Developing Hoosier Hard Tech with Nida Ansari
Description
Recorded June 2nd 2023
The hard tech corridor extends from Indianapolis to Lafayette and is expected to spur of wave of investment in everything from advanced manufacturing to life sciences. At the center of it all is the 4,000 acre LEAP District in Lebanon which has already won a multi-billion dollar commitment from Eli Lilly. As a VC investor, startup mentor and ecosystem builder in the hard tech space, Nida is the perfect guest to bring us up to speed on this huge development in the Hoosier state!
Nida’s Book Recommendations:
Hard Tech Links:
Forbes: Hard Tech Corridor in the Heartland
Indiana Chamber: Indiana Poised to Become Home to Hard Tech Corridor
Karmic Partners
Connect with Nida:
Guest Bios
Nida has been in Indiana since 2021 and is CEO of karmic partners, a consultancy that works with innovation districts, startups, and corporate innovation groups. Karmic hopes to help with ecosystem building in the midwest by helping to connect these groups to the resources they need.
Most recently, she's worked in venture capital and set up an early-stage hardtech accelerator. Prior, Nida has also worked in strategy and innovation for companies like Georgia Pacific and Westrock. Her work has included managing P&L of product lines globally, leading engineering and operations teams to launch products for large multinationals, some of which are in upwards of 50+ countries.
Nida serves on multiple nonprofit boards including Pack Away Hunger and Immigrant Welcome Center (Treasurer). She also mentors for Techstars and Gener8tor, and is on the Technical Advisory Committee for NextCycle.
Who are the hosts?
Austin Crites, CFA: Austin is a past-president and current committee member of CFA Society Indianapolis. Professionally, he is the Chief Investment Officer at Aurora Financial Strategies where he manages US-focused, all-cap, style-agnostic equity strategies as the core of client portfolios. Austin is a 2008 graduate of Marian University in Indianapolis where he is now an adjunct professor in the Byrum School of Business.
Matt Henry, CFA: Matt is a Senior Investment Officer at STAR Wealth Management. He is also a Past President and a director of CFA Society Indianapolis. When he’s not managing porfolios, Matt teaches Finance 300 at Ball State University. He enjoys air conditioning, wi-fi, and the conveniences of indoor living.
United States
