BRF is a Shreveport-based organization that runs several initiatives designed to diversify and grow the region’s economy. One of those initiatives if the Entrepreneurial Accelerator Program (EAP), which just hosted its startup competition for North Louisiana university students.
The Grand Prix is a series of business plan competitions hosted in November to support student innovation and award the students prizes and assistance for their businesses.
Teams and individuals, totaling five participants, from Northwestern State University, Louisiana State University Shreveport, and Grambling State University were selected as finalists for each of the three university competitions.
“One of EAP’s objectives is to foster entrepreneurial education at the university level,” said Dave Smith, Executive Director of EAP. “We think the best way to grow an entrepreneurial-minded ecosystem is to expose students to an environment that celebrates their innovation.”
Northwestern State hosted the Inferno Pitch, which awarded student entreprenuers Alba Maloff Johnson and Matthew Broekman the grand prize for their, “idea to place a bio-sensor in vehicles that could detect drunk driving,” shared EAP.
Tafadzwa Marig, with his idea to target coffee enthusiasts at events, won Louisiana State’s Pilot Pitch.
Last but not least, Jarrid Richards, Kerwan Antoine and Casey Henry won Grambling State’s Golden Pitch for their company LimeLight, “which allows students to seamlessly submit college applications to several institutions.”
Each of the three grand prize winners received $3,000 as part of the business plan competitions.