TechPoint Searching For 'Entrepreneurial' Leader

September 24, 2012

News Release

Indianapolis, Ind. -- The Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) and TechPoint, its statewide initiative focused on the technology sector, today announced the departure of TechPoint President and CEO Jim Jay. Jay has accepted the position of Chairman, President and CEO of Vinculum – a San Diego based telecommunications technology firm in which he has been a long-time investor.

Jay will remain with TechPoint until November 1, to prepare the transition to a new chief executive and see the initiative through its annual Innovation Summit & EXPO featuring author and marketing pioneer Seth Godin, being held October 30 in Indianapolis (See event website: http://www.techpoint.org/summit). CICP and TechPoint’s volunteer leadership have begun the search process for Jay’s successor. TechPoint is chaired by Mark Hill, Managing Partner of Collina Ventures.

“Under Jim’s leadership, TechPoint has truly become the voice of Indiana’s technology sector,” said Hill. “He’s focused on the issues that matter to tech employers, investors and entrepreneurs – workforce development, access to capital, a pro-innovation public policy agenda and more.”

Hill cited forming the HALO angel investor network (which has invested more than $19M in 14 Hoosier high-tech start-ups in four years), partnering with the Orr Fellowship program, expanding the organization’s portfolio of networking and relationship-building events, and focusing on promising sub-sectors like measured marketing and health information technology (HIT) as key accomplishments of Jay’s tenure. He also noted efforts to raise the profile of the sector through programs like the annual Mira Awards, which experienced significant increases in award nominations, attendance and overall interest in recent years.

“Jim always understood that celebrating success was one way to encourage more of it, and he focused on initiatives like the Mira Awards as a way to publicize the tech community’s growing contributions to Indiana’s economy.”

CICP President & CEO Mark Miles also recognized Jay’s efforts in establishing TechPoint as a catalyst for technology sector growth and entrepreneurial development. Jay was instrumental in establishing TechPoint’s four operational pillars – connection, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and capital formation – as its strategic foundation, and was an aggressive advocate for the tech sector.
“When TechPoint merged with CICP in 2006, our shared vision was transforming it from a membership-driven organization to a strategic economic initiative that could better focus on the critical challenges affecting the industry and our high-tech entrepreneurial economy,” Miles said. “Jim ably led this evolution and leaves a very productive legacy that will continue to pay dividends – he will be missed, but it does seem appropriate that he leaves us to pursue his own entrepreneurial opportunity. We wish him all the best in his new endeavor.”

Updates on the search for TechPoint’s new President and CEO will be provided as the process unfolds. Jim Jay will continue to live in Indianapolis and be active in the tech community, including continued involvement in his locally-based firm TechEquity Ventures.

About TechPoint
TechPoint is Indiana’s statewide technology initiative focused on growing Indiana’s tech sector by promoting the successes of technology companies and professionals; supporting the formation, expansion, and attraction of technology companies; and advocating appropriate public policy. For more information, please visit www.techpoint.org.

Source: TechPoint