Purdue Innovates has announced the launch of its second accelerator cohort, selecting five Purdue-connected startups to participate in its three-month, investment-based program designed to scale early-stage companies.
The cohort was unveiled on March 24 at the Convergence Center for Innovation and Collaboration in the Discovery Park District in West Lafayette, Indiana. The accelerator draws from a competitive pool of founders affiliated with Purdue University, spanning sectors including robotics, artificial intelligence, fintech, advanced materials, and digital infrastructure.
The program is designed to help startups transition from early development to market-ready businesses through mentorship, investor access, and structured guidance. Participants also gain entry into Purdue’s broader innovation ecosystem, including connections to partners, advisors, and commercialization resources.
According to the announcement, the accelerator builds on momentum from its inaugural cohort, with leadership emphasizing continued support for founders developing high-impact technologies.
The five startups selected for the 2026 cohort include:
- Vibe Robotics, a company developing affordable humanoid robots for education, research, and embodied AI applications
- Second Opinion, which uses a multi-AI model to review documents and identify potential issues in AI-generated outputs
- Resolvr, a platform building digital asset infrastructure for insurance and reinsurance markets
- FiberX, a biomass refinery converting agricultural waste into high-value materials and bio-based products
- EvoLink Systems, a company creating modular, scalable digital infrastructure integrating power, compute, and physical systems
The accelerator is operated through the Purdue Research Foundation and serves as a key entry point for early-stage startups seeking commercialization support. Programming includes customer discovery, business model development, regulatory planning, and team-building, along with one-on-one mentorship and cohort-based collaboration.
KEY QUOTE:
“The momentum from our first Accelerator cohort has been inspiring, and this next group promises to bring another incredible wave of bold ideas. We’re excited to support them with Purdue-connected mentors, investors, partners, and a world-class innovation ecosystem behind them.”
Doug Applegate, Associate Director Of The Purdue Innovates Incubator
