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 is Indiana’s statewide launchpad for collegiate founders.

Ignition is an 8 week, cohort-based program powered by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. It is designed to help collegiate founders validate their ventures, refine their MVPs, and connect with Indiana’s startup ecosystem. Participants gain access to mentors, investors, and statewide peers, and leave the program ready for accelerators, to attract capital, and scale their venture.

The Spring 2026 cohort kicks off in February and runs through April, combining weekly virtual workshops with in-person meetups at Indiana’s home for innovation.

Join a statewide community of builders, makers, and founders who are shaping what’s next — and doing it right here in Indiana.

Apply here.

Timeline:

  • Applications open January 5
  • Info session for Ignition February 3 (Sign Up)
  • Applications for Ignition close February 16 at midnight
  • Program Dates
    • Week of 2/23: Kickoff and Collegiate Entrepreneur Summit (in-person)
    • Week of 3/2: Product Market Fit/ Customer Discovery session (hybrid)
    • Week of 3/9: Marketing/ Sales session (hybrid)
    • Week of 3/16: Perfecting your Elevator Pitch/ Telling your Story session (hybrid)
    • Week of 3/24: Networking/ Mentor session (in-person)
    • Week of 3/30: Legal/ IP session (hybrid)
    • Week of 4/6: Funding & Future Growth session (hybrid)
    • Week of 4/13: Showcase Day (in-person)

Want to help support these collegiate founders?

We’re looking for experienced entrepreneurs, investors, operators, and industry experts to support our next cohort of collegiate founders. There are three ways to get involved. Whether you can commit to the full 8 weeks or just one afternoon, your experience matters. Mentors provide guidance and perspective, and you’ll help founders navigate early decisions, ask better questions, and build real ventures.

Apply here.

Last fall, 16 Tech connected 15 startup companies to Indiana’s entrepreneur ecosystem through the inaugural Ignition program. Click here to read more.

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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.