INDIANAPOLIS — Venture capitalists are always looking to invest in the next big business idea. A competition proved that those ideas can sometimes come from the minds of teenagers.
The Innovate WithIN competition invited high school students across the state to present their business ideas for a $25,000 grand prize.
17-year-old Raina Maiga and 18-year-old Truman Graves took home the $25,000 with Compleyes.AI, their idea to help manufacturing businesses know and respect environmental compliance laws.
"People may think this is just a fun student project, but we want people to see this as a real product where they can put money behind it," said Graves.
"Two years ago, I wouldn't say a word if Bill Gates was in front of me," said Maiga. "Right now, by the end of that meeting, I would have thrown him two questions."
Maiga and Graves attended different high schools but developed their business partnership under the dome of the State Capitol.
"Raina and I actually met at the Statehouse while working on environmental regulations with state legislators," Graves said.
Their partnership came full circle. Maiga and Graves presented Compleyes.AI to leaders such as Governor Mike Braun during the competition.
"You really have to balance that you want people to help you and believe in you because you're young, but not count you out because you're young," Maiga said. "To come out on top shows the product and the vision is what people want."
They will go their separate ways after their big win. Maiga will start her first year at Cornell University and will continue to develop Compleyes.AI with the $25,000 investment.
"This is one of the top engineering schools in the country," Maiga said. "Students there are building AI technologies we couldn't dream of."
Graves will enroll at Purdue University and study mechanical engineering, but will not leave his newfound business background behind.
"Engineers solve problems, they create something, but you have to be ready to sell that. If you're solving a problem but you can't convince someone to actually buy it, you're not solving a problem."
-
Plainfield police searching for missing 17-year-old girl
Plainfield Police are asking for the public's help locating a missing teenage girl who has not been heard from since being dropped off near her home.
Man dead, four detained after shooting on Indianapolis' northeast side
A man is dead and four people are in custody following a shooting on the city's northeast side early Saturday morning.
Neighbors advocate for better bike lanes, sidewalks on Fletcher Ave bridge
INDOT plans to replace the concrete decks on both Virginia and Fletcher Ave bridges over I-65/I-70 in 2027. Those improvements include repairing aging concrete, installing new sidewalks and railings.
Secretary of State Morales accused of using state resources for campaign video
Marion County Election Board accuses Secretary of State Diego Morales of using state resources to film a campaign video, which he denies.
