A Prime-Time Moment for Indiana’s Young Innovators — Thanks to WRTV
Most brands pay thousands to run a commercial during Shark Tank, but thanks to the generosity of WRTV, our 2025 Innovate WithIN state winners got their own 30-second primetime spotlight, completely free.
On Wednesday, July 23 at 5:15 PM, before Shark Tank aired, WRTV premiered a feature story on Compleyes.ai, the AI-powered startup built by high school students Raina Maiga and Truman Greaves. The story, reported by Taj Simmons, spotlighted the students’ $25,000-winning pitch to simplify environmental compliance reporting for manufacturers.
During the 10PM commercial break of Shark Tank, viewers across Central Indiana saw something rare: an ad produced for free, showcasing Raina and Truman’s startup. This moment wouldn’t have happened without the generosity and commitment of Charlie Grisham, who directed the filming for an ad spot, honoring a promise he made to STARTedUP founder Don Wettrick to give Indiana’s top student founders a platform they deserve.
“I’ve worked in TV for decades,” Charlie shared on LinkedIn. “I’ve never given away prime-time inventory like this. But I think it’s time more people see what’s possible when we trust young Hoosiers to lead real businesses now.”
We’re grateful for WRTV for showcasing our students. At STARTedUP, we believe there’s real power in telling stories like this , ones that show what’s possible when young people in Indiana are given the chance to build real solutions in a modern world.
Check out Charlie’s LinkedIn posts! This one contains the commercial that was aired, and this one has some behind-the-scenes action!
