The IU Innovates Student Startup Showcase is where IU's next generation of entrepreneurs take the stage, showcasing bold ideas being built across Indiana University. It is where founders, funders and a community of Hoosiers come together to connect, support and help each other grow.
In a room full of Hoosiers, the right connection is never more than a few handshakes away.
Student Presenters
Each of our eight presenters will pitch their startup. At the end of each pitch, the students will share specific “asks” – not for money, but for advice, connections and feedback. Our panel of alumni, founders and funders will respond verbally, and everyone is invited to offer support using the link below.
Each pitch is 6 minutes with 6 minutes for feedback.
Girish Saraswathipura
DeepVariance
Deep Variance is building the optimization layer for AI infrastructure. We help AI teams get more performance out of the hardware they already use by improving how training and inference workloads run across existing GPU stacks, reducing cost without requiring stack replacement.
Girish is a 2026 Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering graduate with a master's in Computer Science.
Email: founders@deepvariance.com
Give feedback
Saai Vignesh Premanand
DeepVariance
Deep Variance is building the optimization layer for AI infrastructure. We help AI teams get more performance out of the hardware they already use by improving how training and inference workloads run across existing GPU stacks, reducing cost without requiring stack replacement.
Saai is a 2026 Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering graduate with a master's in Computer Science.
Email: founders@deepvariance.com
Give feedback
Aspen Villas
PilliPop
A phone accessory equipped with a child-lock safety feature that allows you to discreetly and securely carry medications or small daily essentials. Aspen was the winner of the 2026 Vernon Clapp IDEA Competition.
Aspen is a 2026 Kelley School of Business graduate with a master's in management.
Email: aspenvillas11@gmail.com
Give feedback
Carter Vermilion
PiranhaPacks
PiranhaPacks is an online mystery pack platform where customers purchase and receive one professionally graded trading card slab, paired with an animated digital reveal experience. PiranhaPacks delivers transparent value, repeatable excitement, and strong unit economics at scale, with market leading returns for customers.
Carter is a Sophomore at the Kelley School of Business.
Email: carter@piranhapacks.com
Give feedback
Trevor Peyton
ArrayFold
ArrayFold develops specialized chips that perform AI processing, post-quantum cryptography, and general-purpose computing for harsh environments like space.
Trevor is a PhD student at the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering.
Email: trpeyton@iu.edu
Give feedback
Sophie Wang
Humanize
Humanize is a creative consulting firm that combats burnout, disengagement, and cultural fragmentation by designing story-art installations that engage employees and transform workplace culture.
Sophie is a graduate student at the Kelley School of Business
Email: Sophie.wang@humanize-global.com
Give feedback
Victor Schultz
Victor's Vintage
Victor's Vintage designs and manufactures hard-to-find replacement parts for vintage cars. Victor has been restoring vintage cars for over 7 years and mainly creates parts for vintage Cadillacs but would like to expand to other makes and models.
Victor is a Senior at the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design
Email: vicjschu@iu.edu
Give feedback
Siddh Akolia
Viper
Viper trades concert tickets the way Wall Street trades equities. AI scores 400,000+ live listings to surface mispriced inventory; the fund captures the spread on event-driven price discovery. Built and run inside Nexus Partners.
Siddh is a Senior at the Kelley School of Business.
Email: siddh@nexusxpartners.com
Give feedback
Eli Serrano
Vovy AI
A vibe code education platform teaching non-technical founders how to build with AI. Vovy AI uses guided project builds that takes anyone from idea to live product — no coding experience needed.
Eli is a 2026 College of Arts + Sciences graduate.
Email: eli@vovy.ai
Give feedbackOther Featured Students
The energy doesn't stop at the stage. Ten more IU student founders are tabling at the showcase, each with a startup they're actively building. Stop by, ask questions and reach out if you see an opportunity to connect, advise or open a door.
Niousha Eslahchi
BendBond
BendBond is a platform designed specifically for the pre-therapy stage, the space before someone needs or seeks clinical care. It provides low-stigma emotional support through safe, structured peer connection, guided circles, and AI-powered wellbeing insights for individuals and institutions.
Niousha is a PhD student at the College of Arts + Sciences
Email: neslahch@iu.edu
Give feedback
Ja'Niya Smith
Miss CEO Essentials
Miss CEO Essentials is a stylish workwear brand for beauty service providers, offering functional, confidence-boosting outfits designed for pink-collar CEOs to look polished, feel empowered, and work comfortably while building their business.
Ja'Niya is a Sophomore student at the Kelley School of Business (Indianapolis)
Email: js257@iu.edu
Give feedback
Gage Pratt
Aerobib
Aero Bib is a fabric adhesive backed number bib. It is an alternative to the traditional paper and pin number bib. Aero Bib doesn’t poke holes in your expensive clothing, it’s fast to put on, aerodynamic, and no partner is required, unlike traditional bibs.
Gage is a Senior at the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design
Email: gagepratt@gmail.com
Give feedback
Nabeel Rabie
Lavé
Lavé is a skin-first fragrance companion that enhances how your favorite scents wear, extending longevity while keeping the experience effortless and refined. Applied before any cologne or perfume, Lavé keeps your skin in mind with skin protecting ingredients.
Nabeel is a Sophomore at the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design
Email: nrabie@iu.edu
Give feedback
Jack Wax
The Handless handle
The Handless Handle is a kitchen gadget to help you open your pull out garbage can drawers hands free. The Handless Handle began as a 3D-printed solution to Jack’s mom’s kitchen needs and has evolved into a bestselling Amazon product.
Jack is a 2026 Kelley School of Business graduate.
Email: jack@handlesshandle.com
Give feedback
Kaelyn Flanary
Carefree Crimson
Carefree Crimson offers premium monthly period boxes that get delivered straight to your door, filled with feminine essentials, self-care items, and snacks. These boxes are designed to elevate the period experience and support women.
Kaelyn is a Freshman at the Kelley School of Business.
Email: kflanar@iu.edu
Give feedback
Brendan Cassidy
Phylax
Phylax is an athletic cup that uses impact protection foam to give athletes a comfortable in-game experience. We are protecting this generation of athletes and the next by providing athletes with an athletic cup they will actually want to wear.
Brendan is a Sophomore at the Kelley School of Business.
Email: cbcassid@iu.edu
Give feedback
Reese Boecker
Phylax
Phylax is an athletic cup that uses impact protection foam to give athletes a comfortable in-game experience. We are protecting this generation of athletes and the next by providing athletes with an athletic cup they will actually want to wear.
Reese is a Sophomore at the Kelley School of Business.
Email: rboecker@iu.edu
Give feedback
Dikshitha Karanam Madhusudhanprasad
Resonix
Resonix is an AI-powered predictive maintenance platform that uses sound to detect early signs of machine failure, helping manufacturers identify issues before breakdowns occur through accessible, scalable, and cost-effective monitoring software. Resonix won 2026 Cheng Wu Innovation Challenge.
Dikshitha is a 2026 graduate of the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering with a master's in Computer Science.
Email: dikshitha1729@gmail.com
Give feedback
Preetham Reddy Rallapalli
Resonix
Resonix is an AI-powered predictive maintenance platform that uses sound to detect early signs of machine failure, helping manufacturers identify issues before breakdowns occur through accessible, scalable, and cost-effective monitoring software. Resonix won 2026 Cheng Wu Innovation Challenge.
Preetham is a 2026 graduate of the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering with a master's in Computer Science.
Email: prralla@iu.edu
Give feedback
Jahnavi Vemuri
Resonix
Resonix is an AI-powered predictive maintenance platform that uses sound to detect early signs of machine failure, helping manufacturers identify issues before breakdowns occur through accessible, scalable, and cost-effective monitoring software. Resonix won 2026 Cheng Wu Innovation Challenge.
Jahnavi is a 2026 graduate of the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering with a master's in Computer Science.
Email: jvemuri@iu.edu
Give feedback
Lucy Ruh
Rhuby
A grip-focused shaving device that enhances precision and control through an ergonomic silicone design. Built for comfort and safety, it’s designed for women, while also supporting younger users and individuals who benefit from greater control and ease of use.
Lucy is a Sophomore student at the Kelley School of Business
Email: leruh@iu.edu
Give feedback
Liam Telford
Balls No Nuts
Balls No Nuts is a high-protein snack made from clean ingredients and completely free of the top nine allergens. It comes in soft bite-sized balls that are easy to eat on the go. With 20 grams of protein per serving, Balls No Nuts offers a safe, convenient, and satisfying way to support an active lifestyle without allergens or unnecessary ingredients.
Liam is a Sophomore at the College of Arts + Sciences
Email: ltelford@iu.edu
Give feedbackEvery one of these founders started with an idea and figured out the rest. Our job at IU Innovates is simple: make sure they know where to start, and that they can always access the right resource at the right time
Julie Heath, Executive Director, IU Innovates
Students and their Products
Here is a sneak peek at the products built by Hoosiers.
FAQs
You can reach out to the presenters here and to other featured students here. Fill out the form with your name, IU affiliation and what you'd like to offer. We will make sure it reaches the right person.
The IU Innovates Student Startup Showcase is where student founders from across Indiana University present their startups to a community of alumni, founders and funders. Each presenter shares what they're building, followed by a specific ask for advice, connections and feedback from the room. The idea is simple: in a room full of Hoosiers, the right connection is never more than a few handshakes away. And that connection can change everything.
The panel includes:
- David Krane - CEO & Managing Partner at Google Ventures
- Allie Ottoboni - Board Chair, Entrepreneurship Funders Network
- Dave Lindsey - Chairman & Founder of DEFENDERS
- Baindu Paicley - Senior Manager, Strategic Partnerships, VentureWell
- Sue Aquila - Founder of Bloomington Bagel Co.
- Amish Shah - CEO of Kem Krest
The showcase is scheduled for 1:00 PM ET on Thursday, May 21, 2026 at Henke Hall at Memorial Stadium, Indiana University.
If you aren’t able to join - we've got good news. The showcase will be streamed live on YouTube. No registration required. Watch the Livestream
Every founder on that stage started exactly where you are. The best way to get to the showcase stage is to start by showing up. Join our IU Innovates community, attend events and work with our team to develop your idea. Apply here!
Launched in Fall 2023, IU Innovates is a university-wide initiative to support and advance Indiana University entrepreneurs through student startup incubation hubs, sponsorship of entrepreneurship resources and impact storytelling.
Located at the Von Lee Building, IU Innovates offers an interdisciplinary incubation program that supports student founders, innovators, small business owners and creatives. We provide students with 24/7 access to a co-working space, mentor connections, coaching, access to funding, workshops, community and events to help students start and grow their business.