J Terrell Brown Venture Challenge

lsu's LARGEST live pitch competition

Pitch it for a chance to win startup capital in the J Terrell Brown Venture Challenge. This system-wide business plan competition is open to all on-campus LSU students and alumni (graduated within the last year) no matter their majors. Three finalists are selected to pitch for a share of startup cash in the final round in this Shark Tank-style event.

For more than a decade, the J Terrell Brown Venture Challenge has helped LSU students launch and grow businesses. Whether you are operating a business or developing an idea but don't have business experience, this competition is for you.

The competition has played a pivotal role in launching successful businesses. Mallard Bay, an online marketplace for hunting and fishing trips, earned third place in 2021. The company recently announced the closure of its $4.6 million funding round. Suds Laundry Service, an app that offers the pickup and delivery of quick laundry services for commercial and residential customers, won second place in 2019. Suds received $75,000 at the 2023 Demo Day, an event hosted by Pharrell Williams' nonprofit Black Ambition.

New! Get ready to pitch with a four-session workshop series presented by LSU Innovation and the Stephenson Entrepreneurship Institute. Register here for these free sessions.  

For questions, please contact Fahimeh Abbasi. 

2025 Competition Details

 

Jan. 13 | Application opens

Jan. 21 | Virtual info session | Noon - 1 p.m. | Zoom link to come

Feb. 5 | J Terrell Brown Workshop Series begins. Register here  for this free series provided in partnership with LSU Innovation.

Feb. 28 | Applications close at 11:59 p.m.

March 7 | Semi-finalists will be notified by 11:59 p.m.

March 28 | Semi-finalists must submit executive business plan summary

April 4 | Finalists will be notified by 11:59 p.m.

April 16 | Finals (live pitch event)

Round I: Application and video pitch submission. Submissions are generally accepted from late January through February.

Round II: Semi-finalists will submit a five-page executive business plan and pitch deck 

Round III: Three finalists will present live in-person pitches at the Business Education Complex, typically in April. Each finalist will receive a share of the $35,000 prize. The minimum prize is $5,000; the maximum prize is $25,000.

Competitors are required to meet all submission deadlines and guidelines.  

  • Applicants must be current LSU-system students (undergraduate or graduate) or alumni who graduated within the last year.

  • Entries must be on-campus students (not LSU Online); alumni must have completed an on-campus degree program.

  • Individual or team submissions are welcome.

  • Applicants cannot be part of multiple teams. 

  • Competitors must be present during the entire competition and the final presentation. 

  • LSU student(s) must represent at least 51% of company ownership.

  • Ventures cannot exceed $150K in lifetime revenue and/or $250K in lifetime equity investment.

  • Finalists must have an LLC for their venture before funds are dispersed from the final pitch competition.

  • Prize funds will be awarded directly to the LLCs of the three finalists. Funds will not be issued to individuals. The Stephenson Entrepreneurship Institute does not provide guidance on the use/disbursement of these funds; these decisions are at the discretion of the founder(s). 

Get ready to pitch with a prep workshop series presented by LSU Innovation LSU Innovation and Stephenson Entrepreneurship Institute with funding from the EDA Bridge Program. This immersive training will help you transform your ideas and inventions into viable businesses. You will learn to understand your customers and how to position your product to demonstrate value. Instructors and mentors will guide you through creating your business model and help you build an effective pitch. 

Dates and details*
Wednesday, Feb. 5 | 4-6 p.m. | Virtual
Wednesday, Feb. 12 | 4-6 p.m. | Virtual
Wednesday, Feb. 19 | 4-6 p.m. | Virtual
Wednesday, Feb. 26 | 4-6 p.m. | Location TBD


Register for the workshop series*Please commit to attending at least three sessions. You do not have to attend the workshops to apply for the J Terrell Brown Venture Challenge. You may attend the workshops without applying for the competition. 

2024 COMPETITION RESULTS

Students hold giant cardboard checks and smile with excitement as prizes are distributed on stage at the 2024 J Terrell Brown Venture Challenge.

First place: FarmSmart
Prize: $20,000
Student Founders: Grant Muslow (BS Computer Science and Computer Engineering), Julius Pallotta (BS Biological Engineering), Colin Raby (BS Mechanical Engineering) 
FarmSmart is an AI-powered platform connecting modern professional farming and recreational gardening communities alike to specifically tailored, high-quality information on how to best manage their crops.

Second place: Eternal Exchange
Prize: $10,000
Student Founder: Ellen Frye
Eternal Exchange redefines the burial plot market with a direct, streamlined platform, ensuring clients have a simplified and dignified transaction experience. 

Third place: Flickleball
Prize: $5,000
Student Founder: Joseph Wampler (Bachelor's Interdisciplinary Studies)
Art Director: Delaney Peppito (BFA Studio Arts)
Game Development Director: Connor Pittenger (BS Natural Resource Ecology and Management)
Flickleball is an immersive tabletop football game with an elevated and tilted realistic football field using cups and foam footballs to create realistic football scenarios. 

COMPETITION RECAP

 

 

Contact Us

Fahimeh Abbasi

Director, Stephenson Entrepreneurship Institute
2230 Business Education Complex South
fahimabbasi@lsu.edu

 

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