Dhu Thompson
Thompson is a distinguished ULM alumnus and founder, past owner, and former chairman of the board for Delta Plastics, producer of agricultural irrigation tubing, and the largest recycler of plastics in Arkansas. He is also the former owner and past chairman of the board for Revolution Bag that manufactures EPA-compliant trashcan liners. Thompson’s honors include 2004 Arkansas Business Executive of the Year and SBA Person of the Year. In 2019 he sold the Revolution brands to a New York private equity firm and now focuses on entrepreneurship growth in Arkansas and Louisiana.
Competition
The Entrepreneurship Pelican Cup will have three elements:
Round 1: Team application and submission of Intent to Compete, team video, and written business plan; judging and selection of up to six finalists for both divisions.
Round 2: Finalists oral presentations to judges; selection of top three winners in each division.
Elevator Pitch Competition and Awards Presentation: A representative of the 6 finalist teams will make a:90 pitch during the awards presentation before the competition winners are announced.
How to apply?
Click on the competition guide for more information.
2026 Dates
|
|
December 1 – 8:00 a.m.
The team application window opens online in YouNoodle.
January 16 – 11:59 p.m.
Application deadline and business plans due.
January 17
Round 1 begins; written plans assigned to judges via YouNoodle for scoring and feedback.
February 17-19
Round 1 judges' group deliberations.
February 20 – Noon
Announcement of finalists (6 undergraduate teams and 6 graduate teams) at ulm.edu/pelicancup and livestreamed via Facebook.
Round 1 judges' feedback forwarded to finalists teams' leaders and advisors withing 72 hours.
March 8 – 11:59 p.m.
Revised business plans due from both divisions' finalists via YouNoodle.
March 9
Pitch Competition Competitor Name due to Cathi Hemed by 11:59 p.m
Team member and advisor tax forms due to Cathi Hemed by 11:59 p.m.
March 25 – All Day (Undergraduate & Graduate Divisions)
Finalist oral presentations at The University of Louisiana Monroe.
Judges' deliberations to determine first, second, and third place winners for each division.
March 26 – 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Awards Presentation with Elevator Pitch competition for division finalists, followed by announcement of winners.