Call for Entries: 6 Reasons to Nominate for the Mira Awards

Why should you participate in TechPoint's Mira Awards program? Last year, 120 companies, startups, schools teams, departments and individuals entered the Mira Awards because it's the most prestigious technology recognition program in the state. In fact, the Miras are often referred to as Indiana's "Oscar Awards" for technology.

 

The Mira Awards highlight achievement in project-oriented categories like mobile, health and marketing tech; as well as tech services and tech sales and marketing (NEW), which might include work completed for a partner. The education tech award recognizes creation of technology, whereas the tech educator(s) of the year award rewards excellence in the use of technology in the classroom and other learning environments. Startups, emerging tech firms and more established companies compete for the tech startup, emerging tech and tech company of the year awards respectively, and everybody is eligible to make their case for innovation of the year. Finally, tech community members 30 years old and younger are recognized for outstanding achievement and leadership with the TechPoint Rising Star Award. Click here to learn more about the 2014 Mira Awards categories, including important dates and deadlines.

 

Two special industry recognitions – TechPoint Foundation for Youth BridgeBuilder Award and TechPoint Trailblazer in Technology Award – are selected by the TechPoint Foundation for Youth and TechPoint boards of directors and presented to the winners at the gala celebration.

 

1. Increased Sales
2. Funding Sources
3. Broader Name Recognition
4. Marketing Opportunities
5. Industry Advancement
6. Bragging Rights

Increased Sales: While we have heard numerous stories over the years about how being nominated for and/or winning a Mira Award has increased sales, two true tales stand out. Slingshot SEO, can tie 4 new client sales and over $1 million in new business to their winning the 2011 Mira Award for Tech Company of the Year. As a result of IVM, Inc.'s 2012 Innovation of the Year Mira Award win and the news stories that followed, 14 prospective new customers contacted IVM in the week following the announcement.  

 

Funding Sources: Venture capitalists, angel investors and private equity firms from east and west coasts and statewide pay attention to the Mira Awards. For example, investment managers from Silicon Valley Bank, Battery Ventures, Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse have attended past events, and all the major Indiana-based startup, growth and innovation funds closely follow the Miras.

 

Broader Name Recognition: The Mira Awards generate hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of media coverage every year. This is uniquely positive media exposure that has tremendous impact and simply cannot be purchased at any price. 

 

Marketing Opportunities: In addition to dozens of touchpoints with the tech sector and general public audiences through recognition in TechPoint communications and promotions, Mira Awards participants earn access to digital marketing materials, artwork and other resources that offer shared brand equity as "The Best of Tech in Indiana."

 

Industry Advancement: Recognizing achievements, celebrating successes and highlighting significant tech contributions to Indiana’s overall economy, are critical to fostering more of them. The Mira Awards reward recent tech accomplishments, but perhaps more importantly, they help to inspire the people, teams and organizations who will lead the sector in the future.

 

Bragging Rights: The Mira Awards "Winners Circle" reads like a Who's Who of Indiana's top tech talent, firms, universities and more. There is only one way to join "The Best of Tech in Indiana" list, and that's to participate in the Mira Awards.