The STARTedUP Foundation announces ten regional winners for the Innovate WithIN pitch competition

The STARTedUP Foundation is proud to announce the ten regional winners of the Innovate WithIN Pitch Competition who will be moving on to the state competition on June 15, 2023, 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.

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. The State Finals offers a grand prize of $25,000 in seed funding to the winning team with an additional $10,000 in 529 funds, along with other awards for runners-up.

The ten regional winners, who will be competing in the state competition, are:

1. Cancer Catch - Suhani Lodha and Jacqueline Roth - Carmel High School

2. Clean Line - Nathan Dierckman and Makayla Phillips - Carmel High School

3. Communi - Seth Cavinder, Emilie Henry, and Adrianna Senteney - AMP Lab at Electric Works

4. Dr. Orthopedic - Claire Deardorff and Jennifer Vazquez - Signature School Inc

5. Intellikits - Nash Brown and Connor Wueller - Dekalb High School

6. Legaltec - Jude Allaw, Ethan Hilton, and Mann Patel - Signature School Inc

7. Novos - Joshua Avila, Austin Beetson, and Sayeed Mohammed - Munster High School

8. Osci Charge - Josiah Findley and Ian Jack - Greenfield-Central High School

9. Red Applications - Liam Lloyd and Edgar Medina - Westfield High School

10. Tow Scout - Benjamin Eberle - Hobart High School

This pitch competition is a unique opportunity for students to showcase their creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit. It not only encourages students to develop their business ideas but also helps to foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in Indiana. Through the commitment of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, the Indiana Department of Education, and the Indiana Small Business Development Center, the State demonstrates its support of young innovators and entrepreneurs. By connecting students to business leaders, supporting teachers, and offering business resources, these organizations are a testament to the State’s dedication of building a stronger and more prosperous future for Indiana.

The STARTedUP Foundation is proud to partner with these organizations and many others to promote innovation and entrepreneurship among Indiana students. We congratulate the regional winners and wish them the best of luck in the state competition. We also extend our gratitude to all the participants, mentors, and sponsors who made this year’s Innovate WithIN pitch competition a success.

We invite business leaders, entrepreneurs, educators, and Indiana residents to join us at the State Finals taking place on June 15, 2023, at Butler University. More details can be found on www.startedupfoundation.org/state-finals.

For more information about the STARTedUP Foundation and the Innovate WithIN pitch competition, please visitwww.startedupfoundation.org.