RELEASE: The STARTedUP Foundation’s Innovate WithIN is the largest high school pitch competition in the country and has grown year-over-year - with 2024 being another record breaking year. There were nearly 3000 students who signed up to compete with a 28% increase in the number of teams who submitted a finalized pitch, including a one-minute sizzle reel and lean business model canvas.

RELEASE: In a groundbreaking partnership, G-Unity Foundation, Pacers Sports & Entertainment, and The STARTedUP Foundation are coming together to ignite the spirit of entrepreneurship among Indianapolis youth. This dynamic collaboration aims to leverage the unique strengths of each organization to provide young innovators with unparalleled opportunities for growth and development.

This newsletter features Innovate WithIN kickoff, the 2023-2024 Innovation Fellows, statewide resources, new sponsors, and statewide Innovation Workshops!

BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA (WBIW) - In partnership with the City of Bloomington, The Mill and Ivy Tech Bloomington, the STARTedUP Foundation performed an Innovation Workshop for three local high schools: Bloomington High School South, Edgewood High School, and the Academy of Science and Entrepreneurship.

In an age defined by rapid technological advancements and shifting educational paradigms, the role of educators has never been more critical. The 2023-2024 STARTedUP Foundation Indiana Innovation Educator Fellows program represents a beacon of hope for the education sector, offering a unique opportunity for 35 educators across Indiana to embrace innovation, adapt to changing circumstances, and empower the next generation with the skills they need to thrive in a complex world.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Helping students view the world with an entrepreneur’s mindset. That’s the goal of a program hosted by the “STARTedUP Foundation.” News 8 Anchor Phil Sanchez goes UnPHILtered tonight with CEO Don Wettrick, and one of his former students, Kerry Ao, who went through the program.

The countdown is over and excitement is in the air as Innovate WithIN officially kicked off year seven on August 15, 2023! In an era driven by innovation, where creativity and entrepreneurship are the keys to success, Indiana's students and teachers have been presented with the opportunity to hone their skills and embrace their entrepreneurial spirit. This program is designed to ignite the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship among Indiana's high school students and is poised to inspire and empower a new generation of visionary leaders.

CHANNEL 13 PBS - STARTedUP Alumni Isis Fleming and Kayla Davis were featured on PBS’s ‘Friends & Neighbors’ episode as they outline the value of community involvement and entrepreneurship.

Steve Franks on Innovation - Over the past few months, I’ve attended five venture pitch competitions and judged two of them. During all of that, I noticed something. Nearly all competitions produce a tiny number of winners, while the rest of the contestants leave as losers. Think about it. The ratio of winners to losers in a typical competition rewards only a few - as the vast majority of contestants slink off into the sunset.

NWI Biz Magazine - Four of our Innovate WithIN State Finalists (Benjamin Eberle, Austin Beetson, Joshua Avila, and Sayeed Mohammed), two of our Indiana Innovation Educator Fellows (Daniel Schultz and Krissy LaFlech, MBA), and our sponsor and partner Purdue University Northwest / The Society of Innovators's Jason Williams were featured in Northwest Indiana Business Magazine!

PNW - Munster High School graduate Sayeed Mohammed will begin his college career at Purdue University Northwest (PNW) with the added benefit of a full year of tuition for 2023-24 earned by participating in the Innovate WithIN business pitch competition this summer.

LinkedIn - The STARTedUP Foundation is creating an ecosystem for student entrepreneurs in Indiana. According to founder Don Wettrick, programming is designed to encourage students to adopt a ‘problems as opportunities’ mindset. Mentors helps students prepare their pitch, build their business plan, and compete in a state wide pitch competition. Read about the remarkable winning innovations here.

This newsletter features the 2023 Innovate WithIN State Finals, Immersion Trip to Washington D.C., 2023 Bootcamp, and teases upcoming events, such as the kick off for the 2024 Indiana Innovation Educator Fellowship, Innovate WithIN Pitch Competition, the trip to Italy in July, and so much more!

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) - Three local high school students are gaining national attention for a new startup company they’re working on. These high school students, turned entrepreneurs, have done a lot with their website past few months, after creating their startup company, Legaltec, over a year ago. Legaltec’s purpose is to connect people with their ‘perfect lawyer’ based on their situation and preferred criteria using artificial intelligence.

Greenfield Daily Reporter - GREENFIELD — A pair of recent Greenfield-Central High School graduates returned Thursday from an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., where they met with investors and technology experts to pitch their Bluetooth-powered charging technology — OsciCharge. The team consisting of Ian Jack and Josiah Findley was among the 10 finalists in this year’s Innovate WithIN competition, which encourages budding entrepreneurs and investors to come up with their best designs with the hopes of turning their dreams into reality.

Hamilton Reporter - Last Thursday, June 15, the STARTedUP Foundation’s sixth annual Innovate WithIN State Competition took place at Butler University. The 2023 Innovate WithIN state competition first place winner is Clean Line, made up of Nathan Dierckman and Makayla Phillips from Carmel High School.

On Thursday, June 15, the STARTedUP Foundation’s sixth annual Innovate WithIN State Competition took place at Butler University where they announced the first, second and third place winners as well as the team that won the People’s Choice Award and the educator awarded the 2023 STARTedUP Teacher of the Year.

The Hamilton County Reporter - The STARTedUP Foundation has announced the 10 regional winners of the Innovate WithIN pitch competition who will be moving on to the state competition on June 15 at Butler University. The regional competitions, made possible by IKORCC, Purdue University School of Management / Purdue Innovates, Purdue University Fort Wayne, Purdue University Northwest, and the University of Evansville, saw hundreds of students from across Indiana showcase their entrepreneurial spirit and business ideas.

Inside Indiana Business (Alex Brown) - Indianapolis-based The STARTedUP Foundation has announced the 10 regional winners of the Innovate WithIN Pitch Competition. The winners will advanced to the state competition next month to complete for a $25,000 seed funding grand prize. Teams of up to three high school students are given the opportunity to pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges comprised of entrepreneurs and business leaders.

The Innovate WithIN pitch competition aims to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship among Indiana students. The competition provides students with the opportunity to pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges made up of experienced entrepreneurs and business leaders.