What do you think of when you hear the word “technology?” Software? AI? The Cloud? If my hunch is correct, you thought of something that the computer can do… and not the physical computer itself. Grant Chapman and the team at Glassboard are on a mission to reshape that thinking and get HardTech into the conversation. Grant Chapman, a mad scientist by trade, and his team build physical products in their “laboratory” on the near west side of Indianapolis. Their work at Glassboard lies at the core of cross-sector innovation. While their primary focus is on building HardTech physical products, many of these still incorporate elements of traditional software.

Indiana forms the ideal breeding ground for genuine cross-sector innovation, with top engineering schools like Purdue and Rose-Hulman, pharma giant Lilly, and software powerhouse Salesforce. We take a closer look at this movement during our conversation with Grant. We explore why attending Rally was a game changer for Glassboard, what makes Indianapolis a hub for cross-sector innovation, and how Glassboard helps bring physical products to market. This conversation took place at Rally, the largest global cross-sector innovation conference, which celebrates connections between companies, entrepreneurs, investors, and universities from across the globe. Rally features a $5M cash IN-Prize pitch competition, 1:1 investor meetups, a demo arena, content sessions, and more. Rally 2024 will take place from August 27-29 in downtown Indianapolis.