20 May IU Founders and Funders Network Venture Summit Sold Out. Now Streaming.
Registration for the 2026 IU Founders & Funders Venture Summit is officially closed. 350+ members of the IU ecosystem will be in Bloomington on May 21–22 for two days of programming, connection, and celebration.
If you aren’t able to join – we’ve got good news.
Both days will be streamed live on YouTube. No registration required.
- Thursday, May 21 — Day 1:Watch the Livestream
- Friday, May 22 — Day 2:Watch the Livestream
Thursday: IU Innovates Student Startup Showcase
The centerpiece of Day 1 is the IU Innovates Student Startup Showcase. Eight student-founded companies will take the stage for live pitches, with welcome remarks from IU alumnus Todd Wagner — co-founder of Broadcast.com — and a powerhouse panel that includes David Krane, Dave Lindsey, Sue Aquila, Allie Ottoboni, Baindu Paicely, and Amish Shah.
The showcase is scheduled for 1:00 PM ET on Thursday — though the stream will be live earlier, so tune in before then.
Here’s what makes this different from just watching: if you have feedback, a connection to make, resources to share, or mentorship to offer any of the eight student teams, we want you to act on it.
Visit innovate.iu.edu/showcase26 to connect directly with the student presenters.
These founders are in the early stages of building something real. A well-timed introduction, a piece of honest feedback, or an offer to help could be exactly what moves them forward.
Friday: A Full Day Worth Tuning In For
Day 2 opens with a session that sets the tone and helps celebrate the 150th anniversary milestone of Eli Lilly and Company: “Founder, Faith, and Legacy: The Life and Lessons of Colonel Eli Lilly,” featuring IU Chancellor’s Professor Dr. Richard Gunderman.
From there, IU Athletic Director Scott Dolson takes the stage for “Changing the Game: IU Athletics and the New Economics of College Sports.” IU Football just capped a historic 16-0 national championship run to the College Football Playoff Championship — and the business and leadership challenges of college athletics has never looked more interesting.
The morning closes with the IU Icons Fireside Chat — featuring IU alumnus David Krane, CEO of Google Ventures. Krane sits down with IU alumnus Scott Dorsey of High Alpha for what should be a genuinely great conversation.
The livestream covers the three morning sessions beginning at 8:45 AM ET.
Hoosier Nation, This Is Your Invitation
The IU Founders and Funders Network’s reach extends well beyond Bloomington. If you’re in Chicago, Austin, New York, Boston, Hong Kong, Mumbai or in the Bay Area — this is your invitation. Tune in, watch these student founders pitch in front of a world-class panel, and then use innovate.iu.edu/showcase26 to show them what Hoosier Nation looks like when it shows up for the next generation.
- Day 1 Livestream (May 21): com/live/C2eqHlqsVQk
- Day 2 Livestream (May 22): https://www.youtube.com/live/BHz3jvzJg-I?si=fcVdZXgZ0o4rP10n
- Connect with Student Founders: iu.edu/showcase26
Whether you’re in the room or tuned in from afar — you’re part of what we’re building. The IU Founders and Funders Network is a world-class venture ecosystem, and it lives inside one of the most powerful alumni networks in the world. It’s where student founders are supported, faculty technology is advanced, and alumni founders are funded.
The IU Founders and Funders Network Venture Summit is presented by Western Alliance Bank and Amundsen Davis and is a partnership between IU Ventures, IU Innovates, and the IU Foundation.
About IU Ventures
IU Ventures invests in and supports IU-affiliated early-stage companies. Its investment programs include the IU Philanthropic Venture Fund, the IU Angel Network and the Innovate Indiana Fund. It further supports IU founders through the IU Founders and Funders Network. Each program takes a unique approach to accelerate and support the positive impacts that entrepreneurs affiliated with IU already achieve across the world.
About IU Innovates
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.
About IU Foundation
The Indiana University Foundation maximizes private support for Indiana University by fostering lifelong relationships with key stakeholders and providing advancement leadership and fundraising services for campuses and units across the university.