On Friday, February 27, more than 250 students from 17 universities arrived at the 16 Tech Innovation District in Indianapolis for the inaugural Collegiate Entrepreneurs Summit, a statewide gathering created to bring student innovators together, spark new collaborations, and strengthen Indiana’s entrepreneurial network.
The summit was more than an event – it was the result of a multi-organization planning committee led by Butler University’s Lacy School of Business, 16 Tech, CICP, and INtercollegiate Entrepreneurs. For months, these four groups worked together to design a student-centered experience that could bring Indiana’s entrepreneurial community closer and create a truly statewide ecosystem.
What began as a simple idea among a small group of campus leaders grew into one of the largest student entrepreneurship events the state has hosted, marking a significant milestone for both Indiana’s innovation community and for LSB, which served as a co‑host, challenge partner, and event sponsor.
Throughout the day, The AMP at 16 Tech transformed into a hub of activity as students participated in workshops, founder conversations, peer discussions, and hands on sessions that explored the many pathways available to those interested in building, creating, or problem solving.
“It was one of the few spaces where everyone shared the same drive to build something new,” said Preston Asher, a finance and entrepreneurship & innovation double major. “You could walk up to any table and immediately start talking ideas.”
A central component of the day was the Anchor & Accelerate Innovation Challenge. More than 40 intercollegiate teams formed quickly to analyze a structured business problem, develop a market-ready concept, and present their ideas under tight deadlines. The challenge emphasized creative problem solving over polished prototypes, encouraging students to focus on clarity, feasibility, and real world application.
LSB delivered a standout showing. Eight Butler teams participated in the challenge, and LSB students secured both first and second place overall – a major accomplishment given the number of competing institutions. First place was awarded to Jenna Burd and Lily Laffond, whose concept impressed judges for its innovation and practical potential. Second place went to Trevor Storm and Preston Asher, offering Butler a clean sweep of the top two positions and reinforcing the strength of LSB’s experiential learning approach.
“The challenge pushed us to think fast, communicate clearly, and trust our instincts,” Preston said. “Everything we’ve learned at LSB showed up in those moments, and it felt like we were genuinely prepared.”
Lily described the challenge as eye opening, especially around the problem her team tackled. “Our team was tasked with solving the problem of lost tribal knowledge and workforce productivity within the manufacturing sector,” she said. “We created LeanLens, an AI software tool built into industrial grade goggles. Before this, I had no idea that manufacturing makes up 27% of Indiana’s GDP. Given how archaic many systems still are, the industry is well suited for AI disruption.”
Beyond the competition, the summit offered a rare opportunity for students to connect across campuses in a way that had never existed before. For Lily, these conversations became a highlight of the entire day. “I left the conference feeling energized with ideas,” she said. “Talking to students all over the Hoosier state about what they’re building was inspiring. The best part of a network like this is the shared commitment to helping one another succeed.”
She also noted a clear difference in how Butler students showed up: “Given that out of 40+ teams, the top two were from Butler – that’s a testament to the program. One key distinction I noticed was the strong emphasis Butler students place on soft skills and relationship building. Rather than simply presenting financials and metrics, they prioritize building genuine rapport and connecting meaningfully with judges.”
Leadership from INtercollegiate Entrepreneurs – the student run organization that helped spearhead the event – echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of building statewide community rather than isolated campus level efforts. With students attending from Indiana, Illinois, and Virginia, the summit highlighted just how quickly this network is expanding and how crucial collaboration will be in supporting student founders in the years ahead.
“I’ve been watching Butler’s presence in the ecosystem grow – the building of partnerships, the credibility compounding – and the summit was the moment all of it became visible at once,” Iman Noor D. Braham, an MBA candidate concentrating in finance and entrepreneurship & innovation, said.
“Meeting students from other universities was eye opening,” Preston added. “It helped me see how strong Butler’s entrepreneurship culture really is. People kept saying they could tell we were well supported and well prepared.”
Students left the summit carrying new ideas, new relationships, and a stronger sense of what entrepreneurship can look like in any field, whether launching a startup or driving innovation within an existing organization. “I walked away with a better understanding of entrepreneurial storytelling,” Lily said. “Venture capitalists invest in businesses, but they also invest in founders. Being able to articulate my purpose, positioning, and vision is a key differentiator.”
The inaugural Collegiate Entrepreneurs Summit represented the beginning of something larger: a shared effort to empower student founders, elevate Indiana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, and build a statewide community grounded in collaboration rather than competition.
For Iman, the summit confirmed a broader shift already underway in Indiana. “Indiana is at a genuinely exciting moment,” she shared. “I’ve seen what emerging ecosystems look like in different markets, and this feels like the window where the people showing up now will shape what it becomes.”
“I walked away with more confidence – not just in my ideas, but in the direction Indiana’s innovation ecosystem is heading,” Preston said. “It feels like there’s real momentum, and Butler is right in the middle of it.”
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