High Schoolers Win $7,500 for Athletic Tape Innovation

Liv Bates and Sam Foster walked away from Westfield High School's Innovation Competition with more than a trophy. They earned $7,500 in seed money to turn their athletic tape invention into an actual company.

Their product, VitaFlex+, reimagines kinesiology tape by incorporating non-adherent gauze. The design solves a common problem athletes face when traditional tape irritates their skin during intense training and competition.

The May 12 competition mirrored the TV show Shark Tank, with local investors from Hamilton County evaluating pitches from five finalist teams. VitaFlex+ collected $8,800 total throughout the multi-round contest, giving these high schoolers real capital to launch their business.

Second place went to Templ, a pair of massage therapy glasses created by John Bunch and Nick McKeown. Their invention uses sensors to massage temples and reduce headaches. The team earned $1,300 and is now pursuing a patent for their technology.

Adrian Feltrinelli took third place with Clean Out & Cash In, a garage cleaning service with a clever twist. He sorts items into keep, trash, and sell piles, then lists the sellable items online and splits profits 50-50 with homeowners. His business model earned him $1,200 to get started.

Luke Moulder's Neo Bait and a team effort called Pocket Polish (Andrew Carney, Keaton Chapman, and Austin Onda) rounded out the final five competitors. All five teams proved that age doesn't limit entrepreneurial thinking.

The Ripple Effect

Westfield High School's sixth annual competition does more than hand out prize money. It teaches teenagers to identify real problems, develop solutions, pitch ideas to investors, and handle the pressure of competition. These students learned business skills that most people don't encounter until college or their first startup.

The competition also strengthens local entrepreneurship by connecting young innovators with Hamilton County business leaders. Those investor relationships could open doors long after the competition ends, creating a pipeline of homegrown talent for Indiana's business community.

These five teams proved that the next generation isn't waiting for permission to solve problems and build businesses.