Each year, STARTedUP impacts thousands of students from across Indiana through Innovate WithIN.
INNOVATE WITHIN
August 2022 - July 2023
Innovate WithIN offers year-long programming that teaches students to view the world through a lens of entrepreneurship and innovation. The program culminates into a statewide pitch competition that is free and available to all Indiana high school students - offering everything from scholarships to seed funding, all accompanied by a detailed online course that helps students come up with winning ideas and create a well thought out pitch. Innovate WithIN companion course is available for both individual and classroom use.
AUGUST: Applications Open
SEPTEMBER: Teachers Onboarded
OCTOBER: In-School and Corporate Innovation Workshops begin
NOVEMBER: Innovation Workshops continue
DECEMBER: Application submissions continue
JANUARY: Scholarships Finalized
FEBRUARY 16: Application Deadline
MARCH: Regional Finalists announced and mentored by ISBDC Advisors
APRIL: Regional Competitions
MAY: Bootcamp and finalists prepare for State
JUNE: State Finals and InnovateDC
JULY: International Immersion Trip (Alumni)
2023 Innovate WithIN programming had 2,495 student sign ups.
6,262 students have engaged with STARTedUP since 2018.
In 2023, 488 teams submitted pitches, a 39% increase over the 2022 competition year.
Partner Highlight: Ecosystem Development
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation is a founding partner of Innovate WithIN. This organization has socially and financially supported The STARTedUP Foundation and Innovate WithIN since inception.
The Indiana Small Business Development Centers have been supporting entrepreneurs for decades. Located all across the state, ecosystem navigators take time to meet with all Innovate WithIN Regional and State finalists as they work to grow and enhance their businesses.
REGIONAL FINALS
April 2023
The 2023 Regional Finals included the top 51 teams in Indiana, selected out of the 488 teams who submitted a completed pitch. Each student pitch consisted of a lean business model canvas, a one-minute introductory video, and a detailed abstract about the business. These students then traveled during the end of April to one of the following host locations: Purdue University Northwest (northwest Indiana competition), Purdue University Fort Wayne (northeast Indiana competition), Indiana-Kentucky-Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters (IKORCC) (east central Indiana competition), Purdue University Mitch Daniels School of Business (west central Indiana competition), and University of Evansville (southern Indiana competition). The top two teams from each region were invited to compete in the State Finals and gifted $1,000 per student to continue building their business in preparation for State.
500+ students, educators and ecosystem partners attended the 2023 Regional pitch competitions.
Since 2018, $99,000 in seed funding has been given to Regional competitors.
$24,000 in seed funding was distributed during the 2023 Regional pitch competitions.
Partner Highlight: Regional Hosts
Thank you to the five organizations who hosted the 2023 Regional Competitions: IKORCC, Purdue University Mitch Daniels School of Business, Purdue Fort Wayne, Society of Innovators at Purdue University Northwest, and University of Evansville. These groups not only put on the event, many of them also offered mentorship and scholarship opportunities or incentives to all Innovate WithIN 2023 competitors.
“Today’s pitches were outstanding. This is [PFW’s] third year hosting the northeast Indiana regional competition and with each year they have continued to improve. I am truly inspired by all the creative minds in this room.”
— Kimberly Grannan, Purdue Fort Wayne’s Chief of Staff and Community Relations Officer
PREPARATION FOR STATE
April 2023 - June 2023
After the Regional Competitions concluded in April, students were connected to the STARTedUP team, Elevate Ventures EIRs, and representatives at TechPoint to continue receiving supportive services to grow and enhance their businesses. Beyond learning business tips, receiving venture support, and mentorship, students learned leadership skills and grew as individuals – preparing to not only become great leaders and build a thriving business, but learning soft skills that would teach them how to be innovative and sought-after employees.
22 state finalists were mentored by local EIRs (Entrepreneurs in Residence) through Elevate Ventures as they prepared for the State Finals.
TechPoint’s Venture Support was given to the top ten teams who competed in Innovate WithIN.
STARTedUP provided hands-on supportive services and resources for the state finalists, meeting over 25 times during the month of May to help them prepare for State.
Partner Highlight: Statewide Mentorship
Thank you to Elevate Ventures’ Entrepreneurs in Residence for offering 1:1 mentorship and support for our state finalists and thank you to TechPoint’s Venture Support for making connections and offering financial advice to our finalists looking to grow their businesses!
BOOTCAMP
May 2023
For the first time, STARTedUP hosted a weekend-long bootcamp for all the Innovate WithIN state finalists. Attendees heard from local business leaders, received mentorship, learned how to create a well-thought out video pitch, networked, and had the opportunity to bond with one another prior to the State Finals.
22 state finalists traveled to Indianapolis for a weekend-long immersive bootcamp in May of 2023.
Six organizations sponsored or partnered with The STARTedUP Foundation to make the Bootcamp experience possible.
38 business leaders participated as mentors to support students in building and growing their businesses.
Partner Highlight: Bootcamp Sponsor
Thank you to the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership for being our Bootcamp Weekend sponsor! Innovate WithIN state finalists traveled to Indianapolis for a weekend full of innovation, entrepreneurship, and connectivity as they brainstormed and received valuable feedback from local employers and business leaders.
STATE FINALS
June 2023
In June, the top ten teams in the state traveled back to Indianapolis to compete in the 2023 Innovate WithIN State Finals. The students pitched to an esteemed panel of judges from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, Butler University, 50 South Capital, Global Entrepreneurship Network, and Old National Bank. Beyond hearing the ten student pitches, State Finals attendees heard from an innovation panel, business mentors, STARTedUP Alumni, educators, and notable guests such as Governor Eric Holcomb and Butler University President James Danko. The awardees are as follows: Clean Line (first place), Tow Scout (second place), Novos (third place), IntelliKits (People’s Choice Award), and Krissy LaFlech (STARTedUP Teacher of the Year).
Over 250 educators, government officials, and business leaders attended the 2023 Innovate WithIN State Finals in June.
$32,500 in seed funding and $20,000 in 529 funds were awarded during the 2023 State Finals pitch competition.
18 organizations sponsored or partnered with The STARTedUP Foundation to make the Innovate WithIN State Finals possible.
Partner Highlight: State Finals Host
Thank you to Butler University for hosting the 2023 Innovate WithIN State Finals! Butler hosted the State Finals for the first time in 2022 and will also be our host for the 2024 state pitch competition taking place next June.
INNOVATEDC
June 2023
2023 was the first year STARTedUP brought state finalists to Washington, D.C. and it was an amazing experience (so much so that we are doing it again in 2024!). Immersion trips like InnovateDC expose students to other businesses, communities, and ventures, arming them with information they can bring back to Indiana and implement in their own businesses. The students met with innovators and business leaders in the nation’s capital; had the opportunity to tour flourishing businesses like FedTech, LINK Strategic Partners, and Dupont Underground; hear from a panel of local leaders; join a session at the Capitol focused on innovation and entrepreneurship in education; and meet notable members of Congress like Representative Greg Pence and Representative Victoria Spartz.
21 students traveled to Washington, D.C. for an immersion experience after State Finals.
12 organizations partnered with The STARTedUP Foundation to expose students to innovation while they traveled to the nation’s capital.
150 individuals attended events hosted by STARTedUP while in D.C.
Partner Highlight: InnovateDC Site Host
2023 was the first year that STARTedUP traveled with the Innovate WithIN state finalists to Washington, D.C. One of the organizations we connected with was FedTech, who offered our students a site tour and took time to hear the students’ pitches and provide mentorship. We are excited to announce that we will be visiting FedTech again when we travel to D.C. next June!
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Ongoing
All STARTedUP students who have competed in the Regional Finals since the program’s inception are invited to join the STARTedUP Alumni Association. As part of the Association, Alumni are invited to attend monthly meetups where they can connect with one another and hear from world-renowned entrepreneurs. All active members of the Alumni Association are invited to apply for one of the coveted spots to participate in international travel (taking place each July) and are connected to business leaders looking to hire for their organization.
Seven students traveled to Italy in July for a once-in-a-lifetime immersion experience, meeting with global innovators and entrepreneurs in the motorsports industry.
93% of engaged Alumni remained in Indiana post high school graduation.
STARTedUP Alumni received $36,000+ to grow their businesses through other pitch competitions or private venture capital funding in 2023.
Partner Highlight: Italian Immersion Experience
Seven members of the Alumni Association and five teachers in the Innovation Educator Fellowship travelled to Italy to participate in an immersion experience hosted by Dallara. Attendees participated in innovation workshops with Italian students; toured brands like Ducati, Pagani and Barilla; attended a Formula SAE ceremony in the iconic Italian Motor Valley; and met famous entrepreneurs like Mr. Giampaolo Dallara and Mr. Horacio Pagani.
