On today’s show I sat down with Chelsea Linder, VP of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at TechPoint, to preview the 27th annual Mira Awards (April 24 at the Palladium in Carmel), which spotlights Indiana’s digital economy across innovation, talent, and community.
Chelsea discusses TechPoint’s mission, talent programs like the externship, and how the Mira Awards evolved into a larger gala as the ecosystem grew, including the long-running Trailblazer Award and past standouts like Republic Airways and SEP.
She outlines new 2026 awards with CICP partners, including an Innovation with AI award and cross-industry innovation categories culminating in an overall Innovation of the Year.
She also highlights diverse finalists statewide, discusses founders’ challenges amid rapid AI-driven shifts in building, fundraising, and go-to-market strategy, and shares TechPoint resources like the Indiana Founders Network and the AI Innovation Network.
If you like this episode and want to hear more Get IN. episodes where I interview Hoosiers making a difference, visit getindiana.com/podcast.
You are going to learn about:
The Mira Awards
TechPoint’s Mission and Externship Program
Mira Awards Finalists and Challenges They Face Because of AI
Thank you to our partners:
Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance
Fire and Ice Café
Check out these great clips from the show:
00:00 AI Funding Snapshot
01:40 Mira Awards Preview
03:31 Origins of Mira Awards
