About

Armstrong helps guide IU’s efforts to further economic development and job creation, to support new business ventures, to transfer IU-developed technologies to the marketplace, and to build partnerships with businesses and universities across Indiana and throughout the nation and the world. In this role, he established the Innovate Indiana Fund and the Indiana Philanthropic Venture Fund.

Prior to this appointment, Armstrong served as Executive Director of the IU Office of Engagement and as Associate Director of the Office of Technology Commercialization at IU’s Advanced Research and Technology Institute. He also served as the Executive Director and General Counsel of the Indiana 21st Century Research and Technology Fund. In that role, he managed a $140 million fund that provided early-stage investments for collaborative research partnerships and cultivated high-tech industries for the state of Indiana.

A native of Madison, Indiana, Tony holds a B.S. from the IU Kelley School of Business, a J.D. from the IU School of Law – Bloomington, and an M.B.A. from Butler University.

Mike Burton serves as Chief Financial Officer for IU Ventures. His responsibilities include strategic planning, financial management and reporting, budgeting and operations.

Burton holds a B.S. in accounting from Ball State University and is a licensed certified public accountant in both Indiana and Florida. He is a member of the Indiana CPA Society and the American Institute of CPAs.

Starting a new venture is hard and requires more than a great idea. Offering start-up support to IU affiliated founders is essential. Mentorship, access to talent, early-stage funding opportunities, networking, and connections to resources are critical to success. In his role as Vice President – Engagement, Jon is focused on activating and cultivating the global IU Founders and Funders Network.

Barada’s responsibilities include alumni and student engagement, marketing, fundraising, angel network development and a little bit of a lot more. Previously, Barada served as President and CEO of the Bloomington Health Foundation where he oversaw deployment of a $35M fund dedicated to helping the people of Bloomington and neighboring communities lead healthier lives.

Originally from Rushville, Indiana, Jon holds a BS from the Kelley School of Business and an MBA from Butler University. Jon and his wife, Brooke, have three children: Kate (15), Ellie (14), and Ben (12).

Olivia is a Senior Analyst for IU Ventures. Her responsibilities include conducting due diligence on prospective investments, managing portfolio company relationships, and supporting the IU Angel Network growth and management.

Prior to joining IU Ventures, Olivia served as the Director of Operations for an Arizona-based business accelerator that focuses on helping early-stage healthcare and life science companies grow to scale. During this time, she was involved in a number of federally funded community and economic development initiatives that aim to expand workforce and venture development opportunities in and around Greater Phoenix.

Olivia holds a B.S. and M.P.A from the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University and an M.B.A from the Romain College of Business at the University of Southern Indiana.

Mark’s 20+ years of experience spans medical device (Biomet, Zimmer, Tornier), pharma / biotech (Roche), and life-science (Vanderbilt Tech Transfer) including corporate, early stage, and start-up environments. Mark has led multiple new product development and commercialization efforts across the globe, including surgical robotics / software, surgical implants, and biologic technologies among others. From 2015-2021, Mark was co-founder, CEO, and board member for Owl Manor Medical, LLC, an animal health biologics / medical device company. Owl Manor established a successful US and international business (Europe, Middle East, Canada and Mexico) whose portfolio was acquired by Zoetis, Inc. in June 2021. Mark’s forte is evaluating, initiating, managing, and growing new business ventures / opportunities from inception through exit.

A practicing attorney for more than 30 years and Clinical Professor of Law at IU’s Maurer School of Law for 17 years, Mark directs the Elmore Entrepreneurship Law Clinic, a live clinic focusing on start-up ventures. A problem solver and design thinker, Mark focuses his interest and teaching on the real business consequences of legal decisions. He works to teach young lawyers to understand that legal advice and decisions are not made in a vacuum and to add value by considering clients’ business goals first, only in the context of the law.

Mark has been working at the intersection of law and business since earning an undergraduate degree in Physics in 1988 and his MBA and law degrees simultaneously, from the IU Kelley School of Business and IU Maurer School of Law in 1992. He practiced in Indianapolis for 14 years before joining the Maurer faculty, most recently at the firm Bose McKinney & Evans. An entrepreneur himself, Mark has launched and operated businesses in commercial real estate, hospitality, and digital educational tools, among other areas.

Moynihan is chief commercial officer of Genezen Laboratories, a contract development and manufacturing company focused on good manufacturing practice in the cell and gene therapy space. Moynihan’s previous experience includes working as associate vice president of IU Ventures and acting director of the Innovation and Commercialization Office at IU. She served the same role at the University of Michigan’s Office of Technology Transfer.

Christian graduated IU in 2007 with a Master’s in HCI and Bachelor’s degrees in Informatics and Geography (2005). Since then he spent 8 years as a UX designer in the Bay Area and Indianapolis. He built the UX practice as a co-founder of Innovatemap, an agency that worked with over 200 tech companies on product, design and product marketing during his 9-year tenure. Today, Christian is building a growth strategy agency (Five Four) and raising a pre-seed fund (Thread Ventures), both targeting early stage companies.

Avalyn is the owner of A. Quick Enterprises, LLC, a company aimed at developing plans and processes for individuals or organizations that bring about meaningful change in their discoveries of achieving goals and unlocking potential. She moves clients from the status quo to new ways of thinking through solutions focused on changing behaviors and fostering growth. She brings over 30 years of combined corporate, entrepreneurial, and nonprofit board experience to her coaching consultancy practice that spans multiple industries and functional areas such as people operations, medical sales, accounting, and auditing. Avalyn has worked with various companies, from startups to Fortune 500 corporations, driving the development and execution of strategies, resulting in higher company morale, increased customer commitment, enhanced process efficiency, improved performance, productivity, and profitability. She started her career at Arthur Andersen and later transitioned to key leadership roles at GlaxoSmithKline, Butler Manufacturing, and The Pillsbury Company (acquired by General Mills).

Avalyn also worked at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, a $2 billion private foundation with the mission to advance education and entrepreneurship. She served as a consultant for the Foundation’s Urban Entrepreneur Partnership (UEP) program, assisting early-stage startups with their marketing, sales, financial analysis, operations, team building, and project management. Additionally, she was instrumental in helping to launch an in-house training program and curriculum to primarily focus on entrepreneurial skills, increase the scalability of minority-owned businesses, and establish peer-to-peer best practices. Avalyn earned her B.A. in Accounting and Finance from Augsburg College and Executive Certification of Leadership Coaching from Georgetown University. She is passionate about giving back to the community and has received leadership awards from the YMC and Girls Scouts.

Samantha Ginther is a Principal at BioCrossroads, where she leads fund operations, fundraising efforts, and fund formation activities. Ginther is also responsible for sourcing and diligence on prospective invesments.

Ginther brings nearly a decade of experience in sourcing, evaluating, and supporting startup investment opportunities across the U.S. She most recently served as a Startup Coach at The Mill, where she utilized her background in venture capital to support and mentor early-stage companies. Ginther also served as an Associate on High Alpha’s investment team, leading sourcing and due diligence efforts for early-stage software companies. Prior to High Alpha, she was a Senior Associate and Head of Platform at IU Ventures, which included managing fund operations alongside investment activities.

Ginther started her career working for a behavioral health hospital in business development before moving to venture capital. Ginther holds both a Bachelor of Science in Community Health and Master of Public Health from Indiana University.