STARTedUP Challenge 2026 Scholarship Offerings

Terms & Conditions

About STARTedUP Challenge

STARTedUP Challenge is the most elite high school pitch competition in the country giving Hoosier students the opportunity to create their own business plans and showcase entrepreneurial ideas throughout the state. In addition to the opportunities listed, first place winners of the state competition will receive $25,000 in seed funding towards their business. All participants are eligible for college scholarships, internship opportunities, mentoring, and more. All participants who make it to Regionals are also invited to join STARTedUP Alumni Association!

Incentive Overview

  • This level is offered to any student who signs up to participate in the STARTedUP Challenge. Applications will open in September and will close in March. This is available to all students who submit an application.

  • This level is offered to any student who is selected as one of the top 10 teams in each of the seven regions to participate in one of the regional pitch competitions in April.

  • This level is offered to any student who receives 1st place or is selected as a wildcard at any of the regional competitions to move on to pitch at STARTedUP Challenge Finals in June.

  • This level is offered to any student who places during STARTedUP Challenge Finals. The incentives and scholarships can vary based on which place the team receives (ie: first place could have different incentives from third place).

Butler University

Thank you to Butler University for offering scholarships to 2026 STARTedUP Challenge applicants! Please note the following:

  • Scholarships are not cumulative

  • All scholarships are in addition to other Butler University scholarships

  • Offerings are dependent on application and acceptance to the university

  • Minimum guaranteed merit scholarship: $10,000

    This is available to all students who either:

    • Submit an eligible Video Pitch to the Competition portal by the established due date or deliver an eligible pitch in a participating In-Class pitch challenge.

  • Minimum guaranteed merit scholarship of $18,000

  • Minimum guaranteed merit scholarship of $20,000

  • Minimum guaranteed merit scholarship of $20,000

Purdue University Northwest

Thank you to PNW and the Society of Innovators for offering scholarships to 2026 STARTedUP Challenge applicants! Please note the following:

  • Scholarships are not cumulative

  • All scholarships are in addition to other PNW scholarships

  • Offerings are dependent on application and acceptance to the university

  • A $250 book scholarship offered to any STARTedUP Challenge participant who registers as a full-time student at PNW.

  • A one-year (non-renewable) full tuition scholarship will be offered to 1st place winners.

    Students whose teams place (1st, 2nd, or 3rd) at regional competition will have an opportunity to intern with the Society of Innovators or the NWI Small Business Development Center, if they enroll as a degree-seeking student at PNW.

  • 1st place STARTedUP Challenge Finals winners: A one-year full tuition and room & board scholarship

    Students whose teams place (1st, 2nd, or 3rd) at the challenge finals will have an opportunity to intern with the Society of Innovators or the NWI Small Business Development Center, if they enroll as a degree-seeking student at PNW.

Terms & Conditions

  • Any partner offering scholarships or incentives makes them only available to you once you are accepted and enrolled into the respective university or school.

  • If you advance to the next round, you will be able to update your preferred offering.

  • Scholarships do not stack year upon year.

  • The scholarship offering that you choose will be available to you and tracked by the universities you select (and by IWI) until you graduate from high school.  If you compete in future competitions you will be able to update your selections.

  • You must be an eligible participant per the STARTedUP Challenge terms and conditions. If you have not agreed to the competition terms and conditions or are otherwise deemed ineligible to compete, then you are not eligible for any of our partner offerings.

  • You must complete the competition requirements within each Round. If you are selected to compete in Round 2 or 3 and drop out or are disqualified you may (or may not) still be eligible for the Round 1 scholarship.  Scholarship disbursements are subject to restrictions by STARTedUP Challenge and any granting partners.

  • Universities determine their scholarship rules.  Any scholarship or incentive offerings are subject to the rules and stipulations of the offering partner, not your interpretation of how it has been communicated to you.

  • Offerings are decided by the regulations of the institution and may be revoked at any time.

  • It is not the responsibility of STARTedUP Challenge to track any information for you.  It’s not the fault of STARTedUP Challenge if you do not qualify for a scholarship or are not accepted into a partner school or university (or are otherwise unable to attend). By accepting any scholarship offerings, we are not guaranteeing that you will receive them, you must be accepted by (and enrolled with) the partner and be in compliance with any rules, requirements or restrictions offered as part of accepting (or eligibility for) any offering (such as GPA, student association membership, course enrollment, status, credit hour requirements, deadlines, communication, etc.).

  • If you participate in the competition but fail to select a scholarship and fill out the scholarship form then you will not receive one. You must fill out the form by the deadline.

  • For many partners, scholarships and other incentives are on a “first come first serve” basis and may not be available as described. All offerings and their quantities are at the discretion of the individual partners, and not STARTedUP Challenge. 

  • Scholarships, offerings, or any other incentives are only available with officially partnered universities, in the competition year that you have officially entered and competed. If a college or university (or other partner) is not on our official offerings list, then there is no offering from them that you are eligible for. STARTedUP Challenge does not make you eligible to receive a scholarship from a college that is not an STARTedUP Challenge partner.

  • STARTedUP Challenge makes no guarantee that you will receive a scholarship.

  • STARTedUP Challenge has the right to determine any individual eligible or ineligible for partner offerings, incentives, or scholarships, with or without reason at any time during the competition.