Northeast Indiana

Innovate WithIN 2025: Region Five

Ten student teams from Northeast Indiana will compete for a spot in the State Finals this June. The event will bring together government officials, business leaders, entrepreneurs, educators, and family members to support and celebrate these young innovators.

Event address:
Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
4000 Parnell Avenue
Fort Wayne, IN 46805

🗓️ April 17, 2025

⏰ 9AM - 1PM EST

Hosted by:

    • Adams

    • Allen

    • DeKalb

    • Elkhart

    • Huntington

    • Kosciusko

    • LaGrange

    • Miami

    • Noble

    • Steuben

    • Wabash

    • Wells

    • Whitley

Meet the Finalists

Hana

Amr Alquran
AMP Lab at Electric Works

Iconix

Maxwell Taylor & Preston Schere
Wawasee High School

RecruitED

Paul Swonger
Garrett High School

pARTly Clear

Lillith Baker, Dameon Pocock & Aung Lay
AMP Lab at Electric Works

Restore Furniture Upcycling

Bridget Dunn
Dekalb High School

Happy Chappys

Jose Chan & Brian Griewahn
AMP Lab at Electric Works

EleFi

Isaiah Clark
Carroll High School

True Blue

Lydia Yoder & Kyla La Rue
Dekalb High School

YLLE

Elly Cossairt
Garrett High School

Tailored Bites

Ruby Campbell-Carpenter & Emma Sanders
AMP Lab at Electric Works

Agenda

  • Check in and take your seat!

  • The audience will be welcomed by a representative from Junior Achievement of Northern Indiana and hear from the CEO of the STARTedUP Foundation, Don Wettrick.

  • The ten student teams will pitch their business concepts/ideas.

  • Food will be provided as the judges deliberate on the pitches.

  • The top team will be recognized and invited to participate in the State Finals!

Meet the Judges

Brandon Noll
Director, Indiana
Plug and Play
LinkedIn

Rhonda Ladig
Owner
R Ladig Consulting, LLC
LinkedIn

Ron Dick
Partner and Senior Architect
Design Collaborative
LinkedIn

Hezekiah Russell
Senior Associate
First Merchants Bank
LinkedIn

Chris Straw
President
Team Quality Services
LinkedIn

Meet the Speakers

Lena Yarian
President, CEO
Junior Achievement of Northern Indiana
LinkedIn

Ted Baker
CEO, Executive Director
Innovation Connector
LinkedIn

Chris Kline
Development Manager
Doral Renewables
LinkedIn

Lynne Koepper
Ecosystem Navigator
Indiana Small Business Development Center
LinkedIn

Thank you to our Region 5 partners and sponsors!