What happens when classrooms are given the space to thrive?
When students have the right space to explore, a simple spark can grow into something real. In Accelerator classrooms, students go beyond learning theory to create real solutions to problems they see in their schools, towns, and world.
Each year, in the second semester, students have the chance to bring their ideas to life in a statewide competition and showcase of young Hoosier innovation. This culminating experience allows students to refine their ideas, test their entrepreneurial skills, and present their solutions on a bigger stage.
This is the heart of Innovate WithIN, Indiana's most elite high school pitch competition. Many participants first discover their innovative potential in Accelerator classrooms, where teachers guide them through those crucial first steps of creative problem-solving.
Check out 2024's Top 10 State Finalist Teams! These students took their ideas all the way from concept to opportunity and their stories show what's possible when classrooms become launchpads for innovation.
(Remember: while these teams reached the finals, every success story starts with a single idea. We're not expecting students to build the next unicorn startup overnight—we're creating spaces where they feel empowered to think boldly, explore curiously, and grow confidently.)
Meet The 2024 Finalists
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Hydroxy
Hydroxy creates affordable, easy-to-use devices that pull water from the air to help farmers irrigate crops even in dry areas.
Lenea Elliot, Matthew McKeehan, Colten Mitchell | Perry Central Jr-Sr High School | Region 1
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Caseflood.ai
Caseflood.ai streamlines legal practices with an AI-powered receptionist that handles calls affordably and efficiently, ensuring law firms never miss a client opportunity.
Ethan Hilton, Emily Rudolph, Tolen Schreid | Signature School | New Tech Institute | Region 1
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ShellSafe
ShellSafe offers a discreet, efficient firearm detection system for schools, utilizing specialized sensors to identify guns at entry points, enhancing safety without the intrusiveness of traditional metal detectors or costly AI systems
Pragathi Arunkumar | Carmel High School | Region 2
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Epipatch
Epipatch offers a life-saving wearable that automatically detects and treats severe allergic reactions, providing peace of mind with continuous monitoring and instant epinephrine delivery.
Max Ledingham, Alexander Lu, Adithyan Naren Carmel High School | Region 2
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PinPoint Allergy
Pinpoint Allergy offers a simple, pain-free allergy testing kit that uses a single finger prick to quickly identify common indoor, outdoor, and animal allergies, empowering users with easy-to-understand results to manage their allergies effectively.
Genesis Austin, Jayden Brosman | Speedway Senior High School | Region 3
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Wringo
Wringo offers a discreet solution for individuals suffering from hyperhidrosis, providing immediate, lasting dryness without creams or wipes, using a unique, fabric-based technology that absorbs moisture and restores confidence.
Connor Gomez, Ameen Musleh, Vasili Papageorge | Munster High School | Region 4
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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, thereby reducing the risk of accidents on highways.
Ashton Verbish | Hanover Central High School | Region 4
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SkyGuard
SkyGuard revolutionizes precision agriculture with drone technology that targets only weeds, reducing herbicide use and costs, ensuring more affordable, sustainable farming practices.
Luke Herring | Southwood Jr-Sr High School | Region 5
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CayPops Bakery LLC
CayPops Bakery LLC offers a unique franchise opportunity that empowers aspiring entrepreneurs to operate a home-based bakery, specializing in custom cake pops and sugar cookies. This model reduces startup costs and leverages local cottage food laws, making entrepreneurship accessible and profitable for teens and home-based individuals.
Caylyn Pruitt | Columbus North High School | Region 6
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Bluer Waters
Bluer Waters innovates affordable, eco-friendly industrial filtration solutions to significantly reduce toxic waste in waterways, offering simple, effective systems that empower medium-sized factories to meet environmental regulations and protect public health.
Tucker Harris, Tyler Harris, William Trask | Floyd Central High School | Region 6
See Sizzle Reels
Hydroxy
Caseflood.ai
ShellSafe
Epipatch
PinPoint Allergy
Wringo
SafetyGlow
SkyGuard
CayPops Bakery LLC
Bluer Waters
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