Six young entrepreneurs from Carmel & Westfield earn regional recognition
The Hamilton County Reporter - The STARTedUP Foundation has announced the 10 regional winners of the Innovate WithIN pitch competition who will be moving on to the state competition on June 15 at Butler University.
The regional competitions, made possible by IKORCC, Purdue University School of Management / Purdue Innovates, Purdue University Fort Wayne, Purdue University Northwest, and the University of Evansville, saw hundreds of students from across Indiana showcase their entrepreneurial spirit and business ideas.
The Innovate WithIN pitch competition aims to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship among Indiana students. The competition provides students with the opportunity to pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges made up of experienced entrepreneurs and business leaders. The State Finals offers a grand prize of $25,000 in seed funding to the winning team with an additional $10,000 in 529 funds, along with other awards for runners-up.
The 10 regional winners who will compete in the state competition are:
Cancer Catch: Suhani Lodha and Jacqueline Roth – Carmel High School
Clean Line: Nathan Dierckman and Makayla Phillips – Carmel High School
Communi: Seth Cavinder, Emilie Henry, and Adrianna Senteney – AMP Lab at Electric Works
Orthopedic: Claire Deardorff and Jennifer Vazquez – Signature School Inc
Intellikits: Nash Brown and Connor Wueller – Dekalb High School
Legaltec: Jude Allaw, Ethan Hilton, and Mann Patel – Signature School Inc
Novos: Joshua Avila, Austin Beetson, and Sayeed Mohammed – Munster High School
Osci Charge: Josiah Findley and Ian Jack – Greenfield-Central High School
Red Applications: Edgar Medina and Liam Lloyd – Westfield High School
Tow Scout: Benjamin Eberle – Hobart High School
This pitch competition is a unique opportunity for students to showcase their creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit. It not only encourages students to develop their business ideas but also helps to foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in Indiana. Through the commitment of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, the Indiana Department of Education, and the Indiana Small Business Development Center, the State demonstrates its support of young innovators and entrepreneurs. By connecting students to business leaders, supporting teachers, and offering business resources, these organizations are a testament to the State’s dedication of building a stronger and more prosperous future for Indiana.
The STARTedUP Foundation is proud to partner with these organizations and many others to promote innovation and entrepreneurship among Indiana students. Congratulations to the regional winners and best of luck in the state competition. Thank you to all the participants, mentors, and sponsors who made this year’s Innovate WithIN pitch competition a success.
Business leaders, entrepreneurs, educators, and Indiana residents are invited to come to the State Finals on June 15 at Butler University. More details can be found at startedupfoundation.org/state-finals.
For more information about the STARTedUP Foundation and the Innovate WithIN pitch competition, please visit startedupfoundation.org.
