Crusader Staff Report
Purdue University Northwest (PNW) has announced the winners of its 2026 Big Sell Pitch Competition, which is the university’s annual pitch competition that awards seed funding to promising entrepreneurs and early-stage business ventures located in NW Indiana and beyond.
The competition brought student and community entrepreneurs face-to-face with a panel of judges at PNW’s Commercialization and Manufacturing Excellence Center (CMEC), where they made their case for startup funding. Sponsored by the PNW College of Business, the PNW Office of Commercialization and Research, and Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO), the event has become a marquee showcase for regional entrepreneurial talent.
The 2026 Big Sell Pitch Competition highlighted innovative ideas and showcased the entrepreneurial spirit of the participants, making it a significant event in the region.
Ten finalists, selected from a competitive field of two-minute video submissions, advanced to deliver six-minute live pitches for the chance to win startup seed funding and forge connections within Northwest Indiana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The competition distributed $14,000 in total prize money: $10,000 for first place, $3,000 for second place and $1,000 for third place.
The 2026 winners were:
• First Place ($10,000): GlucoCare, presented by Simrah Khan
• Second Place ($3,000): Low Angle, presented by Kenneth Webster
• Third Place ($1,000): The ANT Tool, presented by Aaron Farrer
Other finalists presented innovative concepts spanning health care, consumer products, technology, lifestyle brands and sustainability-focused ventures. Full information about the 2026 winners, finalists and judges is available at pnw.edu/big-sell.
“The PNW Big Sell continues to showcase the incredible entrepreneurial talent emerging throughout Northwest Indiana and beyond,” said Alexandra Moran, assistant professor of practice in Management at PNW. “What makes this event especially meaningful is that it not only provides seed funding but also creates a launchpad for entrepreneurs to receive feedback, build connections and gain confidence in presenting their ideas.”
The competition has a proven track record of fueling real-world success. Past participants have gone on to raise venture capital funding, launch thriving companies and advance their businesses through regional entrepreneurial resources and partnerships. The event also doubles as a hands-on learning experience for PNW students, who take an active role in event planning, marketing, entrepreneur support and live operations.
The PNW Big Sell is one component of PNW’s broader entrepreneurship ecosystem, which encompasses initiatives and regional partnerships focused on startup growth and commercialization opportunities throughout Northwest Indiana.
For more information about the PNW Big Sell and entrepreneurship opportunities at PNW, visit pnw.edu/entrepreneurship.