Purdue students shine at 2026 Xtern Challenge, present AI solutions at Cummins
This story is part of an initiative led by the CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) to highlight entrepreneurship and innovation across Indiana’s universities. Learn more about the initiative here. INDIANAPOLIS — Purdue University students played a prominent role in TechPoint’s 2026 Xtern Challenge, presenting enterprise-focused AI solutions March 6 at Cummins’ headquarters in Columbus, Indiana. Developed in partnership with Cummins, the work-based learning experience brought together 100 students from colleges and universities across the state to tackle real-world problems. Of the 45 Purdue students participating, 22 were based in Indianapolis. “Participating in TechPoint’s Xtern Challenge has given students confidence that the skills they are learning at Purdue and The Data Mine are preparing them to solve real-world challenges in industry,” said Maggie Betz, managing director of The Data Mine in Indianapolis. Designed to mirror professional, cross-functional teamwork, the Xtern Challenge paired [...]
Students Apply Data Science Skills to Real-World Energy Challenges at TechPoint’s First Xtern Challenge, Hosted by MISO
TechPoint’s first-ever Xtern Challenge brought together Indiana’s top student talent for a hands-on, data-driven competition hosted by MISO (Midcontinent Independent System Operator). The event invited teams to apply their technical and analytical skills to a real-world problem facing one of the nation’s most critical industries: maintaining a reliable and cost-effective energy grid. The new program builds on TechPoint’s mission to expand work-based learning opportunities that connect students with industry partners and help them gain practical experience solving challenges that matter to Indiana’s economy. What is the Xtern Challenge? Launched in Fall 2025, the Xtern Challenge is a series of hackathons, design sprints, and case competitions where students collaborate on real-world business problems designed by Indiana companies and work alongside industry mentors. These events give students a chance to apply their classroom knowledge to practical challenges while learning new tools, gaining feedback from professionals, and building their experience to [...]
TechPoint partners with IEDC to help Indiana startups afford young tech talent
INDIANAPOLIS — (October 4, 2022) — TechPoint’s signature Xtern program has helped attract and retain tech talent to Indiana for nearly 10 years, but the companies that have benefitted most from the early career development effort are established companies. Exciting young startups – which could one day grow into local or global giants – often don’t have a robust budget or structure to attract talent, provide training and offer amenities to engage these young professionals in pursuing lifelong careers in Central Indiana. That will change next year, thanks to a $300,000 investment in the Xtern program by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) which for years has invested in workforce training grants. Indiana Secretary of Commerce Brad Chambers sees TechPoint’s Xtern Startup Assistance Program as a smart expansion of IEDC’s workforce training efforts, which traditionally target adult workers in need [...]
Indiana’s premier early career talent programs team up for employers and talent matching event at Lucas Oil Stadium
INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 26, 2022) — For more than two decades, Indiana’s entrepreneurial and tech community has relied on Orr Fellowship and TechPoint’s Xtern program to find and develop young talent. For the first time, those initiatives will come together Friday, November 18, 2022, at Lucas Oil Stadium to make it easier for more than 100 Indiana companies to find their newest matches. During the first Orr Fellowship-Xtern Finalist Day, participating companies are expected to conduct thousands of interviews with prospective new hires. “Finalist Day is a rite of passage for each of our programs. It’s a tremendous amount of work to match employers to prospective talent and, of course, there is an equal amount of preparation and work for the young people and hiring managers who will participate in these job interviews,” said TechPoint’s Executive Vice President of Talent Dennis [...]
