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.

Image credit: STARTedUP Foundation

If you ever need a reminder that the future is in good hands, you just need to look at Indiana's high school student entrepreneurs. 

The STARTedUP Foundation recently announced the Top 10 Finalists for the 2026 STARTedUP Challenge Finals (formerly known as Innovate WithIN). To say the competition has reached a whole new level this year would be an understatement.  

We are officially seeing a landmark moment for young innovation in our state. Don't believe me? Look at the numbers: 

  • 1,174 teams submitted ventures this year—more than doubling the 515 submissions from 2025.  
  • Student participation skyrocketed by 128%, bringing 2,162 young innovators into the arena.  
  • We expanded our footprint to 7 competitive regions by adding West Central Indiana to the map.  

This isn't just a simple school pitch competition anymore. It's one of the most competitive, high-stakes student founder accelerators in the country. 

Seven regional champions and three wildcard winners have survived the toughest gauntlet yet to earn their spot. Every single student finalist walks away with $1,000 in personal funding right now, and they are moving into a rigorous 6-week bootcamp to prepare for the grand stage. On June 12th, they will pitch live at Clowes Memorial Hall at Butler University during the inaugural STARTedUP Summit for a $25,000 grand prize. Get your tickets here!  

The ideas these students are bringing to life are genuinely disruptive. Take a look at the class of 2026: 

The 2026 Finalist Lineup: 

  • PageMD (Region 1 | Signature School Inc.): An AI-powered medical paging system designed to intelligently route and handle incoming clinic calls, freeing up staff bottleneck.  
  • OccluSense (Region 2 | Carmel HS): Context-aware pressure analysis for IV safety that reduces alarm fatigue and improves hospital alerting systems.  
  • Luna Bandages (Region 3 | Brownsburg HS): Reusable, fabric hook-and-loop bandages engineered to treat and prevent blisters.  
  • Course Caddy (Region 4 | Munster HS): A smart golf ball retrieval system utilizing color striping and drone technology to save players time and money.  
  • Reese Olivia Creative (Region 5 | Carroll HS): Custom-designed, meaningful embroidery and paintings that turn personal ideas into one-of-a-kind art.  
  • Roots2Results (Region 6 | Floyd Central HS): An AI platform that simplifies complex financial and compliance documents to help immigrant entrepreneurs navigate local regulations.  
  • Phoenix Phuel (Region 7 | Terre Haute North Vigo HS): A green-tech venture that actively reduces landfill plastic waste by converting it directly into fuel.  

The Wildcards: 

  • Dermi (Region 2 Wildcard | Carmel HS): An affordable smartphone dermoscope and bias-corrected AI platform aimed at equitable, early skin cancer screening across all skin tones.  
  • Iconic Looks (Region 3 Wildcard | McKenzie Career Center): High-quality, reliable Raw hair extensions focused on delivering confidence and consistency. 
  • NAM (Region 4 Wildcard | Mishawaka HS): Lightweight, snap-on Spike Guards that protect track athletes' racing spikes on hard surfaces between events.  

What's Next? 

These student founders aren't just pitching theories; they are building real-world solutions to massive problems—from healthcare AI to green energy and financial equity. 

Over the next few weeks, they will be refining their business models and pitches during bootcamp, leading up to an immersive regional tour and the final showdown in Indianapolis on June 12th.  

I can't wait to see who takes home the trophy, but honestly? Looking at the caliber of these ideas, Indiana has already won!  

Looking to get involved in fostering the future of Hoosier Innovation? Volunteer as a Guest Speaker or Business Mentor for next year's program!  

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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.