Combine is back!

We’re excited to be back in person with a hybrid event in 2024. We’ll mix together inspiring presentations with multiple networking opportunities, and an incredible drone light show open to the public.

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Elevate Happy Hour

Stop by Crazy Horse to kick off the Combine with drinks and snacks.

214 W Kirkwood Ave, Bloomington, IN 47404

10:00 am – 10:30 am

Registration/Breakfast

The Mill

642 N Madison St, Bloomington, IN 47404

10:30 am – 11:00 am

Welcome & Opening Remarks

Hear from Combine 2022 Emcee and CMO at Folia, Torlando Hakes.

11:00 am – 11:30 am

Code: Applying Blockchain

Learn from Sheldon Trotman about how blockchain and smart contract technology present opportunities beyond cryptocurrency for Midwestern businesses.

11:30 am – 12:00 pm

Capital: An Inside Look at Raising

In this tell-all talk, hear how Stagetime, Rigbot and Integrate Schools raised capital amidst a global pandemic.

Presenters include:
Jennie Moser, CEO Stagetime
Kevin Celisca, CEO Integrate Schools
Shatru Thimmappa, COO Rigbot
Cy Mengin (moderator), EIR Elevate Ventures

12:00 pm – 1:30 pm

Lunch

1:30 pm – 2:00 pm

Culture: Growing to Exit

A conversation between two local entrepreneurs that helped lead their companies to successful exits.

Presenters Include:
Michelle Cole, Vector Solutions (Envisage)
Brad Wisler, Exclaimer (Periodic)

2:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Creativity: Inspiring Remotely

Seasoned professionals share tips on fostering creativity in remote/hybrid work environments.

Presenters Include:
Kurtis Beavers, Fluent Design System Director at Microsoft
Thomas DeCarlo, Owner/Executive Director at DeCarlo Animation
Maggie, O’Connor, Senior Experience Designer at projekt202 Louisville
Katie Birge (moderator), Associate/Head of Platform at M25

2:30 pm – 2:45 pm

Afternoon break

2:45 pm – 3:15 pm

Community: The Next Cycle

Get the scoop on the challenges, requirements, and opportunities for what’s next in the region including at the Mill, Tech Center, Kiln, Wright Resolve, and Propeller.

Presenters Include:
Adam Quirk, CEO Cardinal Spirits
Jen Pearl, President BEDC
Bryan Rushton, President of the Propeller BOD
Mike Trotzke, Co-Founder SproutBox/Cheddar
Torlando Hakes (moderator), CMO Folia

3:15 pm – 4:00 pm

Closing Presenter

Learn how to sell your startup from Mark Achler, Managing Director at MATH Venture Partners & Co-author of Exit Right.

4:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Closing Remarks

4:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Happy Hour

5:30 pm – 8:00 pm ET

Dinner Break

8:00 pm – 9:00 pm ET

Startup Showcase

Connect with local founders and demo their startup ideas.

Open to the Public

9:00 pm

Drone Light Show

Immersive light experience featuring 75 aerial drones! This 10 minute, fully custom show will feature artwork and animations unique to the region.

Open to the Public

9:20 pm

Unofficial After Party at the Upland Woodshop

Upland Woodshop

354 W 11th St, Bloomington, IN 47404

11:00 am – 8:30 pm

Bloomington Independent Film Festival

The Bishop

Make a weekend of it in Downtown Bloomington with our friends at Bloomington Independent Film Festival!

In its first year, BIFF is set to become an annual event featuring stories from filmmakers from all over the world. Tickets for the event start at $6, or snag an all-access pass for only $25.

Bloomington hosts a vibrant tech community, currently ranked in the Top 25 best cities for entrepreneurs by entrepreneur magazine, with a tech sector that has grown by over 80% in recent years. Bloomington has consistently been named one of the best small cities for livability, culture, food, business, and careers.

The Mill is Bloomington’s center for coworking and entrepreneurship. Our members are startups, freelancers, techies, remote workers, creatives, side hustlers, and small companies.

The Combine is an annual conference in Bloomington, Indiana that is the Midwest catalyst for creators, builders, and doers to discover new business and technology ideas.

The Combine is an annual non-profit, volunteer-run event that began in 2010. It is a project of the Humanetrix Foundation, Inc., a passionate group of entrepreneurial techies looking to connect innovators across the Midwest.

For over 10 years, The Combine has served as a springboard for connecting hundreds of passionate and driven individuals. At the Combine, you’ll learn and network with nationally-renowned entrepreneurs and innovators. The ultimate goal of the event is to see what can be ‘harvested’ from these groups coming together – new businesses, community initiatives, partnerships.

Bloomington, Indiana is the perfect location for this event. It’s the epicenter of all kinds of awesomeness that should be on your bucket list. Bloomington hosts a vibrant tech community, currently ranked in the Top 25 best cities for entrepreneurs by entrepreneur magazine, with a tech sector that has grown by over 80% in recent years, and has consistently been named one of the best small cities for livability, culture, food, business, and careers.

Come not only to surround yourself with some of the brightest people, greatest ideas and environment of tech and innovation, but also to experience what makes Bloomington, Bloomington.

The Combine was initiated as a partnership between SproutBox, The City of Bloomington, and The Bloomington Tech Partnership and has consistently been supported by The Cook Center for Entrepreneurship at Ivy Tech and the IU School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering.

The Combine is Live

Featured Speakers

Mark Achler

Jennie Moser

Sheldon Trotman

Kevin Celisca

Stacey Grey

Brad Wisler

Schedule.