The annual Innovation Showcase held at Speedway’s Dallara IndyCar Factory is a red-letter event for startup companies in Indiana. As the state’s largest expo for such companies, it offers a prominent venue for companies in the early stages of raising capital pitch their ideas and establish ties with venture capitalists, angel investors and business executives.

Now in its eighth year, this year’s Innovation Showcase is set for July 13-14, with more than 70 companies scheduled to participate. Last year, a half-dozen companies with ties to the Indiana University Research and Technology Corp. or the Innovate Indiana Fund participated.

Auricyte, a company that transforms human stem cells into functional hearing cells, was named among five Best In Show winners.

July 13 is Investor Day at the Showcase, which includes educational seminars and networking activities. July 14 is the main exposition day, which includes pitch contests for three classifications of companies: Start Up, Scale Up and University Track.

For additional scheduling information, read here. For more information about the Innovation Showcase, read here.