Entrepreneurship research informs priorities around founders, capital, talent and Indiana’s industry strengths

(Indianapolis, Ind., NOV. 4, 2026) TechPoint today unveiled a new strategic direction to grow Indiana’s technology economy, with an increased focus on building more high-growth technology companies, expanding access to capital and customers, strengthening pathways into and through Indiana technology careers, and applying technology to the industries where the state already has deep expertise.

TechPoint President and CEO Eric Christopher announced the direction during the organization’s Community Connect event, following months of research and conversations with founders, employers, investors and stakeholders about where TechPoint can have the greatest impact.

The new direction is also informed by findings from Why Indiana Needs More Tech Companies, Not Just More Innovation, a new TechPoint report that examines entrepreneurship, research and invention, venture capital activity, and the experiences of founders and ecosystem leaders across Indiana.

“Indiana has real advantages in industries including life sciences, advanced manufacturing and agriculture, along with generations of expertise in solving complex problems,” Christopher said. “Our opportunity is to bring technology and entrepreneurship together with those strengths and build more companies here that can compete anywhere.”

The report finds that Indiana has a strong foundation on which to build. In 2025, Indiana ranked 16th nationally in the rate of new entrepreneurs and ninth in one-year startup survival. Central Indiana also has produced more than 93,000 peer-reviewed research articles since 2015 and nearly 12,900 patented invention families since 2010.

The research also points to opportunities to turn more of those ideas, inventions and entrepreneurial activity into high-growth companies.

TechPoint’s new direction will place a greater emphasis on helping founders move through the different stages of building and growing a company. One of the first new initiatives will be a year-long program pairing Indiana tech founders with a hand-picked support system of experienced mentors.

Each participating founder will have a lead mentor and one to two additional mentors selected for expertise in areas where the founder most needs support. Founders also will receive an assessment of their fundraising readiness before investor introductions, monthly access to co-working space and a cohort of founders at different stages of company growth.

The program responds directly to one of the clearest findings in TechPoint’s research:  Indiana needs stronger networks around founders and greater access to experienced entrepreneurs and operators who have built and scaled companies before.

“Founders told us that the resources are here, but the path can still be difficult to navigate,” said Chelsea Linder, vice president of innovation and entrepreneurship at TechPoint and one of the report’s authors. “They need experienced people around them, but they also need customers, capital and connections that change as their companies grow. Our work needs to reflect that entire journey.”

Capital will be another major focus. The report found that the needs of companies change significantly as they grow, from early investment that helps turn promising ideas into companies to institutional and growth-stage capital that allows those companies to scale. Indiana startups have closed nearly 1,400 venture capital deals worth almost $4.9 billion since 2016, providing a significant foundation as TechPoint and its partners work to connect more companies with capital at each stage.

“We have an opportunity to do more at the early stage so more founders can get their companies off the ground, but we also need growth capital when those companies begin to break out,” Christopher continued. “We want to make sure promising Indiana companies can get the capital they need at each stage and have every reason to keep building here.”

Indiana’s corporations also can be a startup advantage. The state is home to globally significant industries with difficult problems to solve, extensive technical expertise, and the potential to become customers and partners for emerging technology companies. TechPoint’s new direction will focus on creating stronger connections between those companies and emerging technology businesses, while helping founders gain access to real-world problems, potential partners and customers.

Rather than trying to replicate technology hubs such as Silicon Valley, Boston or Austin, TechPoint’s new direction will more closely connect technology and AI with industries where Indiana already has considerable strength, including life sciences, advanced manufacturing, agriculture and food, logistics and supply chain.

“We don’t need to replicate what is happening on the coasts,” Christopher concluded. “Technology is changing quickly, and that gives markets like Indiana an opportunity to move quickly, too. If we pair the best technology builders with the industries and expertise already here, we have a chance to build a technology economy that is distinctly Indiana.”

The new direction also includes work to strengthen pathways into and through Indiana technology careers, advance practical and industry-specific applications of AI and increase visibility for Indiana companies, talent and technology expertise.

To learn more about TechPoint’s new strategic direction, visit techpoint.org.

About TechPoint

TechPoint is the CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership’s branded initiative for Indiana’s tech ecosystem. TechPoint focuses on the entire tech community with the sole agenda of growth and storytelling. TechPoint brings talent to the community, helps founders start and scale companies, opens doors to capital and sharpens Indiana’s edge. For more information, visit techpoint.org.

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Lara Beck
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