Wabash Heartland Innovation Network

What Wabash Heartland Innovation Network does

Wabash Heartland Innovation Network (WHIN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2017 and headquartered in West Lafayette, Indiana. The organization operates a "Living Lab" model designed to accelerate IoT adoption across a defined 10-county region of north-central Indiana (Benton, Carroll, Cass, Clinton, Fountain, Montgomery, Pulaski, Tippecanoe, Warren, and White counties), serving farmers, manufacturers, K-12 school corporations, and rural communities. WHIN functions as a neutral intermediary that curates and validates third-party IoT technologies — rather than building or selling its own products — and deploys them with real users to surface adoption barriers and produce data-driven proof points for policymakers and industry.

WHIN's technology footprint includes a dense agricultural weather network of 160+ stations reporting at 15-minute intervals, the largest rural LoRaWAN testbed in the United States (deployed with Watch Communications), the first telecommunications aerostat in the country used for rural broadband (deployed with RTO Wireless), and a private LTE/CBRS/5G fixed wireless network built with Telrad, Tarana, and Trilogy Networks. Core programmatic offerings include the Living Lab platform for technology validation, the WHIN Data Portal (CSV/JSON data access), "Innovation as a Service" (IaaS) for manufacturing IoT implementation (predictive maintenance, worker safety, asset tracking, energy management with partners such as Fluke, Guardian Machine Protection, MakuSafe, and TeleSense), and a neutral-host broadband model that lets third-party ISPs resell services on WHIN infrastructure. Academic anchor partnerships with Purdue University and Ivy Tech Community College underpin workforce development and research collaboration.

WHIN does not monetize through traditional product pricing; its revenue is grant-funded via contributions and program-related income. Cumulative disclosed grants exceed $44M, anchored by a $38.9M founding grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. (2017) and supplemented by the U.S. EDA (~$2.7M combined), Lumina Foundation ($500K), North Central Health Services ($1M e-learning), IU Health ($400K), and Microsoft TechSpark. A $10M+ Regional Cultivation Fund redistributes capital to regional partners in awards up to $1M. As of 2024 the organization has 460+ partner entities, 350+ vetted technology vendors (growing at 50+/year), reports 18 staff members, and has driven an estimated $138M in regional economic impact per TEConomy Partners analysis (June 2024). Johnny Park has served as CEO since August 2018, with Gary Henriott as Board Chair.

Name

Wabash Heartland Innovation Network

Legal name

Wabash Heartland Innovation Network

Website

https://whin.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

WHIN is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2017 that operates a Living Lab to deploy IoT and broadband infrastructure across 10 north-central Indiana counties, serving farmers, manufacturers, and rural communities via grant-funded programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit IoT Innovation Services

NAICS

Wired and Wireless Telecommunications (except Satellite) (5171)

SIC

Computer Communications Equipment (3576)

akta.pro primary industry

Wireless ISPs (WISPs) & Fixed Wireless Access Providers (HDAIADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Managed Wi‑Fi & WLAN Services (Campus/Branch) (HDAIAGAB), Outdoor & Industrial/Rugged Wi‑Fi Access Points (HDAFACAB)

Keywords

• IoT infrastructure services
• Precision agriculture technology
• Smart manufacturing solutions
• Rural broadband networks
• Living lab innovation

Headquarters

HQ city

West Lafayette

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: WHIN is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that relies primarily on grants, contributions, and revenue from programs. Major funders include Lilly Endowment ($38.9M), U.S. Department of Commerce EDA ($1.7M + $1M Build to Scale grants), Lumina Foundation ($500K), North Central Health Services ($1M e-learning), IU Health ($400K), and Microsoft TechSpark.
2. Innovation as a Service (IaaS): Program introducing IoT technology to manufacturers and farmers. WHIN helps identify pain points and implement vetted IoT solutions, scaling services across the 10-county region.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

WHIN operates a Living Lab model that introduces vetted IoT technologies to farmers and manufacturers across 10 north-central Indiana counties, supported by a comprehensive IoT infrastructure including 160+ weather stations, the nation's largest rural LoRaWAN testbed, the first US telecommunications aerostat for rural broadband, and CBRS/LTE/5G wireless networks. Core offerings include the WHIN Living Lab platform, WHIN Weather Network, WHIN Data Portal, Innovation as a Service (IaaS) for manufacturers, and a Rural Broadband Network operated under a neutral host model.

Product overview

WHIN is a nonprofit innovation accelerator that operates a Living Lab platform connecting technology companies with farmers and manufacturers across 10 north-central Indiana counties. Rather than selling its own products, WHIN's core offerings include the Living Lab model for validating agtech and manufacturing innovations, the WHIN Weather Network (160+ weather stations providing hyperlocal agricultural data), the WHIN Data Portal for research access, Innovation as a Service (IaaS) for manufacturing IoT adoption, and a Rural Broadband Network leveraging CBRS/LTE/5G/aerostat technology to close the digital divide. These offerings work together as an integrated innovation ecosystem enabling real-world testing, data-driven decision-making, and technology adoption.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Living Lab: WHIN's user-driven innovation model that introduces vetted commercial technology into the region and drives innovation from real-usage by farmers and manufacturers
• Innovation as a Service (IaaS)

Products and services

• WHIN Living Lab A collaborative innovation platform that introduces vetted commercial and near-commercial IoT technologies to farmers and manufacturers in a real-world testing environment, enabling adoption and validation of digital agriculture and smart manufacturing solutions across 10 north-central Indiana counties.
• WHIN Weather Network A dense agricultural weather monitoring network with 160+ stations deployed across 10 counties, providing 15-minute interval hyperlocal data on surface temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction with gusts, soil temperature and moisture at 4 depths, solar radiation, and rainfall, with API, CSV and JSON data access.
• WHIN Data Portal A data platform providing access to agricultural and manufacturing living laboratory data, including weather station data available via CSV and JSON formats, enabling academic research and data-driven decision-making.
• Innovation as a Service (IaaS) A program that introduces IoT technology solutions to manufacturers to address needs including predictive maintenance, reduced downtime, safety, waste reduction, asset tracking, and energy management, delivered through hands-on support with plant personnel.
• Rural Broadband Network A next-generation wireless broadband infrastructure utilizing CBRS spectrum, LTE/5G technology, LoRaWAN, and aerostat-based connectivity to bridge the digital divide in rural Indiana, deployed as a neutral host model for service providers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Regional economic impact of $138M through WHIN operations, with $2.65 multiplier per $1 raised
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and supporting.

• Microsoft TechSparkflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 July 2024WHIN selected as part of Microsoft's national TechSpark program to grow economic opportunity in northwest central Indiana. WHIN will introduce IoT technology into school safety programming with wearable silent devices for emergency alerts, supported by a Microsoft grant funding a TechSpark Community Engagement Fellow.
• MetaLINK TechnologiescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 28 April 2023MetaLINK Technologies partnered with WHIN to deliver high-speed broadband services (up to 400/100 Mbps) across Indiana's 10-county region using WHIN's next-generation broadband deployments and towers equipped with LTE CBRS technology from Telrad and Tarana.
• Sol Chip LtdcoreTechnology or Integration · 23 August 2022Israeli-based Sol Chip partnered with WHIN to build weather station and soil monitoring solutions using WHIN's LoRaWAN infrastructure. Phase I successfully integrated sensors on weather and soil monitoring stations using Sol Chip's SolTag platform. Phase II involves further integration on 20 weather stations with SDI-12 soil moisture monitoring tools.
• Senet, Inc.coreTechnology or Integration · 7 June 2022Senet partnered with WHIN to deploy LoRaWAN connectivity across the 10-county region, establishing the largely rural agricultural WHIN region as an epicenter for next-generation manufacturing automation and digital agriculture. The partnership delivers thousands of square miles of LoRaWAN coverage for use by local manufacturing, agriculture, and research organizations, supporting millions of messages per day from sensors.
• Telrad NetworkscoreTechnology or Integration · 26 April 2022WHIN partnered with Telrad Networks to pilot next-generation private LTE wireless broadband technology using CBRS spectrum in the WHIN region. Telrad's BreezeCOMPACT base station provides 4G LTE and 5G service capabilities, enabling speeds up to 100 Mbps/20 Mbps.
• MatchBOX Coworking StudiocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 April 2022WHIN partnered with MatchBOX to implement the $798K Rural Entrepreneurship initiative supporting startups and small businesses across the 10-county region. MatchBOX provides mentorship, training, and digital tools through a mentor-supported curriculum distributed throughout the region.
• Trilogy NetworkscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 July 2021WHIN and Trilogy Networks formed a research collaboration to help growers manage and connect precision agriculture technology. WHIN's aerostat supports Trilogy's FarmGrid platform, creating a 5G Farm-to-Cloud solution with edge computing that integrates multiple precision agriculture technologies.
• RTO WirelesscoreTechnology or Integration · 27 July 2021WHIN partnered with RTO Wireless to develop and deploy the first telecommunications aerostat in the United States for rural broadband connectivity. RTO, a Microsoft Airband partner headquartered in Massachusetts, provides aerostat expertise for wireless coverage in rural America.
• MākuSafesupportingTechnology or Integration · 8 June 2021WHIN partnered with MākuSafe, an award-winning wearable safety and analytics technology provider, to enhance worker health, safety, and productivity for Manufacturing Alliance members. The system combines safety management software with innovative wearable technology providing real-time EHS data.
• AgriNovus IndianacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2021WHIN partnered with AgriNovus and The Pantheon to launch an advanced agtech pilot in Knox County, southwest Indiana, expanding WHIN's proven innovation model to southern Indiana and fostering growth in the region's specialty crop industry.
• The Pantheon (Vincennes, IN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2021WHIN partnered with The Pantheon (coworking space and business incubator in Vincennes) to expand agtech innovation to Knox County. The Pantheon connects local producers with WHIN's innovation network and technology to drive agricultural technology adoption.
• TeleSensesupportingTechnology or Integration · 26 April 2021WHIN partnered with TeleSense, a wireless grain monitoring solution provider, to provide real-time insights on grain storage and transport for Ag Alliance members. Sensors continuously gather temperature, moisture, and CO2 data with actionable alerts.
• Guardian Machine ProtectionsupportingTechnology or Integration · 3 August 2020WHIN partnered with Guardian Machine Protection to provide discounted preventive maintenance services for manufacturers across the 10-county region, helping businesses reduce downtime, increase productivity, and advance IoT-enabled manufacturing innovation.
• Watch CommunicationscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 26 June 2020WHIN and Watch Communications partnered to deploy 10 LoRaWAN gateways in the WHIN region, creating the largest rural broadband testbed in the nation. Watch provides LoRaWAN coverage as one of the leading rural broadband solution providers in the Midwest.
• Indiana West AdvantagesupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 March 2020WHIN awarded $899,257 through Regional Cultivation Fund to Indiana West Advantage and partners (Ivy Tech Lafayette, Bane-Welker Equipment, Co-Alliance, Beck's Hybrids, Farm Credit Mid-America) for precision agriculture workforce training and post-secondary education programming.
• Fluke CorporationsupportingTechnology or Integration · 30 October 2019WHIN partnered with Fluke Corporation to provide vibration sensors, software, and services for predictive maintenance to Manufacturing Alliance members. Fluke provides solutions designed for maintenance and reliability teams leveraging IoT for business value.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Iteris: Provider of ag intelligence, weather, and transportation analytics. Comparable to WHIN's weather and rural-data infrastructure offerings, but as a large commercial operator serving national and global customers.
• DTN: Global agricultural, weather, and commodity data provider with a strong rural customer base. Comparable to WHIN's weather-data and ag-information infrastructure, though at significantly larger scale.
• Farmers Edge: Publicly listed precision agriculture platform offering IoT sensors, weather stations, and farm data analytics. Comparable to WHIN's ag IoT stack but at commercial scale across North America.
• Climate Corporation (Bayer): Bayer-owned digital agriculture platform providing weather, field, and decision-support data at national scale. Comparable as a dense ag-weather and decision-support data provider, but as a large commercial incumbent.

Emerging players

• Range Networks / Rus Mills (Ettus) ecosystem: Open-source cellular and private LTE network provider used in rural and industrial deployments. Comparable to WHIN's private LTE/CBRS build-out, though more of a vendor than an operating intermediary.
• Plainsight: AI-powered vision and sensor analytics platform serving agriculture and industrial customers. Comparable in applying IoT sensor data to ag/manufacturing outcomes, though a private commercial vendor versus WHIN's nonprofit intermediary model.

Direct peers

• Microsoft Airband Initiative: Microsoft's national program to close the rural broadband gap, partnering with ISPs and local communities. WHIN's rural broadband work, aerostat deployment, and Microsoft TechSpark selection make Airband the closest analog in mission and approach.
• Connected Nation: Nonprofit focused on expanding broadband access, adoption, and use across rural America through state-level programs. Comparable on digital-inclusion nonprofit mission and rural broadband focus.
• AgriNovus Indiana: Indiana-based nonprofit agtech innovation intermediary focused on growing the state's agbioscience economy. Like WHIN, it operates as a neutral convener between farmers, researchers, startups, and corporations — most comparable on mission, regional scope, and Living-Lab-style programs.
• Trilogy Networks: Provider of FarmGrid and rural private network platforms for precision agriculture. WHIN and Trilogy are active partners, but Trilogy is also a comparable operator of rural IoT infrastructure for ag.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WHINnetwork
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/whin
• Xx.com/WHINnetwork

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wabash Heartland Innovation Network