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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Mira Awards—Indiana’s largest and longest-running technology awards program—is going virtual.
TechPoint, the statewide advocacy group that puts on the annual event, made the announcement Tuesday morning.
Last year, the awards ceremony drew a sellout crowd of more than 1,400 to the JW Marriott Indianapolis hotel, and TechPoint officials are hoping an even bigger crowd will tune in—for free—via the Internet this year.
TechPoint officials told IBJ that changing from a real event to a virtual event for the first time will cost the organization $80,000 in ticket revenue. Most sponsors have continued to support the event, TechPoint officials said.
The 21st annual event had been scheduled to take place April 18 at the JW Marriott, but TechPoint postponed the event after the COVID-19 outbreak spread to the United States.
“Rather than waiting and hoping to hold the event in the fall, we decided that—amidst all of the COVID challenges—it is important to give the community an opportunity to celebrate together soon,” TechPoint CEO Mike Langellier said in a written statement.
TechPoint expects the virtual viewing audience to be even larger than the sellout crowds of recent in-person galas.
Markey’s Staging & Rental will provide production support.
Details about participating in the broadcast will be shared with sponsors and nominees in the coming weeks, and information about how and where to watch will be posted on TechPoint Index and social media platforms when it is available.
This year’s class of nominees includes people, products and companies of all sizes from across the state.
The 44 companies participating in the five company categories employ 10,572 people in the state and represent nearly $14 billion in annual revenue (excluding GEICO’s $25 billion-plus in revenue), according to TechPoint.
The Mira Awards event drew 950 people in 2016, and Techpoint later moved it from the Westin Indianapolis to the JW to accommodate demand for tickets.
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