The ever-growing calendar of tech, innovation and entrepreneurial events around Indiana is a very good sign. More networking, more opportunities for collaboration … simply more.

One of the most popular is a 24-hour (plus) hackathon headed to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) next month. FirstNet Hackathon: The Road to 5G will take place from 5:00 p.m. September 13 through 8:00 p.m. September 14. It is presented by the FirstNet and AT&T developer programs.

The focus will be on mobile app development to help law enforcement, firefighter and emergency medical services personnel in their public safety mission. Software developers, technology students and entrepreneurs are encouraged to join first responders and public safety leaders in this important work.

More than $40,000 in cash and prizes will be available. Speakers include veteran innovator Scott Jones, currently president of the Eleven Fifty Academy, and Deputy Chief Josh Barker of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

Organizers expect the event, free to participants, to be their largest-ever Indianapolis hackathon. Details and registration are available online.

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Also in September (26th-29th) at IMS is the Indy Women in Tech Championship (an LPGA tournament at the Brickyard Crossing course featuring some of the top golfers in the world). The third annual IWiT Summit will include the following keynote and featured speakers.

  • Christa Quarles, former CEO of OpenTable
  • Julie Lyle, former chief marketing officer of Walmart
  • Erica Joy Baker, principal group engineering manager at Microsoft
  • Rob Forman, chief operating officer of SalesLoft
  • R.J. Talyor, co-founder and CEO of Pattern 89
Learn more about the summit and the tournament, two more outstanding recent additions to the state landscape.
Adam H. Berry is vice president of economic development and technology at the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. He joined the organization in 2019.