The Purdue Innovates Startup and Technology Expo 2025 highlighted and showcased Purdue’s finest innovators and entrepreneurs including students, faculty, staff, startups and issued patent recipients.
The celebration of Purdue’s innovative spirit occurred over three days with sessions by and for entrepreneurs and innovators, pitches and opportunities for networking.
Catch up on the 2025 Expo highlights:
From innovation to impact:
A celebration of Purdue innovators
In 2024, Purdue University researchers received 213 patents, ranking 7th among universities worldwide and 4th in the U.S. This achievement marks 4 years running that Purdue has been in the top 5 in the U.S. These patents come from over 150 faculty and staff from colleges across campus.
Their work represents the very best of Boilermaker ingenuity — transforming ideas into real-world solutions that improve lives and drive progress. Purdue Innovates supports their persistent pursuit of innovation and the advancement of Purdue’s legacy as a global leader in research and discovery.
Purdue inventors receive highest professional distinction
The NAI Fellows Program celebrates academic inventors whose work spans multiple disciplines and exemplifies their collaboration, dedication and innovation to transform research into real-world commercial technologies that contribute to the betterment of society. With the 2024 announcement of two additional fellows from Purdue, the number of Purdue faculty inducted as NAI fellows is 23, including Purdue President Mung Chiang.
The installation placed in the Convergence Center for Innovation and Collaboration serves as a permanent honor of this significant achievement.
Breakout sessions
accelerate innovation
Spring 2025 saw the inaugural cohort of the Purdue Innovates Accelerator program come together for transformative growth through the power of the Purdue entrepreneurial ecosystem. On day two, expo participants had the opportunity to listen and learn more about the companies from the founders.
New Venture Challenge awards cash prizes to Purdue student entrepreneurs
The New Venture Challenge helps prepare Purdue student startups for market entry and fundraising. At the end of the four-workshop series, participants pitch to a room of investors at the expo. Four teams won big this year.
First Place ($20,000): Translunar
Second Place ($15,000): Reprotin
Third Place ($10,000): UpLiv
Crowd Favorite ($2,500): Food Burp
Best Pitch ($2,500): UpLiv
Media contact: Polly Barks, phbarks@prf.org
