Aspiring entrepreneurs looking to pitch the next big thing once again have the chance
to earn cash prizes at Trine University’s annual Innovation Challenge, sponsored by
Farmers State Bank.

Registration is now open to area high school students, college students and community
members with new business and technology ideas.

Presented by Trine innovation 1, the Challenge offers top prizes of $1,000 and second
prizes of $500 prizes for the top new ideas or improved concepts for business or technology
presented by high school students.

College students and community members compete for top prizes of $1,500 and second
prizes of $750.

High school students must submit projects by Jan. 10 to be considered for the high
school pitch competition on Jan. 24.

College students and community members must submit projects by Feb. 7 for the College/Community
Challenge on Feb. 21.

Finalists will present their projects to a panel of judges in a format similar to
popular television pitch shows.

Entries in the business category should focus on a new business idea or service. For
the technology innovation category, participants are encouraged to think about technological
inventions or advances.

There is no entry fee. Registration is available at trine.edu/i1challenge.

For more information, email Jason Blume, assistant vice president of Innovation One,
at blumej@trine.edu or visit innovation1.org and click on the i1 Challenge link in
the navigation menu.

About Farmers State Bank  

Founded in 1915 in Stroh, Indiana, Farmers State Bank is one of northeast Indiana’s
leading financial institutions and the Home of Blue Button Banking. With corporate
headquarters in LaGrange, Indiana, Farmers State Bank has been providing banking and
financial services to both consumers and businesses for over 100 years. To learn more,
visit GoFSB.com.