This story is part of an initiative led by the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) to highlight entrepreneurship and innovation across Indiana’s universities. Learn more about the initiative here.

Ignition, powered by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, connected 15 startup companies to Indiana’s entrepreneur ecosystem.

16 Tech Community Corporation celebrated the completion of Ignition, a program designed to support collegiate founders from across Indiana as they build ventures and futures in the state. Powered by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation’s Community Collaboration Fund, Ignition fills a critical gap between university-based entrepreneurial programs and Indiana’s larger startup ecosystem.

“By bringing together student founders from multiple universities and immersing them in a thriving entrepreneur ecosystem, we’re helping Indiana grow the next generation of talent that will strengthen and stay in our economy,” said Emily Krueger, president and CEO of 16 Tech. “Ignition is about launching careers and futures right here in Indiana.”

The inaugural 2025 Ignition cohort brought together 25 collegiate founders for an eight-week hybrid program designed to help student entrepreneurs advance their ideas. Launched in late September, the program combined weekly virtual workshops and mentorship with three in-person gatherings. The cohort included a kickoff event alongside the RALLY Innovation Conference, a mid-October networking and mentorship meetup, and a final showcase and demo day in November, hosted at 16 Tech. By blending statewide connections with on-the-ground experiences in Indianapolis, Ignition gives student founders access to resources, mentors, and networks that extend far beyond campus borders.

Following a competitive application and review process, the 25 student founders representing 15 startups were selected to join the inaugural Ignition cohort. The group represented a diverse mix of industries, ideas, and business stages, from concept, to Minimum Viable Product (MVP), and early revenue, capturing the spirit of Ignition as a program built to connect founders and strengthen Indiana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Applications were reviewed for several key things, including problem definition, growth potential, and the founder’s readiness to engage with mentors and peers through the Ignition experience.

The startups in the inaugural cohort were:

  • Yalla Solutions LLC (Butler University)
  • Polistock (Purdue University)
  • Clovis (Indiana University – Indianapolis)
  • Fit-Flow (Indiana University – Bloomington)
  • Noninvasive Biomedical Devices (Purdue University)
  • DentalOS (Purdue University)
  • Alethia Studios LLC (Indiana University – Indianapolis)
  • Boiler Buy (Purdue University)
  • Drel Solutions (Purdue University)
  • Clairity Daily (Purdue University)
  • Mvgnificent Creations (Indiana University – Indianapolis)
  • Alice n Bob (Purdue University)
  • MARTHA AI (Indiana University – Bloomington)
  • Prosk AI (Indiana University – Bloomington)
  • Maps That Care (Indiana University – Indianapolis)

“The exposure to Indiana’s support systems for founders, spaces, programs, and professional networks, helped me understand how to keep moving a venture forward after the program. Overall, Ignition sharpened my awareness of what’s possible here and gave me the tools and connections to pursue my next steps with more confidence and direction.” Said Ignition participant, Leonor Sinogas, from Purdue University.

By serving as an on-ramp into Indiana’s broader startup ecosystem, Ignition helps students build peer-to-peer connections across institutions and prepares them for what’s next. Instead of duplicating what students already get on campus, the program works alongside existing entrepreneurship programs to provide a broader launchpad.

“Ignition gives student founders a direct path from campus to the center of Indiana’s innovation economy,” Andy Lehman, program director at 16 Tech, said. “Investing in emerging talent allows us to grow the leaders, companies, and industries that will define Indiana’s future.”

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Across Indiana, our universities are fostering the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators who are shaping our state’s future. In collaboration with our university partners, CICP is excited to share and amplify those stories; which highlight students, faculty, and alumni who are turning ideas into action. By celebrating these efforts, we aim to strengthen the connections between higher education, industry, and community, and to shine a light on the innovation happening throughout our state. Click here to learn more about this initiative.