Westfield students compete to see who has most innovative business idea

Submitted by Westfield Washington Schools

Westfield Washington Schools’ (WWS) sixth annual Westfield High School Innovation Competition is underway. The first round took place Thursday evening, March 26.

This year’s competition features 85 student teams, representing 158 Westfield High School (WHS) students, all competing for the opportunity to earn more than $10,000 in seed funding to bring their innovative business ideas to life.

For six years, the Innovation Competition has provided students with real-world entrepreneurial experience as they develop, refine, and pitch business concepts. The event is structured as a three-round competition, giving students multiple opportunities to present their ideas and gain valuable feedback.

The top 15 teams from Round 1 will advance to Round 2, held at the Westfield Chamber of Commerce Luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 23, where advancing teams will showcase their ideas, network with business leaders, and compete for $2,000 in Chamber prize funding. Click here to get your tickets for the Chamber Luncheon.

From there, the top five teams will advance to the final round from 7 to 8:30 p.m. May 12 at the Westfield High School Auditorium (Door 44). This final round features a live, Shark Tank-style pitch competition, where local investors from across Hamilton County will award $10,000 in funding to student ventures they believe in.

The Innovation Competition continues to be a hallmark of Westfield High School’s commitment to preparing Shamrocks to be Life Ready, equipping them with skills in creativity, collaboration, communication, and problem-solving through authentic, hands-on learning experiences.

Community members are encouraged to attend, support student innovation, and participate in shaping the future of these young entrepreneurs.

The 2026 Innovation Competition is made possible through the generous support of community partners, including: Beau Benjamin Realty Group, Butler University – Lacy School of Business, the City of Westfield, Community First Bank of Indiana, and EdgeRock Development.