Governor’s Cup Business Plan Competition Today, Winners Named April 22

The winners of the 15th annual Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup Collegiate Business Plan Competition will be announced April 22, but the finalists were competing on Friday.

The event is managed by The Arkansas Economic Acceleration Foundation, an affiliate of The Arkansas Capital Corporation Group. Winning teams in the Graduate and Undergraduate categories each will receive $25,000, while second place finishers will receive $15,000 and third place winners will receive $10,000.

The top two undergraduate and graduate teams will compete against the top two teams from Nevada and Oklahoma for the Donald W. Reynolds Tri-State Award in May. First and second place awards of $30,000 and $20,000 will be available in both categories.

Graduate school finalists are:

Agricultural Innovations – Arkansas State University
Baby Booster – University of Arkansas
BioBridge, LLC – University of Arkansas
Kordate Solutions, Inc. – University of Arkansas
M-Power – University of Arkansas
Saf-Tech – Arkansas State University

Undergraduate finalists are:

Opt-In – John Brown University
Conner Innovation – University of Arkansas
Charlie’s Choices – John Brown University
G.S.S. – Grow. Supply. Sustain. – University of Arkansas
TIRE – Harding University
Explosive Performance, LLC – Ouachita Baptist University

Winners of the Innovation Award in the Graduate and Undergraduate categories each will win $5,000 cash prizes. The award goes to a plan that demonstrates an innovative product or service.

Graduate finalists are:

Agricultural Innovations – Arkansas State University
BioBridge, LLC – University of Arkansas
Saf-Tech – Arkansas State University

Undergraduate finalists are:

Conner Innovation – University of Arkansas
Food Trucks 101 – Arkansas Tech University
TIRE – Harding University

Graduate and undergraduate agriculture first place winners will win $5,000, while second place winners will receive $3,000.

Finalists are:

Agricultural Innovations – Arkansas State University
Baby Booster – University of Arkansas
Con Quesos – University of Arkansas
Grand Prairie Husk – Arkansas State University
GSS Grow.Supply.Sustain. – University of Arkansas
HerbanMarket – Harding University
Hilltop Beer Co. – University of Arkansas
Natural Cattle – Harding University

Additionally, $2,000 will go to the winners of the Elevator Pitch Award in both the Undergraduate and Graduate categories. One representative from each of the undergraduate and graduate finalist teams has 90 seconds to pitch his or her team’s business plan to the audience. Luncheon attendees will select the winners via text.

Two college or university educators will be awarded the C. Sam Walls Entrepreneur Educator Award winners, funded by the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation in honor of Walls, former CEO of Arkansas Capital Corporation. The awards include a $2,500 cash prize offered to both educators along with $2,500 to their schools to further entrepreneurial education.

Link here to our preview of the Governor’s Cup from the latest magazine edition of Talk Business & Politics.