Applications for the 2019 Innovate WithIN pitch competition, which targets Hoosier high school students with business ideas and entrepreneurial aspirations, are being accepted through Feb. 6, 2019.

The competition, presented by the Indiana Economic Development Corp., Indiana Department of Education and Ball State University, seeks student teams from around the state to submit video pitches online. New this year, middle school students interested in entrepreneurship are invited to register for workshops offered at the regional competitions in early 2019.

Regional competitions in Northern Indiana are scheduled for March 7 at Purdue University Northwest, 220 169^th St., Hammond for students from Jasper, Lake, Newton and Porter counties. Students from Elkhart, Fulton, Kosciusko, La Grange, La Porte, Marshall, Pulaski, St Joseph and Starke counties can attend the regional competition March 8 at Christo’s Banquet Center, 830 Lincoln Highway E, in Plymouth.

“As a state, we’re committed to cultivating Indiana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and that effort begins in the classroom,” Gov. Eric J. Holcomb said. “Through this unique partnership, Innovate WithIN is encouraging Hoosier students to hone their creativity and critical thinking skills to come up with innovative ideas that solve 21st century problems. We’re excited to kick off this second annual pitch competition and can’t wait to see the game-changing ideas our students develop.”

Innovate WithIN, now in its second year, gives Hoosier students opportunities to create business plans and showcase entrepreneurial ideas throughout the state. The overall winners of the state competition will each receive a $10,000 cash prize, $10,000 toward one year of in-state tuition, internship opportunities and mentoring services.

Participants are invited to work individually or in small groups to submit an innovative idea for a business, product, service or venture. Students will then receive feedback from experienced professionals while competing against like-minded youth from across Indiana through three rounds:

• Round One: Video pitch submissions due Feb. 6;
• Round Two: Regional pitch competitions hosted from March 4 to March 15;
• Final Round: State pitch competition for regional finalists hosted in April.

Finalists from each region will be invited to Indianapolis for the final round of the competition, pitching their ideas to a panel of judges from Indiana's entrepreneurial community.

In 2018, the inaugural Innovate WithIN competition drew 86 online applications from more than 290 Hoosier students at more than 65 high schools. The overall winners, Colin Wareham and Jackson Ramey from Noblesville High School, created a set of board games called Educaid to help students learn principles like entrepreneurship, marketing and management.