InvestorFounders Backing Founders
The startup scene in United States
The City of Lafayette’s economic-development page links entrepreneurs to local innovation, coworking, and commercialization organizations, including WHIN, MatchBOX Coworking Studio, X-District, and Purdue Research Foundation. (Claim 84748)
About
The City of Lafayette’s economic-development page links entrepreneurs to local innovation, coworking, and commercialization organizations, including WHIN, MatchBOX Coworking Studio, X-District, and Purdue Research Foundation. (Claim 84748)
Purdue Research Foundation reports university-wide, not city-specific, commercialization activity: in fiscal year 2024, it recorded 466 technology disclosures, 145 deals involving 224 technologies, and 63 startups based on Purdue innovations. (Claims 84754, 84755)
Ag-Celerator offers eligible Purdue students, faculty, and alumni competitive plant-sciences commercialization support of up to $100,000 each semester. Applicants are directed to review deadlines and submit a business concept description and pitch deck; a current deadline was not verified. (Claims 84756, 84757)
DIAL Ventures, an agrifood studio affiliated with Purdue Applied Research Institute, announced on June 2, 2026, the first close of Fund II with Grit Road Partners. DIAL reported six studio cycles and attributed a portfolio value of more than $30 million to PitchBook. (Claims 84758, 84759)
Startup ecosystem standing
Where Lafayette ranks
| Ranking | Edition | Position | Since last edition | Trust | What it measures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Global Startup Ecosystem Index (cities) | 2025 | #320 | No prior edition | B | Ecosystem, Activity, Finance, Business Climate |
12 organizations with a profile
Who's based in Lafayette
Investors 9
Investor
InvestorInvesting in family-owned businesses for long-term growth.
InvestorDifferentiated capital partner for growth-focused companies.
The 3 most prominent of 9. Browse all investors
Accelerators 2
Accelerator
AcceleratorEmpowering technical founders with funding and strategic support.
Incubators 1
IncubatorSupporting early-stage technology and innovative startups.
Pick what describes you
Your way in
Raising in Lafayette
Investors based here, and the programs that take teams at your stage.
Get investor introsFinding startups in Lafayette
Accelerators and incubators here see the earliest teams first.
Get startups that fitScouting in Lafayette
Campuses and communities are where teams form before anyone funds them.
Start scoutingFrom public sources
What the sources say about Lafayette
StartupBlink’s Lafayette listing is geographically ambiguous for Indiana and is excluded from an Indiana city ranking.
Source: Top Startups in LafayetteThe profile traces Spensa’s founding to Purdue-linked investment and a 2008 grant.
Source: Purdue Research FoundationA founder told the 2020 profile that the startup’s original investors came from the Foundry network.
Source: Purdue Research FoundationA 2020 Greater Lafayette profile linked Akonacure’s founders and therapeutics platform to Purdue Foundry.
Source: Purdue Research FoundationDIAL’s 2026 update reports Gripp’s use and pre-seed financing.
Source: DIAL Ventures Fund II announcementDIAL reports six cycles and attributes its portfolio valuation to PitchBook.
Source: DIAL Ventures Fund II announcement
Questions about Lafayette
How does Lafayette rank as a startup ecosystem?
Its best position is #320 in StartupBlink Index (cities) (2025).
How many startup investors are based in Lafayette?
9 investors based in Lafayette have a profile here, including Swift Ventures, Big 7 Ventures LLC and Growth Capital Management. The real number is higher.
Are there accelerators or incubators in Lafayette?
Yes. Lafayette has 2 accelerators and 1 incubator on record, including Founders Colony and Opportunity Machine.
Geographic proximity
Nearby cities to Lafayette
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