CEO & Co-Founder

Don is the founder and CEO of the STARTedUP Foundation, a nonprofit focused on encouraging students to view the world through the lens of entrepreneurship. With over twenty years of experience as an educator, Don is well-versed in the realm of innovation, entrepreneurship, and the importance of arming students with the skills and the network to succeed. As a part of STARTedUP, Wettrick runs Innovate WithIN, the State of Indiana's innovation and entrepreneurship program and competition, the largest high school pitch competition in the country.

Most notably, Wettrick is the author of “Pure Genius: Building a Culture of Innovation,” which challenges the education system to find creative ways to inspire entrepreneurship and student innovation beyond the classroom. Wettrick's passion for innovation led him to launch the STARTedUP podcast in 2018, where he has hosted influential guests such as Jeff Hoffman, Laila Mickelwait, and Gary Vaynerchuk. He is also a world-renowned educator, invited to speak globally on education and entrepreneurship, speaking at TEDx on multiple occasions. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his wife of 27 years, Alicia, and their three children.

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