The Society of Innovators at Purdue Northwest launches “Spark Series” to inspire next generation of entrepreneurs
The Society of Innovators at Purdue Northwest has officially launched the Spark Series, a new video learning library designed to help students, educators and aspiring entrepreneurs learn directly from real-world innovators across Northwest Indiana.
These short, documentary-style video interviews with local entrepreneurs and innovators bring real-world business and innovation concepts to life for audiences. The Spark Series highlights authentic stories, challenges and insights designed to inspire the next generation of problem-solvers and creators.
Each 12 to 14-minute episode is paired with classroom-ready discussion guides and linked to Indiana’s high school entrepreneurship pathway standards, providing a fresh and relatable teaching tool for educators statewide.
The Spark Series is designed to spotlight that spirit by showcasing real founders and creators in our own backyard. Their stories help bring entrepreneurship to life for the next generation.
Jason Williams, CEO of the Society of Innovators
“We believe innovation can come from anywhere, and that anyone can be an innovator,” said Jason Williams, CEO of the Society of Innovators. “The Spark Series is designed to spotlight that spirit by showcasing real founders and creators in our own backyard. Their stories help bring entrepreneurship to life for the next generation.”
The first season of the Spark Series features innovators from a wide range of industries, from food and wellness to marketing and manufacturing. Guests include:
- Wade Breitzke, founder and CEO of WeCreate, on branding, storytelling, and building customer trust
- Allyson Straka, founder of Frozen Garden, on launching a product-based business and scaling from a local kitchen to a $4M brand
- Carol Podolak, co-founder of BNutty Gourmet Peanut Butters, on turning a school fundraiser into a global business
- Maurice “Chef Blāque” Shelton, owner of Steel City Bakery and Netflix’s Sugar Rush champion, on resilience, values, and purpose-driven leadership
Additional episodes feature entrepreneurs and innovators across sectors, including healthcare, social enterprise, technology and retail, with new episodes added throughout fall 2025.
The Spark Series is part of the Society’s broader SparkED initiative to strengthen youth entrepreneurship across Northwest Indiana. SparkED is the hub for youth entrepreneurship and innovation education. It unites storytelling, hands-on learning, educator support and professional development to ignite curiosity and entrepreneurial thinking in classrooms, afterschool programs and business incubators.
“We heard from teachers across the region who were looking for high-quality, local content that made entrepreneurship feel real,” added Williams. “The Spark Series delivers that by offering short, engaging episodes that highlight not just the ‘what’ of entrepreneurship, but the ‘why’ and ‘how.’”