What OrthoWorx does

OrthoWorx is a non-profit catalyst organization founded in January 2009 in Warsaw, Indiana, with a $7 million founding grant from the Lilly Endowment. The organization operates as a sector-specialized economic development intermediary, connecting orthopedic medical device manufacturers, higher education institutions (Grace College, Ivy Tech), local government, and community stakeholders to sustain and grow the Warsaw orthopedic cluster, which accounts for approximately 50% of the global market for total joint replacements. Its work is organized around three core initiatives: Talent Pipeline (K-12 STEM via Project Lead The Way, Bridge to Employment with DePuy Synthes, Think Ortho Pathways for 8th graders, Advanced Manufacturing Academies launched in 2024-2025, the world-only Orthopaedic MBA and Orthopaedic Fellowship at Grace College, and the DiscoverME VR career discovery experience); Community Enrichment (Young Professionals programming, Think Ortho attraction initiative, HireKosciusko hiring fairs, the Joint Effort storytelling campaign, and the Community Experience Program place-making initiative); and Innovation (the AcceLINX business accelerator formed in 2016 supporting musculoskeletal health startups, plus a Plug and Play medtech office partnership).

The organization is headquartered at 102 S Buffalo St, Warsaw, IN and operates with approximately 8 staff members. OrthoWorx does not sell software products or APIs and runs no proprietary technology platform beyond program operations; its technology footprint is concentrated in the DiscoverME VR experience (developed with iXplore) and its program websites. Revenue mechanics are entirely grant- and membership-driven: cumulative disclosed grant funding totals roughly $44.5 million across the Lilly Endowment ($7M in 2009, $4M in 2014, $2.25M in 2022), the Indiana State Budget Committee ($30M in June 2024 for the Orthopedic Industry Retention Initiative), and the Don Wood Foundation ($250K in 2024-2025 plus $1M in 2025). Membership dues and sponsorships from industry partners (DePuy Synthes, Zimmer Biomet, Stryker, OrthoPediatrics, Paragon Medical, Tecomet, Medartis, etc.) supplement grant funding. Programs are delivered free or at low cost to participants; the Orthopedic Scholar Institute seminar series is free for member organizations and $29 per session for non-members. Programs are operated directly by OrthoWorx staff and through structural partnerships with Grace College, Ivy Tech Community College Kosciusko County, Warsaw Community Schools, IN-MaC, BioCrossroads, and Plug and Play.

Name

OrthoWorx

Legal name

OrthoWorx

Website

https://orthoworxindiana.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Non-profit catalyst organization founded in 2009 in Warsaw, Indiana, that connects orthopedic manufacturers, higher education, and community stakeholders to sustain the global orthopedic industry cluster (50% of total joint replacement market) via talent pipeline, community enrichment, and innovation programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industry Cluster Economic Development / Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243)

SIC

Orthopedic, Prosthetic & Surgical Appliances & Supplies (3842)

akta.pro primary industry

Orthopedic Surgery (Operative Orthopedics) (HLAKALAC)

Keywords

• Workforce development programs
• Industry cluster stewardship
• Talent pipeline initiatives
• Orthopedic business accelerator
• Community enrichment programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Warsaw

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding & Government Appropriations: OrthoWorx was founded in 2009 with a $7 million grant from The Lilly Endowment. Additional funding includes a $30 million state grant from the Indiana State Budget Committee for the Orthopedic Industry Retention Initiative (OIRI). The organization also received a $250,000 Ignite Your Future grant from the Don Wood Foundation and a $1 million Don Wood Foundation grant for talent development.
2. Industry Membership & Partner Support: Industry partners (DePuy Synthes, Zimmer Biomet, OrthoPediatrics, Paragon Medical, etc.) provide support through membership and sponsorship of OrthoWorx programs and events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

OrthoWorx is a nonprofit catalyst organization that runs workforce development, community enrichment, and industry acceleration programs for the orthopedic medical device cluster in Warsaw, Indiana. Its portfolio includes K-12 STEM and Bridge to Employment programs, the Grace College Orthopaedic MBA and Fellowship, Advanced Manufacturing Academies, DiscoverME VR career discovery, Young Professionals networking, AcceLINX™ business accelerator services for orthopedic startups, and the $30M Orthopedic Industry Retention Initiative (OIRI) for workforce housing, community amenities, and innovation center development. Programs are largely free or low-cost and funded through grants and industry partner support.

Product overview

OrthoWorx is a non-profit economic development organization (not a software product company) dedicated to maintaining and advancing Warsaw, Indiana's status as the Orthopedic Capital of the World® through three core initiative areas: Talent Pipeline, Community Enrichment, and Innovation. The Talent Pipeline initiative includes programs such as Think Ortho Pathways (8th grade manufacturing career introduction), Advanced Manufacturing Academies (in partnership with IN-MaC and manufacturers), the Orthopaedic MBA Program at Grace College, the Orthopaedic Fellowship Program, Bridge to Employment (BTE) with DePuy Synthes, and DiscoverME (VR-powered career discovery). Community Enrichment encompasses Young Professionals networking events, Think Ortho (workforce attraction), and the Joint Effort storytelling campaign. The Innovation initiative includes AcceLINX™ business accelerator supporting orthopedic startups, and collaboration with Plug and Play's Warsaw medtech office. Additional programs include HireKosciusko Hiring Fairs and the Orthopedic Scholar Institute Seminar Series. OrthoWorx does not offer software products, APIs, or AI-powered technology solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AcceLINX™: An innovation support initiative that through its network and expertise in musculoskeletal health, orthopedic devices, and medical technologies, supports inventors, entrepreneurs, start-ups and later stages of business.
• Think Ortho
• Think Ortho Pathways
• DiscoverME
• Bridge to Employment (BTE)
• Orthopedic Industry Retention Initiative (OIRI)

Products and services

• Talent Pipeline Core workforce development initiative equipping the next generation through partnerships with schools and universities to provide education and experiential learning opportunities for careers in the orthopedic industry.
• Community Enrichment Core initiative creating a vibrant place to live, work, and play through quality-of-life improvements and community amenities in Northern Indiana, including Young Professionals events, Think Ortho workforce attraction, and the Joint Effort storytelling campaign.
• Industry Acceleration (Innovation) Core initiative advancing orthopedic innovation by supporting R&D, collaborating with startups and established companies, hosting symposiums on future industry trends, and operating the AcceLINX™ business accelerator with support from Plug and Play's Warsaw medtech office.
• Orthopaedic MBA Program One-year hybrid MBA program at Grace College pairing students with fellowships at local orthopedic companies, including orthopedic-specific courses and Orthopedic Scholar Institutes.
• Advanced Manufacturing Academies Hands-on learning and apprenticeship program launched in the 2024-2025 school year through partnership with IN-MaC, area schools, and manufacturers including Instrumental Machine & Development, Medartis, Precision Medical Technologies, and Zimmer Biomet.
• AcceLINX™ Business Accelerator Business accelerator supporting inventors, entrepreneurs, and startups in musculoskeletal health and orthopedic devices through network expertise, industry-veteran mentorship, and industry connections.
• HireKosciusko Hiring Fair County-wide hiring fair series connecting job-seekers with employers including Cardinal Services, Danco Medical, Grace College, Zimmer Biomet, and others, hosted at venues such as the Zimmer Biomet Center Lake Pavilion.
• Orthopedic Scholar Institute Seminar Series Educational seminar series that is part of Grace College's Orthopaedic MBA program, featuring subject matter experts providing insider perspectives on orthopedics. Free for OrthoWorx member organizations and $29 per session for non-members.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15X patent rating vs. U.S. average, 5X Indiana average
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Grace CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Orthopaedic MBA program (one-year hybrid program launched May 2024), Orthopedic Scholar Institute seminar series, Center of Excellence in Orthopedic Regulatory and Clinical Affairs (established 2010), and joint events.
• Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation (KEDCO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of Applied Organizational Leadership Studies program, partner on Community Experience Program, Speak Up roundtable events, and various workforce development initiatives.
• Ivy Tech Community College Kosciusko CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Applied Organizational Leadership Studies (AOLS) certificate program providing 18-credit leadership training for working adults, with transferable college credits toward an associate degree.
• DePuy Synthes (Johnson & Johnson MedTech)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBridge to Employment program partner (54 Warsaw Community High School students, 30 mentors, 50 volunteers), young professionals events co-sponsor, event hosting partner.
• IN-MaC (Indiana Manufacturing Academy Consortium)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to launch two Advanced Manufacturing Academies starting 2024-2025 school year, providing STEM-type, skilled trades, and certificate programs bridging educators and industry.
• Instrumental Machine & Development (IMD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional Advanced Manufacturing Pathway partner for the academies, providing industry expertise and career pathways for students at Warsaw Area Career Center.
• MedartiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional Advanced Manufacturing Pathway partner for the academies, providing industry expertise and career pathways for students.
• Precision Medical TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional Advanced Manufacturing Pathway partner for the academies, providing industry expertise and career pathways for students.
• POLYWOODmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolywood Academy collaboration with Pathway CTE Cooperative offering students hands-on experiences in industrial maintenance, robotics, and engineering.
• Kosciusko County Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of young professionals events and networking opportunities, partner on hiring fairs and community initiatives.
• BioCrossroadsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrameWORX event partnership to showcase Indiana's leadership in musculoskeletal health, bringing together over 200 industry, academic, and healthcare leaders.
• Plug and PlaymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading global innovation platform launching office in Warsaw, Indiana focused on medtech industry, providing startups with mentorship, networking, and accelerator program access.
• Warsaw Community SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBridge to Employment program, STEM Academy support (Washington Elementary converted to STEM school in 2012), DiscoverME career discovery program, and Peacebuilder Awards sponsorship.
• Project Lead The WaymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrthoWorx provides majority of funding for Kosciusko County participation in this national STEM curriculum program, enabling all schools in the county to access the curriculum.
• AcceLINXcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation accelerator formed in 2016 supporting inventors, entrepreneurs, and startups in musculoskeletal health through global network of industry veteran expertise.
• OrthoPediatricscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member organization and industry partner, representing pediatric orthopedic device sector in the OrthoWorx ecosystem.
• Paragon MedicalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner and board member organization, Polywood Academy collaboration partner.
• TecometcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner and board member organization.
• StrykercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member organization with Kevin Knox, Director of R&D Upper Extremities, serving on the OrthoWorx board.
• Lake City BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member organization and financial partner, with Chairman & CEO David Findlay serving on the OrthoWorx board and founding board member of AcceLINX.
• City of WarsawcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner with Mayor Jeff Grose serving on the OrthoWorx board.
• Kosciusko CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner and member organization.
• Kosciusko County Community FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity foundation partner with CEO Stephanie Overbey serving on the OrthoWorx board.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• BioCrossroads: Indiana-based life sciences catalyst organization that convenes industry, academic, and government stakeholders to grow the state's life sciences cluster. Closely comparable to OrthoWorx as a regional industry catalyst, and is an explicit FrameWORX event partner.
• TechPoint: Indiana's industry-led growth initiative for the state's tech sector, with a similar mission of talent attraction, community development, and industry acceleration. Operates as a non-profit catalyst in an adjacent vertical within the same state ecosystem.
• Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership: Regional economic development organization serving Northeast Indiana, a peer member of OrthoWorx's coalition. Comparable in driving talent, workforce, and business attraction initiatives for a defined Indiana region.
• Plug and Play: Global innovation platform and startup accelerator with which OrthoWorx has a formal partnership to launch a medtech office in Warsaw. Directly comparable through its accelerator model and industry-vertical specialization (e.g., health/medtech).
• gener8tor: Midwest-based startup accelerator and venture fund running cohort-based programs. Comparable to AcceLINX as a regional/generalist accelerator serving early-stage companies, with overlap in the Indiana/Midwest network.
• MassChallenge: Global non-profit startup accelerator with a dedicated HealthTech program. Directly comparable to AcceLINX as a non-profit, no-equity accelerator model supporting early-stage health and medtech entrepreneurs.
• Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation (KEDCO): County-level economic development organization co-sponsoring OrthoWorx's workforce and community programs. Closest geographic peer in mission, scope, and target outcomes for Kosciusko County.

Broad incumbents

• AdvaMed: National medical device industry trade association representing orthopedic and other device manufacturers. Comparable in advocating for and convening the orthopedic device industry, but operates at a national advocacy level rather than as a regional cluster catalyst.
• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS): The largest orthopedic medical association in the U.S., focused on musculoskeletal care, education, and research. Adjacent comparator through its convening and workforce role in orthopedics, though clinician-focused rather than industry-cluster focused.

Regional players

• 16 Tech Innovation District: Indianapolis-based innovation district focused on biotech, health IT, and advanced engineering talent. Comparable as an Indiana-based innovation ecosystem builder, though focused on Indianapolis rather than Warsaw's orthopedic specialization.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/OrthoWorx
• Facebookfacebook.com/orthoworx
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/orthoworx
• Instagraminstagram.com/orthoworx
• Xx.com/orthoworxinc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about OrthoWorx