We know that great ideas grow faster when people share what they’ve learned and listen just as much as they lead. That spirit was on full display at October’s Momentum session, hosted by 16 Tech, where our very own Arianna Cruz helped guide an important conversation between Indiana entrepreneurs and policymakers.
Momentum isn’t your typical panel; it’s a conversation catalyst. Each month, 16 Tech brings together founders, innovators, and legislators to explore what it really takes to start and grow a business in Indiana.
This session, Fueling Entrepreneurs, Fast-Tracking Ideas, featured a panel of founders, including Alicia McKoy of Peak Mind, Adam Scott of Compact Medical, and Kevin Celisca of Integrate School. Each shared how they’ve tackled regulatory barriers, funding challenges, and the realities of scaling a business from the ground up. In collaboration with the Indiana Technology and Innovation Association (ITIA), legislators joined this session of Momentum to share what is happening on the policy side of entrepreneurship.
Arianna set the tone early, welcoming the room and creating space where honesty and curiosity could lead the way. Her role as moderator opened doors for meaningful dialogue by helping founders and policymakers connect not just on the “what”, but on the “why”.
Following the entrepreneur panel, State Rep. Danny Lopez, Sen. Andrea Hunley, and Sen. Scott Baldwin joined the discussion to share their perspectives on Indiana’s business climate and the policy work that supports small business success. Their responses to the founders’ discussions offered a thoughtful perspective, showing what’s possible when policymakers listen and engage with the realities entrepreneurs face.
Our team is proud to support this kind of collaboration. Drew Linn, who serves on ITIA’s Board of Directors, helps guide the organization’s mission of strengthening Indiana’s innovation ecosystem through advocacy, education, and connection.
For both Drew and Arianna, ITIA represents more than industry networking; it’s a place where ideas, policy, and people intersect. It’s where the work of building better, whether through software, systems, or shared understanding, starts to take shape.
Momentum is open to anyone curious about what’s next for Indiana’s startup and tech community. Whether you’re a founder, builder, or advocate, you’ll leave inspired and more connected than before.
Explore 16 Tech and see how this hub is sparking new ideas across the state and supporting entrepreneurs, and learn more about joining ITIA to be part of a collective voice in the technology industry with a consistent presence with Indiana’s state leaders and policy makers.
Be part of both the place and progress.
