Thanks to Communications @ LA Tech University.
At Louisiana Tech University’s College of Business, innovation and entrepreneurship are achieving unprecedented heights because to improved programming, record student participation, and new leadership.
Jessica George was appointed head of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation this academic year, while Benjamin McLarty, Ph.D., was appointed McGehee Eminent Scholar Chair in Entrepreneurship.
The success of the Center is largely due to Jessica’s creative approach to incorporating entrepreneurship into our teaching and Ben’s robust research portfolio in entrepreneurship, especially in family company, said Dr. Chris Martin, dean of the College of company. Entrepreneurship is a central element of the College and is integrated into almost all of our academic offerings. Our Center’s reinvention enables us to strategically advance this mission-centric goal.
The Top Dog New Venture Championship, the University’s top entrepreneurial pitch competition and one of the oldest in the state, was held to finish off the year for the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Aspiring business owners can display their creative business concepts at the cross-disciplinary competition.
Seven of the 22 teams who participated in the preliminary round this year advanced to two different tracks, according to George. Teams with early-stage ideas were showcased on the journey track, while market-ready enterprises with genuine investment prospects were on the investor track. I loved watching everyone of our competitors’ ideas come to life, and I’m really proud of them all.
Dawson Mulkey, who earned a mechanical engineering degree this spring, took first place in the investor track. Mulkey’s product, FlatFit, is a modular power solution with an adhesive backing that uses flat extension cord technology to covertly transmit electricity.
In this track, other competitors included:
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ThermaEdge (Joseph Estopinal, Douglas Graham, Victoria Baglio, and Gabriel Stapp) is a heated or chilled muscle scraper that offers athletes cost-effective, professional-caliber recuperation and injury prevention.
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In order to facilitate sustainable, high-efficiency programming, CutIR (Trisha Carter, Calvin Idom, Sam Chen, and Holden Wells) is an online platform for performance-centric code optimization that uses IR and CPU cycle analysis.
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Sleep, schedule, fitness, nutrition, money, and emotional well-being are all integrated into one flexible platform by Aumnia (Vignan Deshaboina), an AI-powered personal life management system.
ThermaEdge (Joseph Estopinal, Douglas Graham, Victoria Baglio, and Gabriel Stapp) is a heated or chilled muscle scraper that offers athletes cost-effective, professional-caliber recuperation and injury prevention.
In order to facilitate sustainable, high-efficiency programming, CutIR (Trisha Carter, Calvin Idom, Sam Chen, and Holden Wells) is an online platform for performance-centric code optimization that uses IR and CPU cycle analysis.
Sleep, schedule, fitness, nutrition, money, and emotional well-being are all integrated into one flexible platform by Aumnia (Vignan Deshaboina), an AI-powered personal life management system.
The Perfect College Experience In the journey track, Safety Shuttle won first place. Team ICE is a university-partnered student transit service that aims to reduce DUIs by providing safe, dependable transportation. It is made up of George Breard, a management major, Claire Booth, a finance major, and Bobby Simpson, a recent management graduate.
The following were other travel track finalists:
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In order to guarantee long-lasting, educated adoptions, Pawfect Match (Emma Daniels, Rileigh Langston) is a Tinder-style pet adoption website that connects users with pets based on lifestyle and preferences.
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Wello (Delsean Miles) is a smartphone app and smart wristband that provides users with real-time reminders to develop nourishing, active, and hydrated habits.
In order to guarantee long-lasting, educated adoptions, Pawfect Match (Emma Daniels, Rileigh Langston) is a Tinder-style pet adoption website that connects users with pets based on lifestyle and preferences.
Wello (Delsean Miles) is a smartphone app and smart wristband that provides users with real-time reminders to develop nourishing, active, and hydrated habits.
Students from the College’s Introduction to Business and Entrepreneurship (BUSN 110) course participated in the Top Pup finals, a pitch competition intended to provide them an early introduction to startup technique and entrepreneurship, before the Top Dog competition.
As part of BUSN 110, Top Pup teams work with Instructor of Marketing Bruce Siegmund to create and present their ideas, goods, or businesses. In the spring, the top team from each quarter goes up against each other for the ultimate prize.
According to Martin, Top Pup helps competitors get ready for more difficult tournaments and offers scholarships as prize money to help them take the next steps toward success. Students that are enrolled in programs like Top Pup sooner in their academic careers have more time to hone their idea or product, increasing their chances of success. More significantly, it gives our students an entrepreneurial attitude that enables them to contribute originality, value, and creativity to any firm they join.
The Top Pup finalists for this year were:
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A health-tracking program called MediMeal (Hailey Emerson, Danielle Miller, Kristian Pellegrino, Tyler Hart, and Zachary Curtis) helps people with chronic illnesses keep track of their meals, symptoms, and prescriptions in order to enhance their overall wellness.
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Tech Drives (Nathan Fischer, Hunter Harris, Jaquerion Whitaker, Quincy Lewis)
(second prize)
a student-run rideshare service offering safe, affordable transportation options tailored to the needs of Louisiana Tech students -
Dawg Dash, a delivery service designed by Louisiana Tech students for Louisiana Tech students, provides quick and reasonably priced food and supplies delivery throughout the campus (Gracie Vidrine, Zoe Tugwell, Ethan Vest, Brogan Walker, AJ Wetzig).
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Magnolia Marketing, a social media and marketing company led by Caden French, Matthew Fortune, Ian Franze, and Hillarie Gallien, is dedicated to helping small and local businesses by using tailored digital methods.
A health-tracking program called MediMeal (Hailey Emerson, Danielle Miller, Kristian Pellegrino, Tyler Hart, and Zachary Curtis) helps people with chronic illnesses keep track of their meals, symptoms, and prescriptions in order to enhance their overall wellness.
Dawg Dash, a delivery service designed by Louisiana Tech students for Louisiana Tech students, provides quick and reasonably priced food and supplies delivery throughout the campus (Gracie Vidrine, Zoe Tugwell, Ethan Vest, Brogan Walker, AJ Wetzig).
Magnolia Marketing, a social media and marketing company led by Caden French, Matthew Fortune, Ian Franze, and Hillarie Gallien, is dedicated to helping small and local businesses by using tailored digital methods.
Among the judges for Top Dog and Top Pup were:
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India Carroll, Executive in Residence, Louisiana Tech College of Business
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Jones Walker LLP Partner and Patent Attorney Michael Leachman
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Chris Martin, dean of Louisiana Tech’s College of Business
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Vice President of Governmental Services at Argent Advisors, Lucius McGehee
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Louisiana Tech’s Benjamin McLarty, McGehee Eminent Scholar Chair in Entrepreneurship
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Executive Director of the BRF’s Entrepreneurial Accelerator Program, Dave Smith
India Carroll, Executive in Residence, Louisiana Tech College of Business
Jones Walker LLP Partner and Patent Attorney Michael Leachman
Chris Martin, dean of Louisiana Tech’s College of Business
Vice President of Governmental Services at Argent Advisors, Lucius McGehee
Louisiana Tech’s Benjamin McLarty, McGehee Eminent Scholar Chair in Entrepreneurship
Executive Director of the BRF’s Entrepreneurial Accelerator Program, Dave Smith
With the help of Jones Walker LLP, BRF’s Entrepreneurial Accelerator Program, alumni Matt and Catherine Saurage, and donors from the Just Business Giving Society, the Top Dog and Top Pup winning teams received more than $20,000 in prize money.
Won in One, an elevator pitch competition with a twist, was one of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation’s other ideas. Students that participated in this year’s Won in One had to ride the elevator up to the 16th story of the famous Wyly Tower building on Tech’s campus in order to give their one-minute presentations.
First place went to Anna Claire Masters, second to Patrick Rea, and third to Wesley Bonner in Won in One. As a reward, each earned scholarship money.
Additionally, during the annual Freshman Design Competition, the Center implemented Backed by Business, a cross-campus partnership between the College of Engineering and Science and the College of Business. Twenty technical teams gave 60-second proposals to business students, who then chose the best candidate based on market potential.
According to George, entrepreneurship is a way of thinking that is beneficial regardless of the industry or career you’re pursuing. It’s not simply about starting a business. It teaches you how to identify issues, test your concepts with actual people, and effectively convey your vision. Anyone can benefit from those abilities. These kinds of activities are crucial because they provide children the confidence and creativity they need to succeed in any career.
