IU student-founded startups are leading us to a brighter future

I continue to be inspired by the energy, enthusiasm, talent and creativity of Indiana University students as they imagine new ways to shape a better future for all of us.

Through the work of IU Ventures and other start-up resources at the university, we encourage, support and provide real-world learning experiences to student entrepreneurs who will build the successful companies of tomorrow, contributing to a more innovative and prosperous Hoosier economy.  

We are investing in and supporting promising IU-affiliated startup companies and have established a new IU Ventures Fellows program to introduce entrepreneurial students to the venture capital industry. The infusion of high-potential, IU-student-founded startups into the Midwest's corporate landscape resulting from this work includes: 

• The Bee Corp, an ag tech company that recently received a second major investment from IU Ventures to advance the innovative technology it provides to commercial growers and beekeepers who rely on honey bees to sustain healthy crop production. Bee Corp, which began as a beekeeping club at IU, was co-founded by then-students Ellie Symes in the Paul H. O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at IU Bloomington and Wyatt Wells in the School of Public Health-Bloomington.

• CareBand, which introduced a new wearable technology that provides health and safety alerts for people living with dementia. The company started by Adam Sobol, who has degrees from both the Kelley School of Business and the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering, is now part of the Amazon Sidewalk pilot program, expanding the company’s reach and helping more seniors stay safe.

• Stagetime, a customizable online platform for artists and performers seeking to digitally showcase their talents, build their networks and advance their careers. Founded by Jacobs School of Music graduate and opera singer Jennie Moser, Stagetime recently closed a $1.5 million fundraising round, which included a second investment from IU Ventures.

• Uncovered, a software platform that is translating the public's fascination with true crime podcasts and other media into real citizen engagement to solve cold cases of murdered or missing people. The company was co-founded by Jim Brown, a graduate of the IUPUI School of Liberal Arts; Anna Eaglin, who earned degrees from IU Bloomington's College of Arts and Sciences and Luddy School; and Ashlee Fujawa, a graduate of IU Bloomington's College of Arts and Sciences and School of Education. Uncovered plans to expand its platform of more than 12,000 cases from across the country and more than 500 registered members with the support of a recent investment from IU Ventures.

These companies reflect the spirit of entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation found across all our campuses. I look forward to what our students come up with next, knowing that their ideas and inventions promise to lead to a brighter future.

Pamela Whitten

President
Indiana University