Defense firm V2X and analytics startup Ekkobar win in Indiana’s 2026 Mira Awards

Last Friday night in Carmel, Indiana, TechPoint handed out their Mira Awards for 2026, naming V2X Inc., a defense contractor, as the Tech Company of the Year, with Indianapolis startup Ekkobar Inc. taking home the award for Startup of the Year. The annual event, now in its 27th year, serves as TechPoint’s way of showcasing Indiana’s vibrant tech scene. There were reportedly 231 submissions this year, with 106 finalists competing across various categories for the Awards, handed out at the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts. 

V2X, though based in McClean, Virginia, with offices in Indianapolis, was recognized for what judges called quick action and deployment of technology built in Indiana that supports national security and resilience. The company also produced the night's Emerging Tech Leader, Jonathon Brack. They recently announced they had secured $100 million worth of classified national security contracts in the last quarter of 2025 with reported 2025 revenue of $1.22 billion. 

Ekkobar, founded by Rhys Ryan and Amber Dodson, is an AI-powered social intelligence platform that analyzes social signals in real time. This allows sports and entertainment clients to analyze data and make more informed business decisions.

Throughout the night, other winners represented the diverse range of Indiana’s tech economy, from manufacturing software and university-based innovation to health tech and workforce development. Flexware Innovation snagged the Tech Innovation of the Year award, Purdue President Mung Chiang was named Trailblazer of the Year, and Syra Health took home two honors, including Innovation of the Year for SyraBot. BiomEdit earned Deal of the Year honors for its $18.6 million Series B funding round. Plus, there were other noteworthy mentions, like Purdue Innovates, P30, FiberX, and a collaboration between Eli Lilly, Ivy Tech, and Purdue. 

Full List of Winners:

FiberX - AgBioscience Innovation Award

Indiana University - AI Transformation Award

Eli Lilly and Company, Ivy Tech Community College, and Purdue University - Talent Innovation Award

Syra Health Corp. - Life Sciences Innovation Award

P30 - Community Impact Award

MSP Manufacturing - Manufacturing Innovation Award

BiomEdit - Deal of the Year

Jonathon Brack (V2X) - Emerging Tech Leader Award

Syra Health - Innovation of the Year

Purdue Innovates - Innovation Service Partner of the Year

Carissa Domrase (Franklin Central High School) - Computer Science Teacher of the Year

Alicia Mckoy (Peak Mind) - Resilience Award

Kyle Armstrong (RefReps) - Rising Entrepreneur of the Year

Ekkobar - Startup of the Year

V2X - Tech Company of the Year

Flexware Innovation - Tech Innovation of the Year

‍