Indiana is full of talented young entrepreneurs with ideas, ambition and the drive to build something meaningful. Yet for many student founders, one challenge continues to surface early in the journey: finding the right people to build with.
As a student and the vice president of marketing for the IU Indianapolis Entrepreneurship Club, I’ve seen how difficult it can be for young entrepreneurs to access strong networks early in their careers. High school students rarely connect with collegiate founders. College entrepreneurs often struggle to meet mentors or industry leaders. At the same time, professionals who want to support emerging talent may not know where to plug in.
This gap between talent and connection is what inspired Next-Gen Founders, a networking and entrepreneurial showcase designed to bring the next generation of innovators together.
Students building the ecosystem they want to see
Student organizations play an important role in shaping campus culture. But they can also play a powerful role in building regional innovation ecosystems. Next-Gen Founders reflects what happens when students take the initiative to create opportunities not only for themselves, but for their broader community of peers.
Hosted by the IU Indianapolis Entrepreneurship Club, the event will bring together high school students, collegiate founders, and industry professionals to create connections that often take years to form organically.
Entrepreneurs from Notre Dame, Butler University, Purdue University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, and Intercollegiate Entrepreneurs are expected to attend, alongside high school innovators from across Marion County.
By bringing together multiple campuses and generations of entrepreneurs in one place, the goal is simple: to strengthen the innovation pipeline that keeps Indiana’s brightest minds connected to Indianapolis.
Designing networking that actually works
For many young founders, traditional networking events can feel intimidating or awkward. Walking into a room full of strangers and starting conversations isn’t always easy — especially when you’re new to entrepreneurship. To make the experience more intentional, Next-Gen Founders introduces a color-coded cup system.
Attendees holding orange cups signal that they are seeking potential co-founders or collaborators. Those holding purple cups indicate they are looking for mentorship or guidance from experienced entrepreneurs.
It’s a simple idea, but one designed to remove uncertainty and help conversations start with purpose. Instead of wondering how to approach someone, participants can immediately identify shared goals and begin meaningful dialogue.
Beyond networking, the event will also feature an Entrepreneurial Showcase, where student founders will present their products, services, or ventures to a live audience of peers, potential collaborators, and community supporters.
For some participants, this may be the first time they have publicly shared their work. For others, it may be an opportunity to gather feedback, test an idea, or meet partners who can help them advance their venture. Most importantly, the showcase highlights something that is often overlooked: students are already building the future of Indiana’s economy.
Strengthening Indiana’s innovation pipeline
Across the country, cities are competing to attract and retain young talent. But, innovation ecosystems don’t develop by accident. They grow when universities collaborate, when students meet mentors early, and when emerging entrepreneurs have spaces to share ideas and form partnerships. Next-Gen Founders is a small but meaningful step toward building that kind of ecosystem in Indiana.
When high school innovators meet college founders, when students connect with mentors, and when campuses across the state collaborate, something powerful begins to happen. Relationships form. Ideas gain momentum. And the possibility of building a future in Indiana becomes more real.
As students, we have the opportunity to shape the entrepreneurial community we want to be part of. Next-Gen Founders is our way of starting that conversation, and we invite you to join us on April 2 at 5:30 p.m. at the IU Indianapolis Campus Center.
Next-Gen Founders Networking & Showcase
April 2, 2026 | 5:30 PM
IU Indianapolis Campus Center
Follow @IUI_Entrepreneurship_Club to learn more and connect with the growing community of next-generation founders.
Van Sui Lung Tum is the vice president of Marketing at IU Indianapolis Entrepreneurship Club.
