The Indiana Chamber has launched its fifth annual Coolest Thing Made IN Indiana contest, featuring 49 products from 36 cities and towns across the state. The event highlights the state’s manufacturing sector and showcases goods produced for local, national, and global markets.
The tournament uses a single-elimination format similar to basketball tournaments in Indiana, with participants advancing based on online voting. Vanessa Green Sinders, president and CEO of the Indiana Chamber, stated, “This event has repeatedly drawn a crowd of interest from participants, voters and observers, and we’re seeing that again this year. If you haven’t already, you really should look at the matchups and list of product descriptions on the contest website and vote for your favorites. It’s truly awe-inspiring what’s being made right here in Indiana.”
Sinders also emphasized the competitive aspect: “Winning won’t be easy. But it’s the competition that makes this showcase so great and is what helps the Indiana Chamber put a bright spotlight on all these amazing companies that keep Indiana’s economy thriving.”
Participation in the contest is free. While companies do not have to be headquartered in Indiana, their submitted product must be manufactured within the state. Each company can enter only one product.
Voting takes place online at www.indianachamber.com/coolestthing. Voters are required to cast votes in all matchups within each round for their votes to count. The first round of voting runs through December 4; subsequent rounds continue into mid-January. Due to a large number of entrants this year, some received byes into later rounds based on an online random draw.
Winners will be announced during the Best in Business Awards Luncheon sponsored by Charter Spectrum TV/Internet/Voice on January 26 at the Indiana Convention Center.
Previous winners include Hard Truth Whiskey Co., Harpsicle Harps (2024), Hoosier Racing Tire (2023), Maple Leaf Farms for its roast half duck (2022), and Janus Motorcycles (2021).
A full alphabetical list of participating companies was released by the Chamber as part of this year’s field.
