InnovateDC: 2025
2024 Recap
State Finalists travel cross-country to learn about innovation from national leaders and entrepreneurs.
The top ten Innovate WithIN teams will travel to Washington D.C. to connect with government officials, thought-leaders, and change-makers as they learn about entrepreneurship and innovation from people who experience it first-hand everyday.
June 24, 2025
1:30-3:30 | Smithsonian Museum Visit
Our students will tour various Smithsonian National Museums (including the Museum of American History and the Museum of Natural History) upon their arrival in Washington DC..
6:00-9:00 | Team Dinner and Sightseeing
June 25, 2025
9:00AM - 11:00 PM | Site Visit: Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy
Our Innovate WIthIN State Finalists will have exclusive opportunity to immerse themselves in the work that the Krach Insitute does to ensure that technology advances freedom.
11:30AM - 12:30 PM | Lunch & Site Visit: LINK Strategic Partners
Our Innovate WIthIN State Finalists will engage in a “Lunch and Learn” with members of the LINK Strategic Partners team where they will gain insights on how they support social-impact organizations with their messaging and community-building.
2:00 PM | Site Visit: Anduril
We will continue our tour of technology innovation by meeting with leadership from this premier military defense provider to learn how they are developing cutting-edge solutions to arm and defend servicemen and women on the battlefield.
6:00 PM | Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Panel, Hosted by IU Innovates
This event will bring together D.C. industry leaders, global innovators, entrepreneurs, and government representatives that believe in the critical role that innovation and entrepreneurship plays in building the next generation.
The evening will feature networking and a panel of esteemed partners who demonstrate the importance of establishing an entrepreneurial mindset, bringing ideas to life, and encouraging students to continue growing their businesses.
Logan Jenkins
Circular Venture Lab
Liz Ward
Startup Advisor
Ron Williams
Coppin State University
Erik Pages
EntreWorks Consulting
Christon Hill
Georgetown Office of Technology Commercialization
June 26, 2025
10:00 AM | Site Visit: Pinkston
1-on-1 Coaching
Our Innovate WIthIN State Finalists will have an exclusive opportunity to learn from a leading strategic communications organization, Pinkston, where they will work members of the leadership team to develop storytelling strategies and crisis communications for their ventures.
2:00 PM | Site Visit: US Chamber of Commerce
Our students will have exclusive access to the world’s largest business organization to learn from leadership about how the policies that they are advocating for can have an impact on these young founders’ entrepreneurial journies..
5:30 PM | Networking Event: Hoosier Hub: Connecting Indiana Innovators in DC
This event will bring together members of the Ice Miller LLP and STARTedUP network with Indiana ties in order to connect our student entrepreneurs with resources and feedback to further develop their venture.
