Governor’s Cup finalists and semi-finalists announced

Twenty teams from nine Arkansas universities were recently announced by Arkansas Capital Corp. and its affiliate, the Arkansas Economic Acceleration Foundation as finalists or semi-finalists in the annual Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup Collegiate Business Plan Competition.

The competition is an annual competition hosted by ACC for the purpose of encouraging entrepreneurship by college students though a business plan competition. The competition has entered its 16th year and, according to the Arkansas Capital website:

“There is no cost to enter the Governor’s Cup and it’s open to degree-seeking students in any program of study (agriculture, hospitality, business, engineering, retail, etc.) enrolled at any Arkansas college or university during the summer and/or fall 2015 or spring 2016 semesters.”

The field of entrants has grown to its largest number this year. According to sponsors, the result is more difficulty than usual as thirty-seven business plans were submitted and judged by thirty-six judges.

“Our preliminary round judges met in groups of six and were charged with deciding the top two teams who would move forward among the five plans they reviewed,” according to ACC CEO Rush Deacon. “In virtually all of the groups the second team selected was literally a hairline over the third place team, and in three cases, the fourth team was a hairline away from the third. This is a testament to the quality of the plans that came in this year, and all of the teams who competed should be very proud of their work,” he said.

The teams were judged in various areas including their proposed management teams; possible critical risks to their businesses; viability of their products and services; potential competitors in the marketplace; and financials which included proposed cash flows, income statements, balance sheet and startup funds for operation.

Twenty semi-finalists teams will move forward to the oral presentations which are March 31 and April 1. The teams include:

Overall Undergraduate Division Semi-Finalists

AGcorp, Ouachita Baptist University

BladeTech, Harding University

Dibs Dates, John Brown University

Drone Surveying Solutions, University of Arkansas at Little Rock

EcoForYou, Hendrix College

FindMyWine, John Brown University

Natural State Bedding Co., John Brown University

PubHub, University of Arkansas

Short-Bow, University of Central Arkansas

Sit ‘N Go, Harding University

Sobek, John Brown University

The Helping Hand, Harding University

 

2016 Overall Graduate Division Finalists

Actio Systems, University of Arkansas

deciLvl, University of Arkansas

Demetrix, Hendrix College

NuPhase Solutions, University of Arkansas

NuShores Bone Regeneration, University of Arkansas at Little Rock

VivImmune, University of Arkansas

 

2016 Agriculture Division Finalists

AGcorp, Ouachita Baptist University

Beyond Critical, Arkansas State University

deciLvl, University of Arkansas

Demetrix, Hendrix College

Drone Surveying Solutions, University of Arkansas at Little Rock

EcoForYou, Hendrix College

Natural State Bedding Co., John Brown University

2016 Innovation Division Finalists – Undergraduate

Beyond Critical, Arkansas State University

Natural State Bedding Co., John Brown University

VIR Technologies, Arkansas Tech University

 

2016 Innovation Division Finalists – Graduate

deciLvl, University of Arkansas

NuShores Bone Regeneration, University of Arkansas at Little Rock

VivImmune, University of Arkansas

 

The Little Rock Marriott Conference Center will host the oral presentation rounds beginning Thursday, March 31 with a new set of judges who will hear from the 12 semi-finalist undergraduate division teams. New judges will also hear presentations of the Agriculture and Innovation Division finalists.

On Thursday evening, six teams will be selected for the final round where a new set of judges will hear the presentations on April 1. A new set of judges will also hear presentations from the graduate division finalists.

Winners will be announced on Tuesday, April 19, 11:30 a.m. at the Governor’s Cup awards luncheon in the Wally Allen Ballroom at the Statehouse Convention Center.

Video: Celebrating Arkansas’s collegiate entrepreneurs for 16 years