Discover Indiana's best accelerators for your start-up

This premier program, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, is designed specifically for innovative sports technology companies. It focuses on the future of sport, encompassing areas such as wearables, OTT streaming, NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness), artificial intelligence, ticketing, and FemTech. With a 13-week mentorship-driven format, selected startups benefit from guidance by a robust network of mentors, including industry leaders like Scott Dorsey and Nigel Eccles. Founding partners include the Next Level Fund, Indiana Sports Corp, NCAA, and Pacers Sports & Entertainment. Participating startups gain access to valuable resources such as mentorship and the opportunity to connect with potential investors during a Demo Day. The standard deal offers $120K for 6% equity in the companies involved. The institution plays a crucial role in fostering early-stage sports tech innovation, supported by a diverse array of industries like artificial intelligence, fintech, and gaming. Its aim is to enhance a culture of internal innovation and entrepreneurship within the sports industry.

Techstars Sports Accelerator by Indy's Website

B-Start is a distinguished pre-accelerator program established by the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation, aimed at fostering high-growth startups in Bloomington, Indiana. This initiative is dedicated to supporting innovation-driven businesses and is particularly focused on promoting diversity within the entrepreneurial landscape, encouraging applications from women, minorities, veterans, and other underrepresented groups. The program runs for a duration of 5 months, providing intensive support that includes mentorship, group activities, and personalized pairing with local successful entrepreneurs, investors, or business professionals. It remains a vital resource for early-stage ventures looking to launch and thrive in a supportive environment. Designed to be sector agnostic, the organization welcomes a wide range of innovative business ideas.

B-Start's Website

Purdue Ag-celerator is a $2 million plant sciences innovation fund that plays a crucial role in supporting startup initiatives from Purdue University. This accelerator particularly emphasizes advancements in plant sciences, including crop optimization, hybrid and seed development, and precision agriculture. It is part of the broader Purdue Moves initiative, which aims to assist innovators in commercializing patented intellectual property and technical expertise derived from the university's research. The program has successfully supported multiple agricultural start-ups, showcasing its commitment to driving innovation in agriculture technology. Purdue University, recognized for its exceptional analytical chemistry program, provides a robust research environment that serves as a foundation for these initiatives. The organization positions itself at the intersection of agriculture tech, edtech, and fintech industries, reflecting a diverse approach to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.

Purdue Ag-celerator's Website

The Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (JCEI) at Indiana University serves as a pivotal hub for fostering entrepreneurial talent and innovation. Established in 1998 through a generous gift from Richard and Ruth Johnson, it is affiliated with the Kelley School of Business. Under the leadership of Dr. Donald F. Kuratko, who is both the Executive & Academic Director and a distinguished professor, this center offers a comprehensive entrepreneurship curriculum from undergraduate to doctoral levels. In recognition of its quality programs, the institution received the Model Entrepreneurship Program Award in 2023 from the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship. In fall 2023, it launched IU Innovates, an initiative providing extensive support for entrepreneurship and innovation, catering to a wide range of disciplines on the Bloomington campus. The organization not only equips students with essential entrepreneurial skills but also facilitates networking, mentorship, and access to valuable resources. Through experiential learning opportunities, students engage with experts and collaborate with peers, preparing them to thrive in diverse industries as they embark on their entrepreneurial journeys.

Indiana University - Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship's Website

This prominent accelerator excels in transforming innovative ideas into reality through its focus on rapid prototyping, product design, and development. Operating within a 35,000-square-foot facility, it is well-equipped with advanced tools, including 3D printers and CAD machines, to support a diverse range of projects across industries such as healthcare technology, mobile applications, and SaaS. The organization emphasizes collaboration, working closely with business partners throughout the development process. Over 1,300 students from Rose-Hulman have gained valuable experience by being involved in various projects, enhancing the synergy between academia and entrepreneurship. It has successfully assisted notable start-ups, including Pierce Aerospace, eRAMx, and SoChatti, showcasing its significant impact on the innovation ecosystem. The accelerator plays a crucial role in fostering entrepreneurship and innovation across various domains, establishing itself as a key player in the engineering and technology landscape.

Rose-Hulman Ventures's Website

Founded in 2016, this accelerator investment firm is dedicated to empowering technology entrepreneurs. Headquartered in Cyprus, it focuses on investing across various tech sectors, including general and healthcare technology. Under the leadership of founder and Chief Executive Officer Panayiotis Philimis, Ph.D., the organization supports startups in their early development stages with a strong emphasis on seed and early-stage venture capital funding. Notably, an investment was made in Bialoom, a diagnostic equipment company, on January 1, 2019. Recent activities highlight the vibrant entrepreneurial landscape, with Your Money Line raising $2,825,000 in August 2022, and Magic Square securing $3,000,000 in July 2022 from various investors. The firm aims to shape the future of the entrepreneurial community by fostering innovation and impact in the technology sector.

Gravity Ventures's Website

High Alpha Innovation is a venture builder founded in 2020. The company collaborates with large-scale organizations, research universities, and entrepreneurs to create and scale advantaged startups in the domains of enterprise software and digital transformation. The accelerator partners with corporations and universities to drive innovation beyond theater, creating sustainable venture-building operations and fostering university-born ideas. High Alpha Innovation offers critical infrastructure, team support, co-creation opportunities, and learning experiences to its portfolio companies. Led by founder Elliott Parker, the accelerator empowers corporate leaders to take practical steps in building successful ventures. With a focus on 'General Tech' and 'SaaS (Software as a Service)' industries, High Alpha Innovation plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between various stakeholders, making significant contributions to the startup ecosystem.

High Alpha Innovation's Website

The accelerator program invests in bold founders who are passionate leaders, industry experts, and innovative thinkers. With a commitment to nurturing startups across diverse domains, it has invested in 15 companies, including notable names like Authenticx, a customer voice analytics firm, Boost, a student homework app, and Horizon, specialized in cybersecurity software. Focusing on product-minded and design-oriented entrepreneurs, the organization aims to enhance user experiences while fostering industry-leading solutions. Additionally, it provides strategic resources and partners with lead investors to help founders achieve their vision. Recently, a corporate partnership was formed with Ivy Ventures, an operator-based venture capital firm, to enhance the support model. The portfolio spans industries such as Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Edtech, and Fintech, establishing the institution as a key player in the early-stage ecosystem. By combining capital with product expertise, this accelerator is positioned to drive innovation and support startups in bringing their ideas to life.

Innovatemap Ventures's Website

Northeast Indiana Innovation Center is a leading technology business incubator and venture accelerator located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. For nearly 20 years, it has been instrumental in supporting entrepreneurs in the region by offering essential resources, programs, and a collaborative community. The facility has facilitated the launch of 444 products and has played a pivotal role in securing $86.8 million in research grants and capital investment. Specializing in technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship, this organization serves diverse sectors including fintech, general tech, and healthcare tech. It provides comfortable office space, a conference center, and a variety of programs aimed at fostering business growth, such as coaching, training, workshops, and masterminds under the GROW HERE initiative. Notable figures like Jennifer Hunter, Co-Founder of Gensyn Design, and Vanessa Hayden, Founder of Partly Whimsical, LLC, have highlighted the transformative impact of its support. Founded by Larry Rowland, it remains a vital resource for entrepreneurs to thrive and contribute to the local economy.

Northeast Indiana Innovation Center's Website

At the forefront of change, ScaleWerks brings together a team of seasoned executives to lead mid-life companies towards sustainable scaling through the SmartScale Accelerator. This 8-week program focuses on laying the groundwork for growth, boasting a remarkable 90% implementation success rate. The accelerator targets mid-life companies seeking to scale by leveraging internal databases, financial modeling, employee input, and customer analysis. ScaleWerks doesn't limit itself to specific industry domains, aiming to provide insights applicable across various sectors. The accelerator emphasizes community building, holistic development, and data-driven insights to nurture businesses. Key figures like the program's founder and notable start-ups that have benefited from ScaleWerks are not mentioned, but the program's commitment to guiding companies to become pillars of strength in the business landscape is evident. ScaleWerks stands out in the industry with a focus on community-centric and data-driven growth strategies.

ScaleWerks's Website

This dynamic initiative of the South Bend-Elkhart Regional Partnership aims at igniting business creation and fostering economic prosperity in the region. Its primary focus is on stimulating the entrepreneurial spirit, supporting the growth of high-potential businesses, and nurturing new startups. The accelerator offers several key programs, including the Elevate Origins Pre-Accelerator Program in collaboration with Elevate Ventures. This program provides virtual group learning, one-on-one coaching, and live pitch practice for pre-seed and seed-stage startups. Participants refine their investor-ready pitch decks and have the opportunity to receive up to $2,000 in Proof of Concept grants for prototyping and market validation. Another program, the HustleSBE Cohort, specifically supports Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), and women business owners, helping them innovate and strengthen their existing practices. Although specialization domains are not explicitly listed, the organization is open to a variety of industries, including General Tech and Social Media. Through mentorship and tailored resources, it significantly enhances the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the South Bend-Elkhart area.

Startup South Bend-Elkhart's Website

This accelerator program supports start-ups through funding, mentorship, and essential resources. It collaborates with multiple enterprises and has established a network of investors to deliver financial backing and guidance. Operating in a sector-agnostic manner, it offers flexibility across various industries. The program likely provides benefits typical of such initiatives, including co-working spaces, access to industry experts, workshops, networking events, and introductions to potential clients or partners. These resources contribute significantly to the growth and success of participating start-ups. The overarching mission is clear: to nurture innovative ventures and facilitate their development in today's competitive market landscape.

Velocities's Website

Startup Summer is a ten-week incubator program designed to support collegiate founders in developing their startups instead of engaging in typical summer jobs. It provides a comprehensive support system that includes workspace, legal services, mentorship, and access to a network of top entrepreneurs and investors. With around 105 teams accepted into the initiative, the organization has hosted over 13,000 attendees at its events, showcasing its extensive reach and impact. The program has facilitated acquisitions for four startups and has helped participants raise over $100 million in funding, alongside generating more than $30 million in revenue. While the program is sector agnostic, it presents an invaluable opportunity for students and recent alumni to advance their early-stage companies within a nurturing ecosystem that fosters growth and innovation.

Startup Summer's Website

This dynamic entrepreneurship and commercialization hub, managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, focuses on transforming ideas from concept to market efficiently. It is dedicated to supporting innovators from Purdue University, including students, faculty, and local alumni, through various programs, with an emphasis on venture-scale startups. A key initiative is the Boost Accelerator, which assists early-stage startups in becoming investment-ready. Participants receive a $5,000 non-dilutive grant upon joining, and each startup that meets investment readiness criteria can receive an additional $25,000 investment, following evaluation by an external panel of venture capitalists. The inaugural cohort of the Boost Accelerator featured eight Indiana startups, such as American Evidence Management, Araqev, Dencoda, EverTrue, Helthi, HemaChrome, Pluto Aerospace, and ReproHealth Technologies. These ventures focus on a range of sectors, from digital evidence management to healthcare technology and space technology. The organization specializes in supporting startups across diverse domains and aims to enhance the startup ecosystem at Purdue University through mentorship, funding opportunities, and robust industry connections.

Purdue University - Purdue Foundry's Website

This 501(c)(3) organization is governed by a board of directors and overseen by an executive director. It provides a community learning and gathering space, hosting various programs and events. Funding comes from support by the City of Bedford, the Indiana Department of Education's 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program, the Lawrence County Economic Growth Council, United Way of South Central Indiana, and UAW - Local 440. The accelerator program predominantly supports early-stage start-ups in the hospitality sector, particularly focusing on restaurants, bars, and related ventures. Each year, it hosts a cohort of start-ups; the 2023 graduating class included 70 hospitality professionals from various pub and bar concepts affiliated with the organization. While specific metrics regarding funding are not disclosed, the accelerator provides essential resources such as mentorship from industry experts, access to networking opportunities with entrepreneurs and investors, workshops, and potential co-working spaces. These initiatives aim to refine the start-ups' business models and strategies, ultimately fostering growth and innovation within the hospitality industry.

StoneGate Arts & Education Center's Website