STARTedUP Challenge

2026 State Finals

About the most elite high school pitch competition in the country.

Ten teams from across Indiana get to compete for $25,000 in seed funding. All finalists are invited to travel on an immersion trip in June, and will have the opportunity to acquire thousands of dollars in scholarships and enter the STARTedUP Alumni Association, where they can stay connected to a vast network of young innovators.

We will be joined by government officials, business leaders, fellow entrepreneurs, educators, and family members.

Meet the Finalists

  • PageMD

    Seth Donea, Chaz Burkett, & Veronica Rodionova

    PageMD is an AI-powered medical paging system that eliminates phone bottlenecks in clinics by intelligently handling and routing incoming calls, allowing staff to focus on patient care.

    Region 1 Finalist | Signature School Inc

  • OccluSense

    Riya Koya & Zaina Khan

    OccluSense is transforming IV safety by replacing one-size-fits-all alarm systems with context-aware pressure analysis, reducing alarm fatigue, preventing unnecessary patient mortality, and freeing up critical nursing time through a smarter, more responsive hospital alerting system.

    Region 2 Finalist | Carmel High School

  • Dermi

    Angie Xiu & Alex Mi

    Dermi is a bias-corrected skin cancer screening platform that combines an affordable smartphone dermoscope with high-accuracy AI to deliver accessible, equitable early detection across all skin tones.


    Region 2 Wildcard | Carmel High School

  • Luna Bandages

    Luke Padgett & Nathan Peck

    Luna Bandages completely revolutionizes the bandage industry with first-of-its-kind reusable, hook and loop secured, fabric bandages that prevents and treats blisters.

    Region 3 Finalist | Brownsburg High School

  • Iconic Looks

    Trinity Easley

    Region 3 Wildcard | McKenzie Career Center

  • Course Caddy

    Brandon Walker

    Course Caddy is a golf ball retrieval system that saves both time and money through color strip and drone technology.

    Region 4 Finalist | Munster High School

  • NAM

    Aris Koehler, Mason Green & Noah Deeds

    NAM Spike Guard protects track athletes’ racing spikes with a lightweight, snap-on cover that prevents damage on hard surfaces while allowing comfortable movement between events.


    Region 4 Wildcard | Mishawaka High School

  • Reese Olivia Creative

    Reese Streicher

    Reese Olivia Creative offers custom designs through embroidery and painting, turning personal ideas into meaningful, one-of-a-kind creations, all for His glory.


    Region 5 Finalist | Carroll High School

  • Roots2Results

    Kishan Patel & Tucker Harris

    Roots2Results is an AI-powered platform that simplifies and translates complex financial and business documents, tailored to local regulations and built to support immigrant and non-citizen entrepreneurs navigating systems like visas and compliance.

    Region 6 Finalist |Floyd Central High School

  • Phoenix Phuels

    Nathan Jones, Bradley Moore & Jude Sabla

    Phoenix Phuels is a company that cuts down on plastic waste in landfills and helps cut down on gas prices at the same time by turning plastic into fuel.

    Region 7 Finalist | Terre Haute North Vigo High School