2026 Early Registration is NOW OPEN
and closes at 11:59 PM on September 20, 2026!!!
To Register, follow the link in the menu above or click here.
Powered by the ULM College of Business & Social Sciences
and EAP – A Division of BRF
The University of Louisiana Monroe College of Business and Social Sciences, in partnership with EAP, developed the Warhawk New Ventures Challenge to:
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Promote and support college students in their entrepreneurial endeavors and new venture creations
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Encourage commercialization of promising ideas emerging from ULM
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Build bridges between ULM students, ULM itself, and the NELA entrepreneurship community
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Incentivize and assist student preparation for state and national level business plan and pitch competitions like the Entrepreneurship Pelican Cup https://www.ulm.edu/pelicancup/
The competition is open only to ULM students registered in Fall 2026 classes, regardless of major or field of study. Students from other universities, ULM alumni, staff, faculty, or professionals are not eligible.
Overview
The Warhawk New Ventures Challenge is a Northeast Louisiana entrepreneurial and business development program. The competition's main goal is to promote opportunities for real-world education in entrepreneurship and boost awareness and innovation commercialization in the NELA region.
The initiative is sponsored by the Entrepreneurial Accelerator Program (EAP), which is a division of BRF. EAP's mission is to develop the entrepreneurial ecosystem in North Louisiana. All events will be held at the University of Louisiana Monroe Campus.
Why Participate?
Student participants will have opportunities to receive coaching from industry experts and build camaraderie with other entrepreneurially minded individuals.
If you have an idea for a product, service, or new technology that could be transformed into a scalable business, you are strongly encouraged to apply. Apart from sharpening your business and financial acumen, the competition will also provide:
- A chance to win cash prizes that you may use any way you see fit including investing into your startup
- Learn to think like a boss via real world experience in the startup and capital raising process
- Build your networking and business collaboration skills with industry experts and seasoned entrepreneurs
- Develop soft and hard skills that make you more appealing in the job marketplace
- Learn what it takes to be a business winner
- Get valuable feedback and experience to be more competitive in other business plan and pitch competitions
Prizes
The top 3 finalists will be awarded cash prizes.
1st Place (Winner) - $3,000
2nd Place (Runner up) - $1,000
3rd Place (Runner up) - $500
Elevator Pitch Competition Winner
$250
Key Policies
Application Fees
$0 - FREE. There are no application fees.
Eligibility & Student Enrollment
Applicants and all team members must be currently enrolled as a student at ULM in the Fall 2025 semester. Students may only participate on ONE (1) Warhawk New Ventures Challenge team.
Enrollment Verification
All team applicants must provide their ULM email address and Campus Wide Identification (CWID)number in the Initial Application and Final Deliverables Package submission for eligibility verification purposes. Other information will be requested as well.
Team Size
ULM students must apply as teams of 2 to 5 students. Ideally, teams should consist of students from different academic disciplines (majors). Teams with wide skillsets tend to do better in business plan competitions. Though it is not required, we do recommend that at least one person on the team be a business major or have some business experience.
Key Events and Dates
Registration Windows
Early Registration from September 09, 2026 at 6:00 AM to September 20, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Early registration guarantees access to the Applicant Workshop, September 24, 2026 at 9:30 AM in Hemphill 124
Late Registration Period: September 20, 2026 at 6:00 AM to September 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Click here to access the Registration Page
General Information Sessions
September 10, 2026 - THREE EVENTS
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9:30 AM to 10:00 AM - General Information Session in Hemphill Hall 124: A 30-minute overview and Q&A session with Dr. Mooty and William Anderson of EAP, our title sponsor.
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10:15 AM to 11:15 AM- Casual Info Session & Mixer in Hemphill Hall Lobby: A come-and-go information session open to students, faculty, and staff. A good networking opportunity to learn more and connect with other participants.
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11:45 AM to 12:45 PM - Information Table outside the HUB: Come-and-go information session with Dr. Mooty and William Anderson
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Please direct any questions to newventureschallenge@ulm.edu.
Deadline for Early Registration
September 20, 2026 at 11:59 PM - Early registration guarantees invitation to the Early Applicant Workshop (below)
Click here to access the Registration Page
Early Applicant Workshop
September 24, 2026 at 9:30 AM in Hemphill Hall 124
Deadline for Late Registration
October 1, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Click here to access the Registration Page
Final Submission of Deliverables Package
Monday, October 19, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Click Here to access the Submissions Page
Finalists Announced
Monday, October 26, 2026 at 12:00 Noon
College of Business and Social Science Facebook Page
Finalists Workshop
Nov. 3, 2026, 9:30 to 10:45 AM
Hemphill Hall 124
Revised Deliverables – Finalists Only
Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Revised Deliverables shall be submitted via email to newventureschallenge@ulm.edu
Final Pitch Competition
Nov. 12, 2026, 9:00 to 11:45 AM
The Terrace
Elevator Pitch Competition and Awards Ceremony
Nov. 12, 2026, 1:00 to 2:00 PM
The Terrace
TITLE SPONSORS
Elevator Pitch Sponsor
Talons Out Silver Sponsors and Contributors
Maroon Sponsors and Contributors