2026 Regional Pitch Competitions
Each year, thousands of students submit their big ideas.
From these submissions, 70 standout teams—10 from each of our 7 competition regions—are selected to compete at the Regional Finals, where they present their ideas live in front of judges and an audience.
At each regional event, one winning team will secure their spot at the STARTedUP Challenge Finals and receive $1,000 per student (up to three team members). Additionally, three wildcard teams from throughout the state will be selected after the final regional pitch competition. In total, 10 teams will move on to compete for the grand prize at Butler University in June. Thank you to our 2026 regional hosts!
Explore Your Region
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Region 1
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Region 2
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Region 3
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Region 4
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Region 5
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Region 6
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Region 7
The Prize Pool
The Prize Pool
Challenge Finals
First Place: $25,000
Second Place: $5,000
Third Place: $2,500
People’s Choice Award: $1,500
Scholarships
Butler University and Purdue University Northwest are offering scholarship opportunities at all levels, from applying to winning the competition.
Regionals
Seven regional winners and three wildcards will receive:
3-person team: $3,000
2-person team: $2,000
Solo team: $1,000
Bootcamp
Challenge Finalists will receive a two-day in-person bootcamp experience where they will get hands on, one-on-one mentorship opportunities, workshops, and participate in a real-world innovation exercise.
Travel
For 2026, Challenge Finalists will take part in STARTedUP’s INnovation Tour, where they will travel across the state to network, bond, and explore the entrepreneurial ecosystem in their own backyard.
Check out last year’s regional recaps!
Region 1
Region 2
Region 3
Region 4
Region 5
*formerly known as Innovate WithIN