INnovation Tour 2026
2025 Recap
State Finalists travel across the state to learn about innovation from national leaders and entrepreneurs.
The top ten 2026 STARTedUP Challenge Finalist teams will travel throughout Central and Northern Indiana to kick off the inaugural INnovation Tour. This Tour will allow finalists to better connect with the Hoosier State’s innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem, network, and learn from key business leaders from various industries.
Note: Innovate WithIN is now the STARTedUP Challenge
June 15, 2026
11:00AM-12:30PM | Site Visit and Lunch & Learn: Lucas Oil Products
Our STARTedUP Challenge Finalists will meet with Lucas Oil Products’ leadership team, give them elevator pitches, and engage in an interactive “Lunch and Learn” with the executives.
5:00PM-7:00PM | Networking Dinner with Elevate Ventures & Indiana Starters Coalition
This event will bring together industry leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, and government representatives who believe in the critical role that innovation and entrepreneurship play in building the next generation. The evening will serve as an opportunity for exclusive networking and a chance to engage with Indiana’s brightest entrepreneurial talent as they embark on this transformative journey. Guests will have the opportunity to connect with the 10 finalist teams, members of the STARTedUP Alumni Associations, and local teachers from our Innovation Accelerator.
June 16, 2026
9:30AM - 12:00PM | Site Visit: Fair Oaks Farms
Our students will have the exclusive opportunity to meet with the leadership team of Fair Oaks Farm and pitch them their business ventures. Immediately following, everyone will take a bus tour of Fair Oaks Farms.
1:00PM - 3:30PM | Lab Tour and Lunch & Learn: Urschel Laboratories
Our STARTedUP Challenge Finalists will engage in a “Lunch and Learn” with leaders of the Urschel team where they will gain insights on how the history of the company, lessons learned, and keys to success. The students will then give their elevator pitches before going on a behind-the-scenes tour of the laboratory.
5:30PM - 7:30PM | Networking Dinner with WeCreate Media and NWI Forum
This event will bring together members of the WeCreate Media, Northwest Indiana Forum, and STARTedUP network to connect our student entrepreneurs with resources and feedback to further develop their ventures.
June 17, 2026
9:00AM - 11:00AM | Site Visit and Tour: Micropulse
Our students will have an exclusive opportunity to learn from the founder of Micropulse and hear his biggest takeaways regarding his entrepreneurial journey. Afterwards, the finalist teams will pitch their ventures before taking a tour of the manufacturing facility.
11:30AM - 1:00PM | Leadership Chat and Tour: Sweetwater
The STARTedUP Challenge Finalists will meet with leadership from Sweetwater to learn about this history of the company and how it’s grown to be one of the world’s largest retailers of musical instruments and AV equipment. After pitching their businesses to leadership, students will have the chance to explore the museum.
2:30PM - 4:30PM | Executive Team Meeting and Factory Tour: Fort Wayne Metals
The Executive Team from Fort Wayne Metals will meet with our ten finalist teams and listen to their elevator pitches. Then the Executive Team will discuss perspectives on innovation, leadership, and the company’s journey with our students before they tour the facility.
June 18, 2026
9:00AM - 11:00AM | Leadership Meeting and Facility Tour: Delta Faucet
Our students will have the exclusive opportunity to meet with the leadership team of Delta Faucet and pitch them their business ventures. Following a leadership presentation, the ten teams will tour Delta Faucet’s facility.
12:00PM - 1:30PM | Site Visit and Leadership Meeting: Visit Hamilton County
Our STARTedUP Challenge Finalists will give their elevator pitches to Visit Hamilton County’s Leadership Team. After a brief presentation, students will dive into a 30-minute Innovation Challenge by solving a real problem that the organization is facing.
