Discover Your Passion. Pitch Your Future.
Welcome to the STARTedUP Challenge
Formerly known as Innovate WithIN, the nation’s most elite high school pitch competition is back with a new name, and the same incredible opportunities.
Compete for a
$25,000 prize
exclusive mentorship
travel + more.
Start your Journey
Join the Challenge
Sign up today to unlock exclusive tools, resources, and guidance that will help you turn your idea into a real business. From brainstorming to building, you’ll get everything you need to prepare for your pitch.
1
Build & Prep
Work through the resources at your own pace. Along the way, you’ll learn how to refine your idea, strengthen your pitch, and gain confidence as an entrepreneur. This stage is all about growth, learning, and laying the foundation for your big moment.
2
Submit Your Pitch
Once you’re ready, officially enter the STARTedUP Challenge by submitting your pitch. This is your opportunity to showcase your solution, compete for funding, and gain recognition as an innovator. Submit by: March 6th, 2026
3
Are you a teacher and want to follow along with what your students are doing? Sign up for an observer account!
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 Pitch Competitions, 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 on June 12th, 2026.
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.
The Competition Timeline
Dream it.
Design your business idea and practice your pitch.
It all begins with an idea. Through the STARTedUP curriculum, you will create a business plan, video pitch, and summary. Make sure to submit your application in time so you do not miss out on this life-changing experience!
Pitch it.
Pitch your idea at the Regional Competition.
After submitting your application, the top ten teams in your area will advance to Regionals. There, you’ll pitch to local judges, and the winner moves on to STARTedUP Challenge Finals. Plus, three wildcard teams from across Indiana will also advance.
Build it.
Expand your business model at STARTedUP Bootcamp.
After Regionals, the top ten teams will engage in an eight-week bootcamp to build their business and connect with top Indiana entrepreneurs as they prepare for the nationally-recognized STARTedUP Challenge Finals (formerly know as Innovate WithIN).
Launch it.
Compete in STARTedUP Challenge Finals for scholarships and a $25,000 prize.
After you meet with the experts and renovate your idea, you will travel to Indianapolis to share your business with the community and pitch your idea during the STARTedUP Challenge Finals. Business leaders from across the nation witness these pitches!
Share it.
Travel to Washington, D.C. on an immersion trip.
Don’t let your business stop after the STARTedUP Challenge Finals. All Finalists are invited on an Immersion trip as we travel to a city buzzing with entrepreneurs and innovative thought leaders! In the past, we have gone to places like Washington, D.C., Phoenix, Tampa, and more.
Experience it.
Attend an international immersion trip through the Alumni Association.
Why stop after the Regional Competition? All regional finalists are invited to join the STARTedUP Alumni Association with opportunities for international travel, global networking, connections to internships, and so much more!
Need some inspo? Meet the 2025 Finalists
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Lovey Duv
Lovey Duv Sugar Scrub is an all-natural, organic skincare product that gently exfoliates, deeply hydrates, and restores a healthy, radiant glow to all skin types.
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SpheriLine
SpheriLine innovates upon central lines to fight infection risks, improve patient experiences, and to support nurses.
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NextGen Research Institute
NextGen connects high schoolers all across the world with real-world research opportunities at less than 1% the cost of our competitors.
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Compleyes.ai
Compleyes.ai helps manufacturing companies streamline environmental compliance by automating manual reporting tasks with AI-powered tools.
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SafetyGlow
SafetyGlow enhances road safety with a retractable, highly-visible LED light strip for trucks, making broken-down vehicles easy to spot in dark conditions, reducing the risk of accidents on highways.
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Septo
Septo provides a simple, noninvasive solution for infection tracking through an X-shaped, plant-powered bandage designed to comfortably wrap around vulnerable joints.
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True Blue
True Blue is dedicated to raising awareness about juvenile diabetes through educational outreach programs in elementary schools.
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Tailored Bites
Tailored Bites offers affordable, high-quality, dog and cat food tailored to pets dietary needs using locally sourced ingredients.
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VisiTube
VisiTube is a glow-in-the-dark cover for medical tubing that helps prevent falls and brings peace of mind to patients, caregivers, and families.
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GripGuard Soccer Sox
GripGuard Soccer Sox’s mission is to reduce landfill waste, improve performance factors for athletes, and protect them by introducing a higher quality sock with innovative grip technology.
Why the Name Change?
After eight incredible years as Innovate WithIN, a name that served us well and saw thousands of students discover their entrepreneurial potential, we're excited to introduce the STARTedUP Challenge.
The name 'STARTedUP Challenge' captures exactly what we’ve seen thousands of students do: they START with an idea, get fired UP about making a difference, and then they embrace the worthy CHALLENGE of tackling real problems that ignites genuine passion.
While we'll always treasure the legacy of Innovate WithIN and the amazing innovations it inspired, the STARTedUP Challenge perfectly captures the energy, purpose, and entrepreneurial spirit that defines the experience that awaits students.
Real stories, local wins, practical resources.
Real stories, local wins, practical resources.
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