Northwest Indiana’s Top Student Innovators to Compete in Innovate WithIN’s Region 4 Pitch Competition

HAMMOND, Ind. (March 28th, 2025) – The STARTedUP Foundation’s Innovate WithIN competition, the nation’s largest high school pitch competition, is set to showcase the best young entrepreneurs in Northwest Indiana.

Across the state, 60 teams are competing in six regional pitch competitions, with 10 teams in each region. The winners of each regional event will move on to the State Finals in June at Butler University, where they will compete for $25,000 in seed funding, scholarships, travel experiences, mentorship, and additional entrepreneurial resources.

The Region 4 competition will take place at Purdue University Northwest’s (PNW) Student Union  Library Building on April 15, 2025, from 9 AM - 1 PM CDT. Hosted in partnership with PNW and The Society of Innovators at PNW, this event provides young innovators a platform to present their ventures before a panel of esteemed judges, gaining valuable feedback and mentorship opportunities.

“We’re incredibly proud to host the Innovate WithIN Region 4 Pitch Competition at Purdue Northwest,” said Jason Williams, CEO of the Society of Innovators at Purdue Northwest. “These students are tackling real-world challenges with fresh ideas and entrepreneurial energy. By giving them a platform to share their work, we’re not only helping them take meaningful steps forward in their innovation journeys—we’re also advancing Purdue Northwest’s mission to transform lives through education, foster innovation, and drive positive impact across our region.”

Region 4 Student Teams:

• Cayden's Can Shines – Samantha Edwards, Ian Kennedy & Cayden DeSmet, Valparaiso High School

• MTK Car Detailing – Kyle Otworowski & Mihailo Marjanovic, Hanover Central High School

• Equi – Abigail Bisig, Hobart High School

• Flip-E – Brandon Walker & Omar Aftab, Munster High School

• Night Shine – Allison Miedema & Myles Deal, Lowell Senior High School

• Polyator – Westin Waters, Hanover Central High School

• Safety Glow – Ashton Verbish, Hanover Central High School

• Septo – Alexis Karahalios, Abigil Mena & Jocelyn Aguirre, Munster High School

• Sprout – Asha Patel & Jude Jimenez, Munster High School

• True Tints – Riley Pettit & Ryan Mikolanis, Lake Central High School

This year’s competition highlights the continued success of the STARTedUP Innovation Educator Fellowship, which has now expanded to include 100 educators. Over 30 fellows from 33 schools have teams participating in the regional pitch competitions, further demonstrating the program’s significant impact in fostering entrepreneurial education.

“Purdue Northwest and the Society of Innovators have supported our mission to empower students to turn ideas into reality from the beginning,” said Don Wettrick, co-founder and CEO of the STARTedUP Foundation. “Region Four consistently sets a high standard with, historically, the highest number of student applications each year and a robust support network of mentors and community leaders. Their commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship locally is truly commendable.”

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) and the Indiana Small Business Development Center have been longtime supporters of Innovate WithIN. All regional finalists will meet with their local ISBDC advisors to refine their business models and prepare for the competition with expert guidance. We also extend our appreciation to the Legacy Foundation for their support of this region’s pitch competition.

In addition, Innovate WithIN continues to secure scholarship opportunities for competitors through partnerships with institutions such as Depauw University, Grace College, Indiana Tech, Purdue University Fort Wayne, and Purdue University Northwest. These partnerships provide valuable educational opportunities for students, further supporting their entrepreneurial journeys.

The event is open to the public, and community members are encouraged to attend to support these young entrepreneurs. More details and RSVP information can be found at https://www.startedupfoundation.org/region-4

About Purdue University Northwest 

Purdue University Northwest (PNW) is a student-centered university that transforms lives through innovative education, impactful research and community engagement. Located in Northwest Indiana, near Chicago, PNW is recognized as the largest Hispanic-Serving Institution in Indiana, a First Scholars institution and an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University. PNW advances the socioeconomic mobility of its students and positively impacts regional development. For more information, visit pnw.edu. 

About the Society of Innovators at PNW

The Society of Innovators at Purdue Northwest contributes to economic and community development as the champion of innovation and entrepreneurship in Northwest Indiana. For more information about the Society of Innovators, visit www.pnw.edu/soi.  

About the STARTedUP Foundation
The STARTedUP Foundation is an Indiana-based nonprofit dedicated to transforming classrooms into hubs of innovation, entrepreneurship, and industry alignment. Through student competitions, educator fellowships, and real-world partnerships, STARTedUP inspires the next generation of problem-solvers and creators. Learn more at www.startedupfoundation.org.