Purdue Innovates Accelerator is a three-month, investment-based startup program that empowers founders to transform their bold visions into disruptive impact.
Chosen from an incredible amount of Purdue-connected talent during the initial application cycle, the five teams of the inaugural cohort have worked closely with Purdue Innovates to help them take their next giant leap with tailored strategic support and access to a powerful network of world-class mentors, corporate partners, investors and alumni.
Learn more about what the cohort has achieved so far and then join them at the Purdue Innovates Accelerator Pitch Night on June 26th at the Purdue Memorial Union. RSVP now to hear each of these five dynamic startups pitch their business opportunities and network with members, founders, students, faculty, alumni, and investors of the Purdue Innovates ecosystem.
What major milestone(s) have you achieved during the Accelerator so far?
“We’ve made significant progress in the development of our coating and application, customer engagement, and manufacturing milestones… It’s been a productive season of self-directed growth.” – Greenshoot Materials CEO Monika Bleszynski
“We launched our FBAR tracking feature just before beginning the program, delivering a streamlined solution that enables users to generate their FBAR reports in minutes rather than hours… Building on this success, we are about to release our innovative Geo-monitoring feature, which represents our next major product advancement.” – Elisyan Wealth Ventures CEO Yasmina Slimani
“During the course of the Purdue Innovates Accelerator program, we have nearly closed our friends and family round of funding.” – Capturely CEO Rob Eyler
“The REV Pharmaceuticals team has solidified our “go-to market” strategy through several iterations over the course of the programming. We also have a concrete plan for our intellectual property and the company’s valuation based on historical deals, product market sizes, and strategic partner company attributes. Through significant focused efforts, we have refined and created new collateral to create first-in-class storytelling to support investor outreach and due diligence reviews for strategic partnerships.” – REV Pharmaceuticals CTO Beth Brown
Did any particular workshop, speaker, or external expert resonate with you or change how you’re approaching a challenge or opportunity?
“Through the Accelerator, we’ve been able to connect with Purdue alumni who have scaled companies, navigated regulatory challenges, and disrupted industries. Their collective expertise has given us new perspectives on tackling some of our own challenges, especially around how we approach product scalability and strategic partnerships.” – DroneSpotter Founder & CEO Mike Munizzi
“Our mentor Tim Fahler has been a consistently steady voice of insight and support during the past three months, and we are deeply grateful for his steadfast mentorship amid the chaos of building a startup.” – Greenshoot Materials CEO Monika Bleszynski
What are your top priorities for the next 3-6 months after the Accelerator wraps up?
“We are currently engaged to enter into a strategic partnership agreement to commercialize REVFLEX, our revolutionary OTC topical pain reliever cream that is scientifically proven to relax and recover muscles. The REV team will present the science of REVFLEX technology at a national pain conference in September 2025.” – REV Pharmaceuticals CTO Beth Brown
“The Accelerator program has encouraged us to set ambitious goals such as releasing a new app and portal and growing to $2.4M in sales for 2025.” – Capturely CEO Rob Eyler
“Our primary focus remains customer-centric growth in both UK and US markets. We are committed to scaling thoughtfully while maintaining the high trust standards that define our business model. We will continue to partner exclusively with clients who share our commitment to excellence and ethical practices. This selective approach has served us well, and we are excited to expand our network of like-minded partners.” – Elisyan Wealth Ventures CEO Yasmina Slimani
How can the Purdue entrepreneurial ecosystem continue to support you after Pitch Night and the conclusion of the Accelerator program?
All teams agreed that the Purdue entrepreneurial ecosystem was a powerful tool for the continued growth of their startups and that continued connection would be critical to their success:
“We are focused on completing a licensing or acquisition strategy by the end of 2025. We welcome investors who want to financially support our company value proposition through the development of additional REV pipeline products such as topical patches and tape. After this experience, we want to remain part of the Purdue community who has given us so much and pay it forward when possible.” – REV Pharmaceuticals CTO Beth Brown
“The Purdue ecosystem could provide invaluable support through introductions to key decision-makers in several target sectors. We would particularly welcome connections to wealth managers and tax advisors who serve internationally mobile clients, estate planning professionals navigating cross-border complexities, and global mobility specialists managing expatriate financial needs.” – Elisyan Wealth Ventures CEO Yasmina Slimani
“Connecting us with potential investors and partners who align with our mission of making airspace data accessible and actionable. Facilitating introductions to key industry players in aviation, public safety, and regulatory bodies, which will help us establish stronger industry footholds.” – DroneSpotter Founder & CEO Mike Munizzi
If you’d like to connect with any of the five startups, the inaugural Accelerator cohort will be pitching at the Purdue Innovates Accelerator Pitch Night June 26th at the Purdue Memorial Union.
Media contact: phbarks@prf.org
