Meet the maker: EK Designs

• The trio developed a hydroponic vertical farm system that transforms recycled glass into a compact environment capable of supporting plant life.

Zoom in: EK Designs took their sustainability idea to the Innovate WithIN pitch competition, an annual event that sees students from across the state go head-to-head for seed funding and marketing support for their startups.

• The company was a finalist for the competition's east central region in 2024.
• Hinshaw and Inman also presented their vertical farms to students, entrepreneurs and lawmakers Wednesday at the Indiana Statehouse to celebrate the launch of Indiana's Youth Innovation & Entrepreneurship Caucus.

How it works: Co-chaired by Reps. Craig Snow and Carey Hamilton and Sens. Fady Qaddoura and Greg Goode, the caucus was created to empower high school students across the state to drive innovation and create a framework that keeps that talent in Indiana.

What they're saying: The minds behind EK Designs are taking to the mic to keep other young people informed about politics and current events with their latest venture, a podcast and online platform they're calling "17."

• "We were inspired since we were 17 during the last political election, and it felt like our voices didn't really matter," Inman told Axios. "So we're using this as a way to amplify those people and get more young voters invested in politics."

Check them out: On Instagram, X, Facebook, LinkedIn and TikTok.