Join us for the Purdue Innovates and Purdue Alumni Entrepreneurship Network Startup and Technology Expo 2026 on April 22-24. The event will highlight and showcase Purdue’s finest innovators and entrepreneurs including students, faculty, staff, alumni, startups and issued patent recipients.
Celebrate Purdue’s innovative spirit with three days of sessions by and for entrepreneurs and innovators, pitches, and networking opportunities.
About This Event
April 22
Join us in the afternoon for IP and startup workshops designed to equip innovators with the tools to advance and commercialize their ideas. The evening concludes with an invite only reception recognizing Purdue patent recipients.
April 23
Kick off the morning with dynamic presentations from Purdue Innovates Capstone teams and Commercialization Fellows. Midday brings a networking lunch, followed by a full afternoon of events including a student pitch competition, Purdue Alumni Entrepreneur presentations, roundtable discussions, and an inspiring keynote. An evening reception closes day two.
April 24
Begin the morning with breakfast networking before diving into a full slate of presentations, startup pitches, keynotes, and alumni entrepreneur sessions. The afternoon continues with additional company showcases, alumni spotlights, open networking, and opportunities for guided tours.
Location
- There will be several locations
schedule
schedule
See below for a complete schedule, all of which will take place at the Convergence Center unless otherwise noted. All times are Eastern.
*Schedule is subject to change. Please check back for updates.
Wednesday, April 22
1 - 1:15 p.m.
Introduction
1:15 - 1:45 p.m.
BioCrossroads
1:45 - 2 p.m.
Main Intro
2 - 2:30 p.m.
Perfecting Your Pitch
Chelsea Linder
2:30 - 3 p.m.
Company Formation
Audrey Wessel
3 - 3:30 p.m.
Investor Math
Landon Young
3:30 - 4 p.m.
Information Session: SiCatalyst
4 - 4:15 p.m.
Closing Remarks
Thursday, April 23
9 - 9:15 a.m.
Former Trask Innovation Fund Winners
9:15 - 9:45 a.m.
Capstone Lightning Round
9:45 - 10:15 a.m.
Commercialization Fellows Innovation Stories
Saloni Darji
Teodora Kljaic
Pranshul Sardana
Sunandita Ghosh
10:15 - 10:25 a.m.
Break
10:25 - 10:55 a.m.
Capstone Lightning Round
11 - 11:45 a.m.
VC Panel Discussion
Tyler Mantel, Toph Day, Gopal Rajarama
Moderator: Travis Stegemoller
11:45 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Networking Lunch
1 - 1:30 p.m.
New Venture Challenge Pitches
1:30 - 1:45 p.m.
Yet to be confirmed
Details coming soon
1:45 - 2:05 p.m.
New Venture Challenge Pitches
2:05 - 2:15 p.m.
Break
2:15 - 2:30 p.m.
Yet to be confirmed
Details coming soon
2:30 - 3:15 p.m.
Founder Roundtable Panel
Purdue Entrepreneurial Leaders:
Nathalie Duval, Tim Dixon, Kostas Grigoriou, Brian Spencer, Jessica Jud
Moderator: Doug Applegate
3:15 - 3:30 p.m.
New Venture Challenge Awards
3:30 - 4:15 p.m.
Semiconductor Panel
4:15 - 4:30 p.m.
Yet to be confirmed
Details coming soon
5 - 8 p.m.
Reception with PAEN and Purdue Innovates
Friday, April 24
All Friday's events will be hosted at the Spurgeon Club.
8 - 9 a.m.
Breakfast Networking
9 - 9:30 a.m.
Opening Presentation
Brooke Beier
Senior Vice President, Purdue Innovates
Introduction to Purdue Innovates and PAEN
9:30 a.m.
Yet to be confirmed
Details coming soon
9:45 - 10 a.m.
CCO and Sam Cleveland Presentation
Discover ways for students to get involved in startups
10 - 10:30 a.m.
Keynote: Commercializing AI
Tayo Adesanya and
Calvyn Hendryx-Parker
10:30 - 10:40 a.m.
Break
10:40 - 11 a.m.
Keynote: Growth of Entrepreneurship
Sally Kay
11 - 11:30 a.m.
Yet to be confirmed
Details coming soon
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Lunch
12:30 - 1 p.m.
Accelerator Pitches
1 - 2:30 p.m.
Mentorship Networking
PAEN Members
Networking Group by Industry: Jennifer Lopez, Grant Chapman, Mike McCracken
2:30 - 3 p.m.
Keynote
Dinesh Maheshwari
Former CTO of Groq
Interviewed by Tyler Mantel / Roll Tack
3 - 3:30 p.m.
Yet to be confirmed
Details coming soon
3:30 p.m.
Closing Remarks
Connect w/ university & network
3:30 - 4:15 p.m.
Optional Tour
Mackey Arena
Registration required
3:30 - 4:15 p.m.
Optional Tour
DETAILS ON REGISTRATION TICKET
Registration required
4:15 - 5 p.m.
Optional Tour
DETAILS ON REGISTRATION TICKET
Registration required
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