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.

The Future of Innovation is Headed to Ross-Ade Stadium 

There is something incredibly special about watching a startup transition from a bold idea into a market-ready reality. Over the last three months, five dynamic companies have been putting in the work as part of Cohort 2 of the Purdue Innovates Accelerator.  

This cohort was selected from a highly competitive field of over 80 applications. The program is a three-month, investment-based startup accelerator that gives founders up to $100K in funding, tailored strategic support, and a massive network of mentors, corporate partners, and alumni to help them reach critical milestones and scale.  

On Wednesday, June 17th, these five teams are stepping up to the mic at the Buchanan Club inside Ross-Ade Stadium to pitch to a room full of investors, ecosystem leaders, and innovation champions.  

Meet the Cohort 2 Startups 

  • FiberX (Merrillville, IN): They are turning agricultural waste into high-value industrial inputs by upcycling corn stover into renewable feedstocks. Their tech improves the performance of plastics and offers bio-based alternatives for resins and adhesives. They currently have four active pilots and just landed their first commercial customer.  
  • Second Opinion (Indianapolis, IN): A verification-first AI review platform that evaluates AI-assisted legal work. Instead of trusting a single AI model, it uses a multi-model orchestration approach to cross-check citations and detect hallucinations, producing audit-ready validation reports for attorneys. They currently have four active pilots across law firm customers.  
  • EvoLink Systems (Indianapolis, IN): Building the EvoX360™ platform, which utilizes cross-laminated timber to construct modular skids and enclosures for digital infrastructure. They are reducing the tech industry's reliance on steel and shortening fabrication timelines for global computing infrastructure.  
  • Vibe Robotics (West Lafayette, IN): They are making affordable humanoid robots a reality for everyday life. They've developed the Sunday 01 for consumer household tasks and the Sunday A1 as an open-source platform for researchers and hobbyists. Remarkably, within just five months of forming, they have delivered seven robots and built a waitlist of over 20 units.  
  • Resolvr (Miami, FL): Bridging the global insurance market to bitcoin with their BDIC™ embedded insurance marketplace. This tech allows crypto exchanges, custody providers, and wallets to protect their customers and generate new revenue, and they went live with their first commercial launch partner in early 2026.  

Join Purdue Innovates for Pitch Night 

Whether you are looking to invest, looking to partner, or just want to connect with the founders, faculty, alumni, and creators who make the Purdue Innovates ecosystem thrive, this is an evening you won't want to miss. 

Where: Buchanan Club in Ross-Ade Stadium | West Lafayette, IN 

When: Wednesday, June 17th | 5:00 – 8:00 PM ET 

RSVP: Secure your spot on Eventbrite 

It's a great chance to celebrate their incredible hard work and get a first look at what these founders are building next. See you there! 

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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.