Congratulations to the 2025 Pelican Cup Winners!
FarmSmarter.ai took home the first-place prize of $50,000. Pictured L-R: Entrepreneurship Pelican Cup Founder and Premier Sponsor Dhu Thompson, team member Colin Raby, former ULM President Dr. Nick Bruno, team advisor Fahimeh Abbasi, team leader Grant Muslow, ULM Provost and VP for Academic Affairs Dr. Michelle McEacharn.
– FIRST PLACE TEAM - $50,000 –
FarmSmarter.ai
FarmSmart is an AI-driven agricultural consulting tool that transforms complex farming decisions into accessible, actionable intelligence. By leveraging advanced AI, multi-modal data integration, and real-time regulatory updates, FarmSmart helps farmers optimize crop and weed management with precise, research-backed recommendations. Our AI assistant, “Farmer AI,” provides tailored solutions—including active ingredient selection, application timing, and environmental considerations—at a fraction of traditional consulting costs. With a scalable SaaS subscription model and enterprise partnerships, FarmSmart bridges the gap between research institutions and agricultural professionals, ensuring efficient, sustainable farming practices while significantly reducing the time and financial burden of expert consultation.
Louisiana State University
Team Leader Brant Muslow | Team Members Cole Lacombe, Julius Pallotta | Advisor Fahimeh Abbasi
UDOIT, a team from LSU-S, took home the second place prize of $25,000. Pictured L-R: Xzayvier Ford-Smith, team leader Khaled Saif, Dana Bader. Not pictured: Eman Bader, advisor Mike McDaniel.
– SECOND PLACE TEAM - $25,000 –
UDOIT
We are creating a mobile app that helps families connect through fun, interactive physical activities, designed to make family time enjoyable for all ages anytime, anywhere. The app offers a variety of “PlayMoves”, which are a mix of dance and exercise movements performed with music. This will be tracked through the mobile front camera leveraging different AI, body tracking and AR technologies. The app also features a social newsfeed that allows users to share their progress and discover new ways to stay active together.
LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY SHREVEPORT
Team Leader Khaled Saif | Team Members Dana Bader, Eman Bader, Xzayvier Ford-Smith | Adviser Mike McDaniel
AmbER, a team from Grambling State University, won third place and $10,000. Pictured L-R: Emmanuel Oladele , Tanyaradzwa Mangundhla, Daniel Osuoha, Mosopefoluwa John , advisor Derrick Warren, and team leader Flyness Namatama.
– THIRD PLACE TEAM - $10,000 –
AmbER
AmbER is a discreet, attachable safety device designed to provide immediate assistance in emergencies. Inspired by real-life safety concerns, Amber offers AI-powered alerts, real-time GPS tracking, and satellite-enabled communication to ensure help is always within reach. Users can activate alerts by pressing the device multiple times within 10 seconds, reducing false alarms. With features like geo-fencing, encrypted data security, and smartphone-independent functionality, Amber empowers individuals to feel safe anywhere. Ideal for students, travelers, and vulnerable groups, Amber Accessories is more than a product—it’s a mission-driven solution dedicated to creating a safer world, one discreet button at a time.
Grambling State University
Team Leader Flyness Namatama | Team Members Tanyaradzwa Mangundhla, Mosopefoluwa John, Emmanuel Oladele, Daniel Osuoha | Adviser Derrick Warren
– ELEVATOR PITCH WINNER (individual) $2,000 –
FarmSmarter.ai, Louisaina State University – team member Colin Raby
Congratulations to the 2024 Pelican Cup Winners!
Team members Lane Degenhardt (left) and Rich Simmerman (right) hoist the first-place Entrepreneurship Pelican Cup trophy. Their company, Cantaloupe, took home the $50,000 grand prize in the business plan competition. The team is made up of members from Tulane University and Southeastern Louisiana University
– FIRST PLACE TEAM - $50,000 –
Cantaloupe
Cantaloupe AI is a dating app-style platform modernizing the foodservice +B1 and hospitality industry’s recruitment by pairing employers with job seekers through AI for unmatched compatibility, ensuring job satisfaction and lower turnover. Utilizing organizational behavior theories and AI, it predictively matches candidates with ideal roles, allowing job seekers to swipe right on the most fitting opportunities, and employers to automatically see top candidates. Serving jobseekers and service and hospitality businesses of of all sizes and applicants with a subscription model, Cantaloupe AI streamlines hiring boosts employment quality, and reshapes workforce dynamics with its innovative approach.
Tulane University & Southeastern Louisiana University
Team Leader Rich Simmerman | Team Members Joshua Anderson, and Lane Degenhardt
Tenley Gorman (left) and Jake Marzullo (right) took home the second-place trophy and a prize of $25,000 for their company, Tipzy. (Not pictured: team leader Josh McCoy) All members of Tipzy attend Tulane University.
– SECOND PLACE TEAM - $25,000 –
Tipzy
Tipzy is a B2B2C platform designed to simplify the process of receiving and managing song requests in bars, catering to both bars and bar patrons. Our mission is to enhance the overall experience while providing bars with an additional revenue stream. The bar industry operates on outdated models leading to struggles with managing song requests, curating playlists, executing marketing strategies, and gaining valuable customer data insights. Rising operational costs have led bars to seek new revenue streams, and Tipzy offers a unique opportunity for them to capitalize on one of their core offerings – music.
Tulane University
Team Leader Josh McCoy | Team Members Jake Marzullo, Tenley Gorman | Adviser Rob Lalka
Trigworks, a team from ULM, took home the third-place trophy and prize of $10,000. Pictured L-R: Mackenzie King, Janet Stopka, Viktor Motov, Valeryia Trubskaya, and faculty advisor Veronika Humphries.
– THIRD PLACE TEAM - $10,000 –
Trigworks
Crafted for the modern individual, Trigworks revolutionizes muscle care with its eco-friendly, heat equipped massage tools, which present a cost-effective alternative to professional treatments. Unlike pain relievers that only mask discomfort temporarily, or stretches and foam rollers that offer incomplete solutions, our device targets and alleviates areas of discomfort to the point. The combination of precise targeting and portable heat therapy makes this tool a unique addition to anyone’s self-care set, providing relief from muscle tension whether at home, work, or while traveling, fitting seamlessly into today’s tech centric lifestyle trends and professional therapeutic settings.
University of Louisiana Monroe
Team Leader Janet Stopka | Team Members Mackenzie King, Viktor Motov, Valeryia Trubskaya | Adviser Veronika Humphries, JD, LLM
– ELEVATOR PITCH WINNER (individual) $2,000 –
Sketchman, University of Louisiana Monroe – team member Supriya Pudasainy
Congratulations to the 2023 Pelican Cup Winners!
Rise & Rotate, a team comprised of students from Northwestern State University, took home the first-place prize of $25,000. Their business plan centers around a device that will help patients with limited mobility more easily and safely rise from a seated position and rotate to a bed or a chair. Rise & Rotate features team leader Matthew Gamble, team members Hayden Stanley and Alexander Brown, and advisor Elizabeth Prejean, DBA.
– FIRST PLACE TEAM - $25,000 –
Rise & Rotate
The idea is for a medical device that will rotate a patient in a circular motion. This device would be ideal for people who are at risk of falling due to health conditions. Stroke victims who have limited use of one side of their body and those who suffer from neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease, which cause balance/equilibrium problems would benefit greatly from using Rise & Rotate.
Northwestern State University
Team Leader Matthew Gamble | Team Members Hayden Stanley and Alexander Brown | Adviser Elizabeth Prejean, DBA.
The second-place prize of $15,000 was awarded to GloBowl, a team from ULM. GloBowl is a company whose purpose is to reduce the use of plastic by creating a sustainable, reusable, to-go food container. GloBowl features team leader Janet Stopka, team members Olaia Becerril Alvarez, Victoria Abrams, Garrett Kahmann and advisor Veronika Humphries, JD, LLM.
– SECOND PLACE TEAM - $15,000 –
GloBowl
GLOBOWL is a sustainable company which purpose is to reduce the amount of plastic. We will accomplish this by providing a leasing service where you can return the globowl at drop-off stations. Currently, there are no other options available as a disposable to-go box. Common boxes will be thrown away after a short time of usage whereas GLOBOWLs will be reusable plus benefits. Our approach is to avoid as many single-use boxes as possible.
University of Louisiana Monroe
Team Leader Janet Stopka | Team Members Olaia Becerril Alvarez, Victoria Abrams, Garrett Kahmann | Adviser Veronika Humphries, JD, LLM.
Third place and a prize of $10,000 went to ExploreMate, a team from ULM. Explore Mate is an app that helps users find a local person to act as a tour guide when traveling to new locations. Explore Mate features team leader Thalama Malla, team members Prajwol Pachhai, Ramesh Ranabhat, Manish Katuwal and advisor Joyce Zhou, Ph. D.
– THIRD PLACE TEAM - $10,000 –
ExploreMate
Explore Mate is an app that helps you find a local person who can act as your tour guide. He’ll help you better understand the place and enhance your travel experience. Traveling to new places is challenging especially if you are not from there. A local mate will help you see the best-hidden gems in the area and will take you to authentic eateries that you never knew existed. Who knows better than a local? You don’t have to worry about searching for places anymore, we got you a buddy that will give you the best experience you deserve.University of Louisiana Monroe
Team Leader Thalama Malla | Team Members Prajwol Pachhai, Ramesh Ranabhat, Manish Katuwal | Adviser Joyce Zhou, Ph.D.
– ELEVATOR PITCH WINNER (individual) $2,000 –
GloBowl, University of Louisiana Monroe – team member Garrett Kahmann
Congratulations to the 2022 Pelican Cup Winners!
Team leader Paurava Thakore (center) poses with team members Gannon Malone, Prabin Basnet and adviser Joydeep Bhattacharjee, Ph.D. (back) President Ron Berry, Dhu Thompson, and Dr. Michelle McEacharn.
– FIRST PLACE TEAM - $25,000 –
Gaea Environmental
Gaea Environmental is a full-service consulting firm focused on the acquisition, processing, and analysis of remotely sensed imagery via Unmanned Aerial Systems, more colloquially known as drones. Our drone platform and sensors, GIS capabilities, field biology background, and accurate machine learning classifiers allow us to attain data and insight matched only by companies with significant R&D investment. We allow small to medium-sized forestry, construction, and agricultural firms, in addition to private individuals, to capitalize on cutting-edge technology. This survey-grade data is the highest quality imagery one can purchase on the marketplace.University of Louisiana Monroe
Team Leader Paurava Thakore | Team Members Gannon Malone, Prabin Basnet | Adviser Joydeep Bhattacharjee, Ph.D.
– SECOND PLACE TEAM - $15,000 –
Virtual Hut
Our plan is to create a replica of universities in digital format. This will help prospective students take campus tours from the comfort of home. The digital/virtual replica will be powered by AI so that any question related to the university can be answered.University of Louisiana Monroe
Team Leader Dharmendra Sharma | Team Members Mai Hieu, Samir Gurung | Advisers William Barnett, Ph.D., and Jun Yu, Ph.D.
– THIRD PLACE TEAM - $10,000 –
spotiT
Our website spotiT is a website platform that helps users discover events, entertainments, recreational activities, restaurants, tourist centers and more. A striking feature of our website is advertisements sales to commercial companies, with this being our biggest source of revenue. With our website, event hosts and business owners can list their events and businesses, thereby attracting more customers and guests.University of Louisiana Monroe
Team Leader Adesola Raphael Akinpelu | Team Members Stanislava Prosvietova, Valeryia Trubskaya | Adviser Joyce Zhou, Ph.D.
– ELEVATOR PITCH WINNER (individual) $2,000 –
RapidReceipts, University of Louisiana Monroe – team leader Tama Washington