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Published April 14, 2023

MONROE, LA – The 2nd Annual Entrepreneurship Pelican Cup Awards Luncheon will be held Friday, April 21 at 11:30 a.m. at Bayou Pointe Event Center on the Â̲èÖ±²¥ campus. Tickets are on sale now for $100 for the general public and $50 for students. Visit for ticket and sponsorship information.Ìý

Open to all majors with cash prizes totaling $61,000, The Entrepreneurship Pelican Cup is the premiere business plan competition for Louisiana. It provides an opportunity for students to develop critical thinking, team building, presentation, and other soft skills which are all important to career growth.ÌýÌýThe goal is to inspire participants and the community to think entrepreneurially by rewarding creativity, professionalism, and hard work.ÌýÌýThis year’s competition was open to undergraduate and graduate students of Â̲èÖ±²¥, VCOM, Grambling State, Louisiana Tech, Northwestern State, Centenary College, and LSU-Shreveport.Ìý

Eighteen teams submitted a written, formal business plan judged by business owners and investors. Six finalists were chosen for in-person oral presentations, held April 4th at The Hangar on the Â̲èÖ±²¥ campus. A 90-second Elevator Pitch competition with an individual prize of $2,000, will be held live during the luncheon.ÌýÌý

This year’s cash prizes include:Ìý

First PlaceÌý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý$25,000Ìý

Second PlaceÌý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý$15,000Ìý

Third PlaceÌý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý$10,000Ìý

Elevator Pitch WinnerÌý Ìý $2,000 Ìý

First, Second, and Third Place faculty advisors to receive $3,000.ÌýÌýÌý

Finalist TeamsÌý

E-Com Expert (Â̲èÖ±²¥) – Team Leader: Dharmendra Sharma Team Members: Prabin Basnet, Suman Rai Advisor: Jun Yu, Ph.D.Ìý

Explore Mate (Â̲èÖ±²¥) – Team Leader: Thalama Malla Team Members: Prajwol Pachhai, Ramesh Ranabhat, Manish Katuwal Advisor: Joyce Zhou, Ph. D.Ìý

Immerse AR (Â̲èÖ±²¥) – Team Leader: Rohan Upadhyay Team Members: Nicholas Soirez, Suruchi Bista, George Khawas, Supreme DallakotiÌýAdvisor: Blake Farman, Ph. D.Ìý

GLOBOWL (Â̲èÖ±²¥) - Team Leader: Janet Stopka Team Members: Olaia Becerril Alvarez, Victoria Abrams, Garrett Kahmann Advisor: Veronika Humphries, JD, LLM;Ìý

Homeward Bound (Â̲èÖ±²¥/LA Tech) - Team Leader: Benson Kinney Team Member: Brett McGuffee Advisor: Elizabeth Ragland, DBAÌý

Rise & Rotate (Northwestern State) - Team Leader: Matthew Gamble Team Members: Hayden Stanley, Alexander Brown Advisor: Elizabeth Prejean, DBAÌý

Participating TeamsÌý

PitchMe (Â̲èÖ±²¥) - Team Leader: Rohan Shrestha Team Members: Nishu Shrestha, Dinesh Chhantyal, Ashamsa Adhikari Advisor: Joyce Zhou, Ph. D. Ìý

EcoAg (Â̲èÖ±²¥) - Team Leader: Hanna Flynn Team Members: Nick Sciara, Prajal Prasai Advisor: Blair DavidÌý

Klotho (Â̲èÖ±²¥) - Team Leader: Pratyush Dulal Team Members: Swoyam Thapa, Abhiyan Singh, Prashant Tiwari, Shubrat Simkhada Advisor: Tawewoo Kim, Ph.D. Ìý

The Green Den (Grambling State) - Team Leader: Felix Johnson Team Members: Kobe Sutton, Dynasty Robinson, Mierra Simmons Advisor: Edwin Litolff, Ph.D.Ìý

MyFixer (Â̲èÖ±²¥) - Team Leader: Bhetuwal Sagar Team Members: Niraj Shrestha, Nirajan Sangraula, David Basnet, Mahendra Koirala Advisor: Braden WatsonÌý

Spotlight Local (Â̲èÖ±²¥) - Team Leader: Alisha Ghatane Team Members: Deepmala Bhomi, Prasansha Paudel Advisor: Joyce Zhou, Ph.D.Ìý

Vizio-Air (Grambling State) - Team Leader: Sonelle Casimir Team Members: Shay-Ann Audain, Caesar Catin, Yohan GregorieÌýAdvisor: Prasanthi Sreekumari, Ph.D. Ìý

SKRIBE, LLC (Â̲èÖ±²¥) - Team Leader: Cameron Ashley Team Members: Julien Ferrington, Logan Rhodes Advisor: Arturo Rodriguez, DMÌý

Vox-AI (Â̲èÖ±²¥) - Team Leader: Sijan Malla Team Members: Pratik Maharjan, Prinsha Shrestha, Yana Paudel, Nigesh Byanjankar Advisor: Braden WatsonÌý

ConnectED (Â̲èÖ±²¥) - Team Leader: Hamid Khan Team Members: Ghofrane Zaidi, Satish Baniya Advisor: Jun Yu, Ph.D.Ìý

The TrueScan (Grambling State) - Team Leader: Jhada Carmel Team Members: Lungile Ntuli, Alesia Jackson, Nubia McLaughlin Advisor: Prasanthi Sreekumari, Ph.D.Ìý

The crêperie (Â̲èÖ±²¥) - Team Leader: Charlotte Fourdraine Team Members: Annamarie Martin, Carli Grimes Advisor: Joyce Zhou, Ph.DÌý

Preliminary JudgesÌý

Shane Middleton, M3 Accounting Services; Chap Breard, MOEbiz; Mary Linda McCann, Bank of Oak Ridge; Jamie Sheridan-Crawley, CPA, Hulsey, Harwood & Sheridan, LLC; Long Nguyen, Lumen; Miguel Perez, Plondo Network, Inc.; Kelly Shambro, Progressive Bank; Connor Ashley, Kennedy Rice Mill, LLC; Tom Nicholson, Strauss Interests; Ash Aulds, Murphy USA; DeRon L. Talley, MBA, Key Marketing SolutionsÌý

Final Round JudgesÌý

Dixon W. Abell, Abell LLC dba Poly Processing & Ouachita Fertilizer Company; Susan Rowland, Origin Bank; William Smart, Monroe Housing Authority; David R. Smith, Entrepreneurial Accelerator Program, Biomedical Research Foundation; John Mark White, Louisiana Plastic IndustriesÌý

Pelican Cup SponsorsÌý

Premier Sponsor and Founder: Dhu ThompsonÌý

Catalyst Sponsor: Abell, LLCÌý

Expansion Sponsor: Scott EquipmentÌý

Growth Sponsors: Arkansas Capital Corporation,ÌýKennedy Rice Mill/4 Sisters Rice/Neighbors, Entrepreneurial Accelerator Program, BRIP – The Biomedical Research & Innovation Park, Mid South ExtrusionÌý

Breakthrough Sponsors: InterMountain Management, Marsala Beverage, Monroe Chamber of Commerce, Progressive Bank, Â̲èÖ±²¥ Foundation Board, John Rea Realty, 90.3 KEDM Public Radio, Southern Industrial Contractors, Box Drop Mattress, Monroe Housing Authority, Law Offices of John L. Luffey, Jr., Holyfield Construction, Inc. Central Oil & Supply, Homeland Bank, Origin BankÌý

Influencer Sponsors: West Monroe West Ouachita Chamber of Commerce, Owen Corporation, Unique Trophies & Awards, Inc. Ìý

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