Purdue Foundry director to lead International Business Innovation Association board
September 16, 2015
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John Hanak |
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. and ORLANDO, Fla. - John Hanak, the Purdue Foundry director of venture capital and funding resources and the former statewide director of the Purdue Technology Centers, has been named chair of the board of directors of the International Business Innovation Association (formerly the National Business Incubation Association, or NBIA), an international organization that works to advance business incubation and entrepreneurship.
Hanak has served on this board since 2010 and has been on the executive committee since 2013.
"The International Business Innovation Association is vital to the ever expanding entrepreneurial ecosystem and the broader business community. Our recent name change is intended to reflect both our international scope as well as our embracing all service aspects of entrepreneurialism. The INBIA has proven to be a great asset for information, networking, education and advocacy for organizations worldwide that are assisting startups," Hanak said. "I look forward to our growth in membership and service offerings in the association as I take on this new role."
Hanak assumed the role of chair for the organization at its most recent board of directors meeting in Orlando on Sept. 13.
"An important attribute to the success of the INBIA is the strength and leadership of its members as we work together for a common goal of supporting new enterprises and economic growth," said Kirstie Chadwick, president and CEO of the organization. "We are excited to have John chair our board and provide strong leadership as we continue to advance our mission to help startups and entrepreneurs."
At the Purdue Foundry, Hanak works directly with Purdue University faculty, staff and students to create startups based on Purdue innovations by providing guidance and assistance such as opportunity assessment and market analysis on an innovation, development of a business plan and assistance with the staging for and seeking of funding sources. He also currently oversees the administration of two Purdue Research Foundation based startup capital funds and the Purdue Angel Investment Network.
Hanak previously served as statewide director of the Purdue Technology Centers. He has held executive positions at a Fortune 500 metals manufacturer, a middle-market machine-building company and a technology product development firm. Additionally, he co-founded a technology commercialization and consulting firm called North Riverside Partners and a small investment partnership.
About the International Business Innovation Association
Recently re-located to Orlando, Florida, the International Business Innovation Association is a leading organization advancing business incubation and entrepreneurship. Since 1985, the association has provided industry professionals with information, education, advocacy and networking resources to bring excellence to the process of assisting early-stage companies. The organization estimates that in 2011 alone, North American incubators assisted about 49,000 startups that provided full-time employment for nearly 200,000 workers and generated annual revenue of almost $15 billion.
About the Purdue Foundry
Purdue Foundry is an entrepreneurship and commercialization hub in Discovery Park's Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship. The foundry collaborates with longstanding activities already taking place in the center with a goal to increase the growing demand from Purdue innovators who have an interest in forming a startup or licensing their discoveries. The foundry is supported and managed by the Purdue Research Foundation and its team of intellectual property, business development and venture capital experts.
Writer: Jared Andrews
Purdue Research Park contact: Cynthia Sequin, 765-588-3340, casequin@prf.org
Source: John Hanak, 765-588-5255, jmhanak@prf.org
