BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Amplify Bloomington will bring founders, investors, employers, students and community partners together for AMP Bloomington from October 28–30 at venues across downtown Bloomington.

The free, three-day event is the organization’s flagship annual gathering, designed to connect the people building companies, careers and new opportunities in Bloomington. AMP Bloomington leads into Indiana University’s Homecoming weekend.

Who Should Attend

AMP Bloomington is designed for founders and entrepreneurs seeking capital and talent, investors and employers looking for emerging opportunities, students building careers and partners supporting Bloomington’s entrepreneurial community.

Participants register once and select which days they plan to attend.

  • Mike Clem, president and CEO of Sweetwater, will discuss building the nation’s largest online music retailer from Indiana and what the company’s growth demonstrates about where ambitious businesses can succeed.
  • Brian Kelsey, vice president of programs and strategy at Heartland Forward, will explore innovation growth across the heartland and Bloomington’s opportunity within it.
  • Polina Osherov, executive director and co-founder of Pattern, will discuss the creative economy’s role in supporting Bloomington’s broader innovation economy.
  • Tatiana Kolovou, teaching professor at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, will examine how communication habits and unspoken assumptions shape organizational culture.
  • Isak Nti Asare, co-director of Indiana University’s Cybersecurity and Global Policy Program, and David Wild, professor of informatics at IU’s Luddy School, will discuss how student teams apply startup methods to national security challenges.
  • Katherine Pease, managing director at Pathstone, will lead a fireside chat about purpose-driven investing, mission-aligned capital and entrepreneurship through acquisition.

Event Schedule

Wednesday, October 28

Programming begins at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater before moving to the Waldron Arts Center for an opening reception.

  • 2 pm: Registration and networking
  • 2:30 pm: Welcome and opening remarks with Amplify Bloomington CEO John Fernandez
  • 2:45 pm: Beyond the Coasts: The Heartland’s Innovation Opportunity
  • 3:45 pm: Creativity Is Infrastructure: Building Bloomington’s Innovation Economy
  • 4:05 pm: Keynote address with Mike Clem
  • 5 pm: Where Art Meets Innovation opening reception

Thursday, October 29

The second day includes programming at the Indiana Memorial Union, The Mill and Paragraph in Bloomington’s Trades District.

  • 8 am: IN AI Roadshow
  • Noon: Welcome lunch and keynote with Tatiana Kolovou
  • 1:30 pm: Hacking for Defense
  • 2 pm: BioDefense Comes to the Trades District
  • 4 pm: Fireside Chat: Purpose-Driven Investing
  • 5 pm: Trades District networking reception

Friday, October 30

The final day will focus on investment, corporate innovation and student entrepreneurship.

  • 8:30 am: Investor breakfast hosted by Flywheel Fund, invitation only
  • 10:30 am: Corporate venture capital panel
  • 1 pm: IU Innovates Student Startup Demo Day
  • 4:30 pm: Closing celebration and IU Homecoming Parade watch party

During the student startup demo day, nine Indiana University founders will present their ventures and identify the connections and support they need to move forward.

AMP Bloomington is free to attend. View the full schedule and register at amplifybloomington.org/amp-bloomington.