Innovate WithIN 2025: High Schoolers Compete at Butler State Finals

The brightest young entrepreneurs from across central Indiana will take center stage at Clowes Memorial Hall on June 20, competing in the Innovate WithIN 2025 State Finals. This exciting competition will feature high school student-led startups pitching their innovative businesses for a chance to win $25,000 in seed funding.

The event will run from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and the public is invited to attend. The young entrepreneurs will present their ideas, share their journeys, and demonstrate the passion that drives their startups. This unique opportunity allows everyone to support the next generation of business leaders.

Innovate WithIN is more than just a competition – it's a program designed to equip students with the skills to turn an idea into reality. Participants learn how to develop a business concept, refine their pitch, and deliver it with confidence. Over the years, the program has gained a strong reputation for launching successful ventures.

Past winners have achieved impressive feats, including filing patents, launching nonprofit organizations, and earning spots on Forbes' 30 Under 30 list. One recent success story is caseflood.ai, the winner of the 2024 competition, which was accepted into Y Combinator's Winter 2025 cohort. Carnegie Mellon University even praised the team for becoming the third-youngest founders ever funded by the prestigious accelerator.