INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., Nov. 19, 2019 – A strategic partnership of BioCrossroads, 16 Tech, Indiana Biosciences Research Institute (IBRI) and the innovation offices of Indiana University, Purdue University and the University of Notre Dame has launched a new program to add more power to the entrepreneurial environment. Accelerating Innovation IN Science, or AXIS, will pair experienced mentors with rising stars to support and grow the life sciences ecosystem by cultivating serial entrepreneurs and driving innovation forward.
AXIS is based on the successful model from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Venture Mentoring Service (MIT VMS). MIT VMS is internationally recognized as a leader in team mentoring to promote entrepreneurs and business creation with a unique team mentoring methodology; a strict code of ethics to assure objective, conflict-free and confidential advice; established best practices for recruiting, training and retaining a community of highly qualified and committed volunteer mentors; and a singular focus on the entrepreneur. Earlier this year, the core founding partners of AXIS trained at MIT VMS to bring their approach to Indiana.
“AXIS will create an inclusive and supportive community for entrepreneurs who are developing innovations to bring to market,” said Patricia Martin, president and CEO of BioCrossroads. “Mentors will provide guidance in the most critical and challenging moments of the startup or spinout process to help achieve success, and hopefully result in even more active and vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem.”
Currently, there are 23 mentors and four mentees participating in the program.
AXIS mentors have significant industry, startup and academic institution knowledge and are providing tailored, experienced, objective guidance and insights to entrepreneurs. The mentors and mentees meet every four to six weeks to focus on immediate challenges the mentee is facing to brainstorm solutions by leveraging the deep and broad experiences of the team.
“The IBRI is pleased to be an AXIS driver. AXIS enables us to move innovation forward by assembling teams of experienced mentors who will help answer critical questions, bridge gaps and find the best opportunities for Indiana’s promising entrepreneurs,” said Jay McGill, PhD, chief operating officer, IBRI. “Through AXIS we will support economic growth for the life sciences as well as foster job growth, company formation and utilization at 16 Tech for all industries.”
AXIS is actively recruiting experienced mentors from academia and industry as well as entrepreneurs and innovators of all types. Learn more at https://axis.biocrossroads.com/
About BioCrossroads
BioCrossroads (www.biocrossroads.com) is Indiana’s initiative to grow, advance and invest in the life sciences, a public-private collaboration that supports the region’s existing research and corporate strengths while encouraging new business development. BioCrossroads invests capital and provides support to life sciences businesses, launches new life sciences enterprises (Indiana Biosciences Research Institute, 16 Tech, Indiana Health Information Exchange, Fairbanks Institute for Healthy Communities, BioCrossroadsLINX, OrthoWorx and Datalys Center), expands collaboration and partnerships among Indiana’s life science institutions, promotes science education and markets Indiana’s life sciences industry.
About the Indiana Biosciences Research Institute
The Indiana Biosciences Research Institute (IBRI) is an independent, nonprofit discovery science and applied research institute currently targeting diabetes, metabolic disease, poor nutrition and related health data science. Inspired by Indiana’s leading life sciences companies, research universities and philanthropic community, the IBRI is building a world-class organization of researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs to catalyse scientific discovery and its applications, resulting in improved health outcomes for Indiana patients and beyond. For more information about the IBRI, visit https://www.indianabiosciences.org/.