BoilerNetStudent founders
Purdue students shipping real products, not slide decks. Evidence of work in the last 90 days matters more than the idea.
Purdue startup network
The curated Purdue founder network.
BoilerNet is a vetted Purdue startup network, curated by hand, built on shipped work, and designed as a workshop instead of a feed.
Membership
Hand-reviewed
Default posture
Private
Mentor model
Operator-led
Geography
WL → SF
Who it is for
Built for people doing the work.
The Purdue startup network is intentionally small. We optimize for operators who show up, not for audience size.
Operator mentors
People who have shipped, sold, or raised. Pairings run on agreements, cadence, and scorecards founders can see.
Alumni builders
Purdue grads still building across the Midwest. The network stays small enough that introductions are intentional.
How it works
Vetting is the product.
Three mechanisms keep the network useful: evidence on intake, human review, and a platform built for calls, not posts.
01
Apply with evidence
Share shipped work, traction, and a concrete need a mentor could answer. Applications take about eight minutes.
02
Human review
Every application is read by hand against public criteria. No algorithmic promotion and no applications stuck in limbo.
03
Workshop, not a feed
Book calls on real calendars, log the hours, and track the work. BoilerNet is built for operators, not content.
After approval
What members can do inside BoilerNet.
Approved members get a private operating layer, not a public profile directory. You choose when to be visible to recruiters or investors.
- Direct access to vetted founders and mentors after approval
- Mentor pairings with visible agreements and scorecards
- Events and office hours that happen on schedule
- Recruiter and investor access only when you opt in
Purdue → San Francisco → Funding
Midwest context is part of the thesis.
BoilerNet is anchored at Purdue and across the Midwest, then routes builders to the venture capital and scouts who write checks in San Francisco. We keep the network rooted at home without treating coastal funding as out of reach.
FAQ
Questions before you apply.
- Is BoilerNet a public directory?
- No. The Purdue startup network is private by default. You apply, get reviewed, and access opens after approval.
- Who should apply?
- Purdue founders with recent shipped work, operator mentors with credibility, and alumni builders who want a serious Midwest network.
- How is this different from LinkedIn?
- BoilerNet removes the feed. Membership is curated, conversations start with context, and mentor time is tracked as work, not content.
- Where is the network based?
- West Lafayette is the anchor. Indianapolis and the broader Midwest are first-class, not an afterthought to coastal capital.
Next intake
Show your work. Earn the room.
Applications take about eight minutes. Decisions typically land within a week.
Start your application