About MOMENTUM

IHIF has developed a broad network to better tie industry, our research community, and our entrepreneurs together. The programs will encourage earlier interaction between industry and investigators, provide earlier feedback on ideas and company development, and encourage later stage entrepreneurial growth and development.

MOMENTUM is connected.  IHIF is a founding member of the Turnpike Partnership – an international network of health science industry associations focused on patient-driven public policy and innovation services.  The Turnpike Partnership brings together health science associations and their members with industry leaders, research universities, startup companies, mentors, and related national trade associations.  The Turnpike model erases geo-political boundaries and focuses on getting innovation in front of the people who can connect it most efficiently to patients.  Organized and led at the state/grassroots level, the Partnership provides a collaborative, viable, sustainable business model and innovation support system.

MOMENTUM works across three functional areas:

1) Connect the research and discovery interests of large industry with start-up health science companies and faculty members in the state’s research universities.  Discovery Days programs will help larger industry leaders from around the world to become more familiar with members of Indiana’s research community and help give Indiana investigators more direct context and applications for their discoveries.

2) Thanks to support from Indiana’s Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI), IHIF can provide individual investigators who would like to commercialize their discoveries with access to a customized network of industry mentors. The PRIMER program will provide guidance and feedback at the earliest stages of discovery and contemplated company formation.  Using our access to the Turnpike Partnership, IHIF is able to connect with industry and university experts across the country and around the world.

3) MOMENTUM works with established entrepreneurial companies to enhance their business skills and build their networks.  IHIF works 1:1 with start-up companies to help them achieve essential milestones for company growth.

IHIF offers special assistance through Team Mentorship  – a program that leverages local expertise and mentors to prepare entrepreneurial companies to compete more effectively for funding.  Ideal for start-ups making the transition from grant funding to investor funding, this 10 week program will review essential elements of your slide deck and help hone pitch skills.

We also offer occasional MOMENTUM Mixer events – hosted programs designed to network local investors, start-ups, and mentors.