Governor Braun announces launch of Iron Nation–Indiana to drive innovation, investment and economic growth

Governor Mike Braun today announced the launch of Iron Nation–Indiana, a new $60+ million investment and commercialization initiative designed to strengthen Indiana’s position as a destination for innovation-driven growth. Anchored by a $15 million investment from the State of Indiana and a more than $30 million commitment from the Iron Nation partnership, the initiative will create a strategic bridge between Indiana and Israel by connecting Indiana’s leading corporations, healthcare systems, universities and communities with world-class Israeli technology companies.

Indiana is well positioned for this effort because it brings together the assets high-growth companies need to succeed in the U.S. market, including major healthcare systems, global life sciences companies, major research universities, logistics infrastructure, advanced manufacturing capacity and a business environment focused on growth. Through the initiative, high-potential Israeli companies will have new opportunities to establish U.S. headquarters or other meaningful U.S. operations in Indiana, build commercial relationships with Indiana-based partners and engage directly with the state’s business, healthcare, research and industrial ecosystem.
“Indiana is committed to competing and winning in the industries shaping the future,” said Governor Mike Braun. “Iron Nation–Indiana reflects the kind of partnership we want to pursue -one that combines public leadership, private capital and real commercial opportunity to bring more investment, more innovation and more long-term value to our state.”

“This initiative aligns with Indiana’s broader strategy to grow wages, strengthen our economy and create more opportunities for Hoosiers. When Indiana gets a chance to lead, we win. Iron Nation–Indiana gives our state a practical way to engage promising companies earlier, build strategic partnerships and translate innovation into long-term economic growth,” said Secretary of Commerce David J. Adams.
“Indiana and the broader Midwest are where innovation meets industry at scale,” said Dror Bin, CEO of the Israel Innovation Authority. “Both Israel and Indiana recognize deep-tech as the engine driving the next generation of transformative innovations. Israel excels at building cutting-edge technologies, and Indiana offers an ideal launch pad to scale them, thanks to its strong industrial base, global corporations and leading research institutions. Together, this partnership creates mutual value by accelerating innovation, strengthening industries and driving economic growth on both sides.”
Iron Nation’s broader platform was launched after the October 7 attacks as a venture investment initiative to support high-potential Israeli startups during a period of severe market disruption and quickly became one of the most active investment platforms in Israel. Iron Nation–Indiana builds on that momentum through a practical, Indiana-focused strategy to attract innovation and build commercial partnerships.

“With Iron Nation–Indiana, we are building more than an investment platform,” said Gil Friedlander, co-founder and managing partner of Iron Nation. “We are building a bridge that connects exceptional Israeli entrepreneurs with Indiana’s outstanding business, healthcare and research ecosystem as well as the local Jewish community. That creates an opportunity for our companies and for Indiana to engage innovation earlier and more directly.”
Iron Nation was founded by entrepreneurs Gil Friedlander, Chen Linchevski, and Jason Wolf, who serve as the fund’s managing partners. Former Congressman Luke Messer, Senior Vice President and General Counsel at Prolific, serves as the Indiana partner for the initiative.

Additional details regarding participating partners and future engagement opportunities will be announced later.