr. Jim Donahue, who began his career as a human fertility doctor, used his unique perspective to provide an innovative solution to a gap in the agbioscience market that has brought new opportunities to the industry. Market response validates the opportunity and need for the company’s technology.

 

Exceptional Employer of the Year: SEP (Carmel)

Established in 1988, the 100 percent employee-owned SEP credits its success to a focus on the diversity, daily collaboration and talent of its teams, and company leaders’ commitment to evolve. The full-time, in-person workplace, routinely attracts and retains local talent with opportunity to work remotely for companies across the world and has a 95.6 employee retention rate. Team members are empowered to tell clients kind truths, even if it means sacrificing business. Twenty-five percent and 37.5 percent of SEP’s C-Suite and directors, respectively, is made up of women. The SEP Foundation has awarded five STEM scholarships within the community, opening doors to high school graduates from underrepresented groups across the state and works closely with organizations dedicated to developing Indiana tech talent from underserved groups.

Digital Transformation of the Year: NextGear Capital (Carmel)

NextGear Capital (NGC) is the largest independent inventory finance company in North America, providing flexible lines of credit for dealers to purchase inventory from more than 1,000 live and online auctions throughout the United States. The company’s 14,000+ active dealers conduct about 140,000 audits per year via third party staff of more than 350 auditors. This one size fits all approach has been a consistent pain point for dealers as collateral audits are time-consuming and often disrupt operations. Launched in 2024, NextGear’s “Digital Audit Transformation” eliminates the need for third party auditors with its suite of in-house solutions that enriches risk management and offers a best-in-class client experience. Additionally, an industry-first Dealer Self-Audit experience efficiently manages risk with minimal effort needed from clients and the internal team.

Talent Impact: STARTedUP Foundation (Indianapolis)

Since 2017, STARTedUP has worked with more than 10,000 students in 59 Indiana counties and has created the largest high school pitch competition in the country. It encourages creativity and critical thinking and provides students with hands-on experiences that build essential skills for the future workforce. In addition, the foundation has trained and supported more than 210 educators. Through partnerships and alliances with private sector companies, STARTedUP is working to expand STEM education in rural and underserved areas, ensuring students have access to quality resources and mentorship, bridging the gap between education and real-world applications. It has collected $15 million for scholarships from 12 university partners and trade schools. More than $650,000 has been awarded to high school students to further their entrepreneurial endeavors. Ninety percent of STARTedUP students choose to remain in Indiana after graduation.

Higher Education Innovation Award: MathTrack Institute (Indianapolis)

The only institution to develop an apprenticeship-based bachelor’s degree pathway in Mathematics, MathTrack Institute addresses a critical shortage of qualified mathematics teachers by reimagining how educators are trained, licensed, and professionally developed.  MathTrack successfully lobbied state legislators to include teachers on the NEXTLevel Jobs list, enabling access to work-based learning funds through workforce boards. With partnerships and approvals in multiple states, and licensure reciprocity in 40+ states, MathTrack has developed a far-reaching network that allows it to support teacher licensure and development on a national scale, has advanced the teacher preparation field and fostered a new model of higher education responsive to workforce needs, teacher development, and student outcomes.

Community Impact Award: IronWorkz (Gary)  

Founded in December 2022, by Faith N. Spencer, Alex Termini, and Emmani Ellis, IronWorkz was created to address long-term equity issues in the Gary area by providing a grassroots-focused, entrepreneurial hub for individuals to create and innovate. Through various programs and initiatives, IronWorkz connects residents with local organizations and resources that can help them develop their ideas and start their own businesses, which stimulates economic growth and promotes self-sufficiency and personal development. The name of the company is an homage to the city’s steel industry, which attracted families from southern states who were looking for opportunities to improve their lives.

Startup of the Year: rScan (South Bend)

rScan was established to address inefficiencies and sustainability challenges associated with product returns in the retail industry. The company’s platform empowers users to efficiently establish resale operations. Seamlessly integrating with major retail and e-commerce platforms like Amazon, eBay, and Walmart, rScan’s technology optimizes inventory management, pricing and logistics. This automation simplifies the resale market, creating opportunities for economic growth while contributing to environmental sustainability. rScan, which expects to earn annual revenue of more than $2 million, plans to expand its headquarters in South Bend and create 152 new jobs over the next four years. By promoting the resale of returned products, rScan diverts substantial volumes from landfills, directly contributing to environmental conservation. Strategic partnerships with industry leaders have validated rScan’s technology and demonstrate its potential for scalability and market influence.

Rising Entrepreneur of the Year: Jorge Saenz (Indianapolis)

Jorge Saenz launched AeroCore Technologies from his garage, based on his vision for improving jet engine performance and to contribute to national security and environmental sustainability. Currently employing about 100 people, the Lebanon-based company is poised for significant growth and impact. Saenz invented nucleated foam technology, which has helped position AeroCore at the forefront of enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of jet engines for the U.S. military and commercial airlines. In addition to its work in the aerospace sector, AeroCore also provides innovative solutions to the oil and gas industry, specifically in refineries. Saenz, who graduated from West Lafayette High School and Purdue University, also works to develop tech talent and raise awareness of Indiana as an innovation hub.

Conexus Indiana Manufacturing Innovation Award: Arcamed (Indianapolis)

Arcamed (est. 2012) is a contract manufacturer of surgical case and tray systems, primarily serving orthopedic Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). In 2018, the company expanded its production capabilities to include precision machined instruments and orthopedic implants, providing surgeons and physicians with what they need to improve a patient’s quality of life. As part of their ongoing innovation strategy, the firm deployed five Universal Robots cobots with integrated machine vision and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, revolutionizing their computer numerical control (CNC) machine tending and press brake production operations. The cobot-based system was implemented by two of Arcamed’s young engineers and paired with custom-designed infeed, outfeed, and part picking processes. The new automation has enabled Arcamed’s production team to flexibly manufacture high-mix, low-volume products, and seamlessly handle parts of varying sizes from as small as a jewelry box to as large as a shoebox.

BioCrossroads Life Sciences Innovation Team Award: GeniPhys (Indianapolis)

This new award recognizes groundbreaking advancements in life sciences, honoring teams that drive innovation to benefit patients and elevate Indiana’s leadership in health and biotechnology. 

GeniPhys stands out for its pioneering work in regenerative medicine, developing advanced extracellular matrix-based biomaterials that promote natural tissue repair and healing. The company’s innovative solutions address critical challenges in tissue engineering and wound care, offering transformative potential for patient outcomes. As the first-ever recipient of this award, GeniPhys exemplifies the spirit of collaboration and impact that this recognition celebrates. Its work highlights the immense value of Indiana-based life sciences teams in shaping the future of healthcare and advancing the state’s position as a global hub for innovation.

Resilience Award: Nida Ansari (Indianapolis)

Ansari was born in the Middle East and moved to the Washington D.C. area as a child seven months before the September 11 attacks. In the aftermath, her father faced discrimination at work, she was told not to speak up in school and a next-door neighbor’s home was raided for having affiliations with the local mosque. Despite Ansari’s academic proficiency, she found little guidance in her high school and was the only Pakistani for most of her time in college. Visa delays kept her in Pakistan for eight weeks during her freshman year, forcing her to withdraw from college for a semester but she graduated on time as a Chemistry major. She faced challenges with her Visa status but continued to successfully pursue advanced degrees. She became a US citizen after 19 years of struggle. After finding corporate success, she launched Karmic Partners to help early-stage entrepreneurs grow their businesses. She serves as an angel investor, is the Chief Innovation Officer at 16 Tech and has helped develop Indiana’s hardtech ecosystem. She works with multiple community groups and established the Networking with Purpose initiative, which has served nearly 80,000 meals to food insecure Hoosiers, Syrians, Turks, and Yemenis.

Emerging Tech Leader of the Year: Kevin Celisca of Integrate School (Bloomington)

A first-generation Haitian American, Celisca’s journey to democratize education required him to overcome adversity, personally and professionally. Zip Code discrimination motivated him to level the playing field for all students, regardless of their geographic circumstances. He co-founded Integrate School, a platform that saves teachers across the U.S. hours of administrative work, improves the quality of instruction and provides transparency to parents and administrators. Celisca’simpact goes beyond his product. He is a leader who cares deeply about his team, educators, and the students they serve. He has built a culture at Integrate School that values diversity, collaboration, and constant improvement. His ability to combine empathy with business acumen has enabled him to secure investments, drive growth and build a sustainable, socially impactful company.

Innovation Service Partner of the Year: Reveal Risk (Carmel)

The U.S. cybersecurity market is projected to grow to $166.73 billion by 2032, but only a small fraction of amount is directed toward helping businesses teach their workforces what they need to know and do to protect themselves, their families, and their companies from cyber threats. Reveal Risk, launched in 2018, reimagined what advising, transforming and powering a cybersecurity program should be and could become. The company’s Human Risk Management (HRM) / Cyber Workforce Awareness service, which essentially enables clients to stay a step ahead of cyber criminals, has attracted national attention for its potential to address this ever-growing challenge.

Tech Innovation of the Year: Anu (Evansville)

Working with Eko Solutions in 2024, Anu overcame key technical limitations in its indoor farming and controlled environment agriculture industries. Historically, indoor farming systems have struggled with low yield densities, power inefficiencies, and labor-intensive operations, making them less viable for high-demand, remote, or urban areas. Anu’s Rotary Aeroponics® system addresses these limitations by offering unprecedented power efficiency, scalability, and ease of use. The system significantly reduces energy consumption while increasing yield density and reducing labor needs through AI-driven automation. The collaboration allows for highly customizable, modular, climate-controlled farms that can be deployed in various verticals, including universities for research and experiential learning, hospitals for food-as-medicine programs, military bases for tactical self-sufficiency, and more. Anu uses AI-driven image data collection to optimize plant growth, reduce water and nutrient usage, to deliver tailored growth environments for each plant. This fusion of AI and agriculture ensures consistency, high quality, and scalability, allowing the technology to be applicable in food security initiatives, high-demand urban settings, and remote locations that face supply chain vulnerabilities.

Tech Company of the Year with fewer than 500 employees: Accutech Systems (Muncie)

Accutech started in 1987 as a provider of trust accounting software for community banks. The company has experienced explosive success in areas previously dominated by large fintech companies and now provides comprehensive software platforms to trust and wealth management institutions and to financial planners.  The company also developed a trust platform named Cheetah, which revolutionized the trust industry. It was the first platform of its kind to be cloud native and browser-based, saving clients time and money and delivering enhanced security and has evolved into a comprehensive suite of wealth management solutions focused on efficiency and speed serving hundreds of banking and wealth management clients with hundreds-of-thousands of customers managing hundreds-of-billions of dollars. Unger has declined to relocate the company from Muncie.  Accutech was named to the 2022, 2023 and 2024 Inc. 5000s list of fastest growing privately owned companies.

Tech Company of the Year with more than 500 employees: Republic Airways (Indianapolis)

Republic Airways is most commonly known for its fleet of 200+ Embraer aircraft, which fly millions of passengers annually, but its innovative technology solutions set it apart from its peers. The company develops powerful, cross-functional teams that develop and integrate cutting-edge technology into every aspect of company operations. Recent examples of in-house developments include its cloud-native CrewPay system, which simplifies the daily complexities of crewmember pay and expands the reach of the company’s operational tech portfolio, as well as the multi-year YXBlue project that revolutionized the company’s entire suite of Flight, Maintenance (MX) Control, and Ops/Crew Management applications, the very heart of its operation. The Flight and aircraft MX control components were launched in 2024. The Ops/Crew module in on pace to be delivered in 2025. Republic’s investment in technology has led to measurable improvements in its operations, including a more precise flight planning capability. Through it, Republic has reduced the amount of fuel which needs to be loaded per flight, providing tangible results in alignment with its sustainability and community efforts. The company operated 235,000+ flights in 2024 with an on-time performance exceeding 85 percent.

Award-winning mobile platform launched by DIAL Ventures sees rapid growth and user adoption while helping farmers streamline equipment tracking and operational knowledge

Gripp, an award-winning mobile-first platform revolutionizing agricultural operations management, today announced it has raised $1.5 million in pre-seed round funding. The round was led by Ag Ventures Alliance, with participation from Two Ravens, Infinity Holding Ventures, C2 Ventures, Tundra Angels, Countryside Angels, DMM Holdings, and Glen Haven Farms, Inc.

Launched out of the DIAL Ventures studio at Purdue University, Gripp has demonstrated strong market validation with zero churn across more than 70 agricultural operations since launching in 2023. The platform enables farmers to digitize their operations through a simple QR-based mobile system that tracks operational activities and conversations, manages equipment and preserves critical operational knowledge.

“The agricultural industry has been asking for solutions that truly understand their day-to-day challenges like easily keeping tabs on equipment and maintenance needs,” said Tracey Wiedmeyer, Co-Founder and CEO of Gripp. “We are proud to be meeting farmers in the field and building exactly what they need – a simple, friction-free system that helps them get a grip on their operations without requiring expensive hardware or complex implementations. The overwhelming response from our early customers shows we are solving a real pain point for farmers – who continue to be overlooked by those outside the industry.”

The funding will accelerate Gripp’s market expansion through:

  • Product development based on direct farmer feedback

  • Sales and marketing programs

  • Strategic partnerships with leading agricultural organizations, associations and trusted farm advisors

“We are looking for innovation that can increase farm profitability,” said Spencer Stensrude, CEO of AgVentures Alliance. “Gripp is solving a real problem for farmers. Gripp could be on every farm in America.”

Gripp was the third startup launched from the DIAL Ventures studio program, which focuses on solving problems in the agri-food industry through digital innovation.

“The agricultural sector’s digital transformation is essential for meeting future food production demands,” said Allan Gray, Executive Director of DIAL Ventures. “Gripp exemplifies our mission to bring practical innovation to the field that solves real problems. Their approach to preserving operational farm knowledge while simplifying day-to-day management addresses a critical need as the ag workforce evolves.”

The seed round funding comes on the heels of Gripp being named:

Ingredion Incorporated (NYSE: INGR), a leading global provider of ingredient solutions for food, beverage and industrial applications, announced investments of more than $100 million to increase efficiency, modernize equipment and also install an energy cogeneration system at its Indianapolis facility.

This project will expand Ingredion’s capabilities for delivering texture innovations to growing end markets while bolstering the economic viability and sustainability of the Indianapolis plant. Furthermore, by upgrading its energy infrastructure, Ingredion will improve operational efficiency and reliability while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

“As Ingredion has driven volume growth for texture solutions over the past several quarters, these investments will expand our capacity and support future customer growth,” said Valdirene Evans, senior vice president and president, global texture solutions at Ingredion. “Additionally, these investments will enable the Indianapolis plant to continue to lead in supplying the highest quality and most innovative specialty starch-based texturizers for global customers.”

“These investments are a win-win as it helps us modernize and improve our agility in delivering Texture & Healthful Solutions for our customers while also increasing our energy efficiency and improving our cost competitiveness,” said Eric Seip, senior vice president, global operations, and chief supply chain officer.

The project is expected to be completed in the second half of 2026.

Brings total deployable capital raised to date to $125 million and will enable completion of first biomanufacturing plant in Richmond, Indiana

Liberation Labs has closed a convertible note with $31.5 million in new capital, which, combined with $19 million of insider bridge notes raised during 2024, brings the total raised in its $75 million convertible note round to $50.5 million. The round included new capital from NEOM Investment Fund (NIF), Galloway Limited and Meach Cove Capital, as well as from existing funders, including Agronomics, New Agrarian Capital and Siddhi Capital. The new capital will enable the completion of construction of Liberation Labs’ first biomanufacturing plant in Richmond, Indiana.

“The strong support from both existing and new investors is validation of our team, technology and go-to-market strategy,” said Mark Warner, founder and CEO of Liberation Labs. “We look forward to completing construction of our facility, starting up operations in 2025 and filling a crucial supply gap for biomanufacturing in the U.S. market.”

Liberation Labs is in the late stages of constructing its first commercial-scale, purpose-built, precision fermentation biomanufacturing facility with a capacity of 600,000 liters and a fully dedicated downstream process (DSP). The plant will produce a range of bio-based materials, including building block ingredients for food, chemicals and other industrial products at a scale and cost that will fill a pressing need among both new and established consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies and other industrial manufacturers.

“Liberation Labs is developing state-of-the-art fermentation infrastructure to transform the world’s existing fermentation capacity,” said Jim Mellon, Director of Agronomics. “This will help build a future where precision fermentation proteins reach the industrial scale needed to meet growing demand in the US and across the world. This novel approach has never previously been attempted. The completion of this significant funding raise showcases the consistent and growing demand from startups, large multinational corporations, and governments alike and is testament to the strength and successful execution of the team led by Mark Warner.”

Combined with other public sector awards and loan guarantees, Liberation Labs has raised a total of $125.5 million in deployable capital. The new funding brings the total private capital raised to $71.5 million. In addition, Liberation Labs has secured equipment financing of $30 million and a U.S. Department of Agriculture Loan Guarantee of $25 million. The company also received a $1.39 million award from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to conduct a detailed feasibility study (engineering and market analysis) for the addition of a full flexible-use, commercial-scale 4,000,000-liter bioindustrial manufacturing facility adjacent to its flagship facility.

Upon successful completion of the Prototype Assessment and Planning phase, Liberation Labs may be selected to proceed to the Prototype Build phase, which would provide up to $100 million for building new facilities or expanding current facilities for bioindustrial manufacturing.

Velocity empowers innovators to develop solutions in bioinnovation, farmer-focused innovation and food is health; Registration deadline is January 24

AgriNovus Indiana, an initiative to grow the agbioscience economy, announced today the launch of Velocity, a six-month agbioscience accelerator to inspire the creation of tech-enabled businesses to address many of the toughest challenges facing the food and agbioscience economy.

In partnership with the Indiana Corn Marketing Council, Indiana Soybean Alliance, Elevance Health, Beck’s Hybrids and Ag Alumni Seed, Velocity challenges students, startups and existing companies to create solutions to fill research-defined gaps in three critical areas: bioinnovation, farmer-focused innovation and food is health. The entrepreneur who presents the top solution in each of these three gaps will receive $25,000.

“Bioinnovation, farmer-focused innovation and food is health are the top three forces of change that will shape the next chapter of our agbioscience economy,” said Mitch Frazier, president and CEO of AgriNovus. “Velocity creates a powerful new platform for innovators to explore these forces, identify unique approaches to address the opportunities they create and develop solutions to uniquely solve some of the world’s toughest challenges in agbioscience – from the future of food to improving farm profitability.”

Velocity’s central focus on addressing the three forces of change include:

BioInnovation

There is an unprecedented demand for bio-based innovation globally as many are increasingly look to replace petrochemicals with renewable solutions, such as alternative fuels, green chemistry and more sustainable and bio-based products – from packaging to cosmetics. Needed innovations may include:

Farmer Focused Innovation

Farmers face compounding risks – from weather variability and variable commodity markets to regulatory uncertainty and ever-evolving consumer preferences – adding uncertainty to a challenging business. Needed innovations may include:

Food is Health
Fourteen percent of all households in the United States experience food insecurity, adults in those households are 15.3 percent more likely to have chronic illnesses and 19 percent of commercially insured patients over the age of 18 list access to healthy food as a health-related social need. Needed innovations may include:

Velocity’s three tracks will be guided by research and strong mentorship throughout the six-month accelerator. The program will culminate with a demo day event and winning check presentations on June 18, 2025.

Companies, individuals and entrepreneurs who want to participate in Velocity can access more information and a registration link here. The deadline to register is January 24, 2025.

The launch of Velocity aligns with a recent report from EntreWorks in partnership with AgriNovus and the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP). The study, Unlocking IP: Leveraging Indiana’s R&D Assets to Boost Entrepreneurship, recommends continued growth of challenge series to further entrepreneurship and innovation across the state. Velocity is an evolution of AgriNovus’ previous Innovation Challenge Series focused on farmer innovation and food security.

Winners to be announced at Mira gala in February 2025

TechPoint, the industry-led growth initiative for Indiana’s digital innovation economy, today announced the finalists for the 2025 Mira Awards, commonly known as “The Oscars of Indiana Tech.”

The 133 finalists emerged from 221 submissions that were evaluated by a team of independent judges. Twenty awards – including one Emerging Leader and two Tech Company of the Year awards – will be presented at the Mira gala at The Palladium in Carmel on February 27, 2025.

“Mira is always a very special time of the year for the entire community to come together,” said TechPoint President and CEO Ting Gootee. “The live judging was an uplifting experience to see so many innovators mingling and talking about what they are building for the future.”

Now in its 26th year, TechPoint’s Mira Awards are designed to elevate the most innovative companies in Indiana’s tech ecosystem. Thousands of Indiana digital innovation companies have sought the annual recognition, but only 329 Mira Awards have been presented. Learn more about the Mira Awards here.

Mira finalists are highlighted below by award categories. Additional awards that do not identify finalists are Deal of the Year, TechPoint Trailblazer, TechPoint Foundation for Youth’s Bridge Builder Award and Nextech K12 Computer Science Teacher of the Year.

AgriNovus Indiana Agbioscience Innovation Award

 

BioCrossroads Life Sciences Innovation Team Award

 

Community Impact Award

 

Conexus Indiana Manufacturing Innovation Award

 

Digital Transformation of the Year

 

Exceptional Employer of the Year

 

Higher Education Innovation Award

 

Resilience Award

 

Rising Entrepreneur of the Year

 

Innovation Service Partner of the Year

 

Startup of the Year

 

Talent Impact

 

Tech Company of the Year 

 

Tech Innovation of the Year

 

Emerging Tech Leader of the Year

Greg Deason has been appointed chief operating officer for Purdue Research Foundation, effective Feb. 1. Deason will work closely with Chad Pittman, who recently was named PRF president and CEO following Brian Edelman’s retirement, also effective Feb. 1.

Deason, currently PRF’s senior vice president of alliances and placemaking, will work with Pittman to provide leadership for the foundation’s strategic operations and business processes.

“For decades Greg has served the Purdue community and will continue to do so in his new appointment,” said Mitch Daniels, Purdue University president emeritus and chair of the PRF board. “He is a proven leader, and I’m certain he will continue the momentum of impactful growth and strategic use of PRF as a tool for fulfilling Purdue’s land-grant mission.”

“Greg Deason is an outstanding choice for this critical role,” Purdue President Mung Chiang said. “His dedication and execution have resulted in Greater Lafayette becoming a preeminent ecosystem for job creation and economic growth. We appreciate Greg’s experience in and focus on cultivating community, enabling growth and connecting companies to Purdue’s world-class ecosystem.”

Before leading the Alliances team in empowering partners to impact the world, Deason served as PRF’s executive director of Purdue Research Park from 2004-16. In that role, he led the team that transformed the park in West Lafayette into an engine for Indiana’s economic development initiatives. He also was instrumental in the creation of three other technology park locations in Indiana beyond West Lafayette.

“Greg has a long career of serving Purdue and PRF’s valued partners, who have made the university the launchpad for their next giant leap,” Pittman said. “He has been instrumental in facilitating the attraction and retention of companies like Saab, SEL, Inari and SK hynix during his time at PRF. I’m confident he will continue his legacy of impactful initiatives and keep up the momentum and equity we have built with our partners.”

“I am pleased to welcome Greg into this new position,” current PRF President Edelman said. “He has proven his capacity to be an outstanding leader who always does the hard work to develop a vibrant community for innovators, entrepreneurs and strategic partners at Purdue, Greater Lafayette and across Indiana.”

Deason also served in various positions at Purdue’s Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship. His career there culminated in his appointment as director of innovation and entrepreneurship, a role in which he led the team that created Purdue Foundry and built a world-renowned entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem at the university. That work resulted in over 350 startup companies, placing Purdue at No. 3 for company creation in the nation at the time.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to take on this new role within PRF,” Deason said. “Purdue provides incredible opportunities for businesses and innovators to turn their ideas into impact across the state, country and world. I look forward to working closely with Chad in the coming years to make sure that the companies and people who choose Purdue get what they need to be successful and thrive in this community.”

Deason also served as the president of the Association of University Research Parks and received its Career Achievement and Outstanding Research Park awards.

A Boilermaker through and through, Deason graduated from Purdue with a bachelor’s in agricultural economics. In 2010 he was named an Outstanding Alumnus of Purdue University and remains active in service to the College of Agriculture and Purdue through the Griffin Society, President’s Council and John Purdue Club.

Food is the only economy in the world that touches every person on the planet. We are all connected to food, and one of the world’s top marketers turned entrepreneur is now making the connection between farms, food, and people. Scott Nelson, CEO of Make Hay, joins us to talk all things consumers and connecting to the meaningful world of agriculture. We get into:

The existing gap between farms, food and people – and the opportunity to leverage today’s media landscape to connect all three.
His time at Panera and how it shaped his viewpoint on storytelling for brands.
How Scott’s background brought him to Make Hay + what the company aims to do.
Make Hay’s relationship with Purdue’s DIAL Ventures and High Alpha, and how it’s accelerating their business.
Scott’s vision for Make Hay – creating content for food transparency at scale, consumer awareness and farmers at the center of it all.
Where Make Hay is at today and what’s ahead.

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