01 Mar Annual Venture Summit Connects Global Network of IU-Affiliated Founders & Funders
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 1, 2024
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana University-affiliated entrepreneurs, innovators and investors interested in starting, nurturing or growing venture-capital backed businesses will gather on the IU Bloomington campus this spring for an annual Venture Summit hosted by IU Ventures, the university’s early-stage venture and angel investment arm.
The IU Founders & Funders Network Venture Summit will take place May 16-17 at IU Bloomington’s Indiana Memorial Union. The Venture Summit provides members of IU’s startup ecosystem the chance to connect with industry leaders and potential partners, build relationships to support their endeavors, and learn about innovative startups and investment opportunities. In this video, Indiana University President Pamela Whitten offers her special invitation to return to Bloomington for the annual event.
This year’s keynote session will take place on Friday morning and feature IU alum Max Yoder, founder and former CEO of Lessonly. Yoder graduated from Indiana University in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts through the Individualized Major Program. Max and his friends co-founded Lessonly in 2012. The company grew to 300 employees and $30 million in annual revenue before it was acquired by Seismic in 2021.
Later that same day, during a fireside chat, attendees will hear from Tony Conrad, an IU alumni and partner at True Ventures, a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm focused on early-stage technology startups. The fireside chat will be moderated by IU Innovates Executive Director Julie Heath.
Registration for the Summit, which is limited to 250 people, is now open on the IU Ventures website. Registration is $100 and includes all Summit programming. IU Ventures will also offer a limited number of full scholarships (offered first come, first served) for current IU students to attend all Summit activities.
“IU Ventures is proud to once again convene members of IU’s global venture network to facilitate opportunities for founders and funders to connect with each other, gain access to resources, and learn from the community,” said IU Ventures President and CEO Tony Armstrong. “Events such as these strengthen the bonds between IU student, faculty, and alumni founders and the venture community, fueling creativity, innovation and economic opportunity at IU, in Indiana, and globally.“
BridgeBank, a division of Western Alliance Bank and a leading financial resource to innovative companies nationwide, will once again sponsor the Summit. Other Summit sponsors include The Indiana Economic Development Corporation, Gutwein Law, Techpoint, Human Capital Concepts, Engineered Innovation Group, Venture Club of Indiana, Elevate Ventures, Gregory & Appel and Inside INdiana Business.
The Summit will be emceed by Gerry Dick, the president of Inside INdiana Business, a division of IBJ Media Corp. Friday activities include two sessions, each with a panel of VCs, where they will share their perspectives on economic trends and investment themes as well as strategies for startup founders during a funding downturn. There will also be a VC Town Hall where attendees can ask questions during an open mic session.
The Spirit of Venture Award will be presented during Friday’s lunch session. The award is given annually to members of IU’s network of founders and funders who exhibit success in entrepreneurship and innovation, provide mentorship and support to IU affiliated founders and funders, and demonstrate noteworthy service to IU.
Thursday’s schedule kicks off the Summit with a series of three sessions entitled AI @ IU where attendees will have the opportunity to connect with IU faculty and graduate students and the latest basic AI research; hear a fireside chat with Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering leadership and faculty; and see IU-affiliated early stage AI startup demonstration. Afternoon events include a tour of Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall and a networking session for all attendees at Nick’s English Hut.
A complete list of activities and speakers, as well as information about travel and lodging, can be found on the IU Ventures website.
About IU Ventures:
IU Ventures invests in and supports IU-affiliated early-stage companies. Its investment programs include the IU Philanthropic Venture Fund, IU Angel Network, Shoebox Fund and Innovate Indiana Fund. It further supports IU founders through the Executive in Residence Program and IU Founders and Funders Network. Student support is provided through a variety of engagements, including the new IU Venture Fellows Program. Each program takes unique approaches to accelerate and support the positive impacts that entrepreneurs affiliated with IU already achieve across the world. IU Ventures is a recognized leader in increasing opportunities for diverse and historically underserved entrepreneurs and investing in Indiana startups with a shared commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
Media Contact:
Jon Barada
IU Ventures
jbarada@iu.edu