Contact: Sarah Seagraves,
Senior VP for Marketing
(405) 813-2403
[email protected]
April 23, 2021
OKLAHOMA CITY – Student innovators from across Oklahoma pitched concepts in the 2021 Entrepreneur’s Cup that ranged from high tech futuristic solutions to answers for real world problems that are here and now.
Teams from Oklahoma State University, the University of Oklahoma and the University of Central Oklahoma emerged as first place winners when the Love’s Cup concluded in a special Facebook Live celebration on April 22.
The winning teams were among more than 50 collegiate teams that originally submitted written business plans for the competition, which began with the Interview portion in February.
Student entrepreneurs competed in three divisions for $158,000 in cash awards and scholarships.
Love’s Travel Stops serves as Signature Sponsor for the annual competition, which is managed by i2E, Inc. More than 2,500 students have competed for over $2.1 million across the 17-year history of the competition.
In a special address to the Facebook Live audience, Jenny Love Meyer, chief culture officer for Love’s Travel Stops, thanked the student entrepreneurs for rising to the occasion amid the social distancing challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Love’s is proud to recognize these outstanding young people, whose ability to create, innovate and think outside the box is an inspiration to us all,” Meyer said. “Every one of these students has shown a tremendous commitment to excellence and perseverance that I have no doubt will help them make a positive impact in their communities.”
Winning teams
Claiming first place and a cash award of $20,000 in this year’s High Growth Graduate Division was team BioSeal XE from Oklahoma State University. Saeed Manouchehr was BioSeal XE team leader, with Kevin Heupel as team member. David Thomison was advisor.
BioSeal XE is taking a bio adhesive to the equine market with technology that immediately stops bleeding and accelerates wound healing in horses for traumatic cuts, tears, or skin punctures.
Second place in the Graduate Division was claimed by team Pick Pro from the University of Central Oklahoma, while another team from Oklahoma State University, Apeiron Solutions, was the third place winner.
In the High Growth Undergraduate Division, team Daedalus Droneworks from the University of Oklahoma claimed the first place prize of $20,000. Avery Mayfield was Daedalus Droneworks team leader, with team members James Geis, Johnathan Karch and James Roe. Omar Wyman was faculty advisor.
Daedalus DroneWorks is introducing a new groundbreaking technology that vastly improves flight times of unmanned aerial vehicles by using hybrid engines that convert gasoline to electricity.
University of Oklahoma teams swept the Undergraduate Division, with Team Simply Sorority named second place winner, while team Overlook claimed third place.
In the Small Business Division, team Amidad from the University of Central Oklahoma claimed a $10,000 first place prize for its app-based concept that provides undocumented immigrants and refugees with guides on understanding their legal rights during arrests, as well as a device to summon help if confronted by U.S. Immigration and Custom officers.
Esther Velasco was Amidad team leader, with team members Sofia Arenas, Nichole Burroughs and Ashley Guerrero. Advisor was Amy Johnson.
Hamkke, another team from the University of Central Oklahoma, claimed second place in the Small Business Division, while team Swift and Sweet Events from East Central University was the third place winner.
Leadership perspective
Also addressing the audience celebrating the Love’s Cup winners was Matt Pinnell, Oklahoma Lt. Governor. Pinnell and his wife are entrepreneurs themselves who operate a small business.
“We know the highs and low of running a small business and being an entrepreneur,” Pinnell said. “We know how important it is to health and well being and the future growth of the state of Oklahoma. I want you to know how big a deal you all are. We want all of you to be successful and would love for you to start businesses right here in the state of Oklahoma.”
i2E CEO Scott Meacham closed the ceremony with remarks that not only lauded the achievements of the student entrepreneurs, but also recognized the Oklahoma investment and business leaders who served as judges, as well as the competition sponsors.
“Although these students are taking their first steps down the entrepreneur’s path, I’m impressed by both the innovation and level of sophistication of their concepts,” Meacham said. “I’m certain that we will see many of these students use this valuable learning opportunity as a springboard to successful careers as Oklahoma entrepreneurs and business leaders.”
Judges and event sponsors are critical to the success of the Entrepreneur’s Cup, Meacham said.
“There wouldn’t be a Love’s Cup without these Oklahoma business leaders who give their time and attention to assessing the student concepts,” Meacham said. “Nor would there be a competition without our tremendous sponsors who make it all possible with their financial support.”
Interview Winners:
BancFirst Small Business Interview Winners
Service-Swift and Sweet Events, East Central University
Product-Empowering Natives, University of Central Oklahoma
IT/App-AGnosis, Oklahoma Christian University
Retail-Burgherr and Buds, East Central University
Greater Oklahoma City Healthcare
Salvo Cell, The University of Tulsa
Chickasaw Nation Student Generated Technology Design
Glucosense, Oklahoma State University
Oklahoma Business Roundtable Manufacturing, Material Sciences and Transportation
Pick Pro, University of Central Oklahoma
OCAST Information and Technology/Communications
Soveraign.Capital, The University of Oklahoma
OG&E Positive Energy and Environmental
Spintronics, Oklahoma State University
Paulsen Award Winners:
Small Business-Lynsey Bonner-Swift and Sweet, East Central University
Undergraduate- Nelson McEwen-Perfect Herbs, University of Oklahoma
Graduate- Rebecca Jones-Salvo Cell, University of Tulsa
Cox Pitch Award Winners:
Small Business-Lynsey Bonner, Swift and Sweet, East Central University
Undergrad- Regan McCarthick, Pristine Clean, University of Central Oklahoma
Graduate-Jacob Crosby, Spintronics, Oklahoma State University
Graduate Winners:
1st Place-
BioSeal XE
Oklahoma State University
Advisor: David Thomison
Team Leader: Saeed Manouchehri
Team Member: Kevin Heupel
BioSeal is taking a bio adhesive to the equine market with technology that immediately stops bleeding and accelerates wound healing in horses for traumatic cuts, tears, or skin punctures.
2nd Place-
Pick Pro
University of Central Oklahoma
Advisor: Maurice Haff
Team Leader: Ruth Davis
Team Members: Drake Cartwright, Mattie England and Mark Steele
Pick Pro markets a patented Light Duty Electric Cargo vehicle that reduces time and expense for shipping fulfillment centers by enhancing productivity in picking, packing and shipping functions.
3rd Place-
Apeiron Solutions
Oklahoma State University
Advisor: David Thomison
Team Leader: Soumya Patra
Team Members: Bhavana Erukulla, Diako Mahmodi and Nathan Neilitz
Apeiron Solutions is introducing a superior fabric membrane technology that promises to revolutionize the water nanofiltration market for food and beverage companies, municipalities, farmers and homeowners.
Undergraduate Winners:
1st Place-
Daedalus Droneworks
University of Oklahoma
Advisor: Omar Wyman
Team Leader: Avery Mayfield
Team Members: James Geis, Johnathan Karch and James Roe
Daedalus DroneWorks is introducing a new groundbreaking technology that vastly improves flight times of unmanned aerial vehicles using hybrid engines that convert gasoline to electricity.
2nd Place-
Simply Sorority
University of Oklahoma
Advisor: Denise Parris
Team Leader: Clay Morris
Team Members: Sam Davis and Hamilton Spicer
Simply Sorority provides sorority package design, formatting and printing services that remove the stress of creating a stylistic sorority package for college students as they move through their sorority “rush” process.
3rd Place-
Overlook
University of Oklahoma
Advisor: Denise Parris
Team Leader: Logan Rust
Team Members: Seth Campbell, Will Riney and Connor Sharp
Overlook has developed a learning management system that places the most relevant information about schoolwork onto a single dashboard, allowing parents to support their students’ education with a system easy to navigate and view.
Small Business Winners:
1st Place-
Amidad
University of Central Oklahoma
Advisor: Amy Johnson
Team Leader: Esther Velasco
Team Members: Sofia Arenas, Nichole Burroughs and Ashley Guerrero
Amidad created app-based technology that provides undocumented immigrants and refugees with guides on understanding legal rights during an arrest, along with a device that summons help if confronted by U.S. Immigration and Custom officers.
2nd Place-
Hamkke
University of Central Oklahoma
Advisor: Amy Johnson
Team Leader: Nhi Pham
Team Members: Emily Falls and Marissa Perez
Hamkke developed an application that helps parents or guardians give the “birds and the bees” talk to children ages 2-12, providing sex education that is intuitive, interactive and age appropriate.
3rd Place-
Swift and Sweet Events
East Central University
Advisor: Stacey Bolin
Team Leader: Lynsey Bonner
Team Member: Megan Boyles
Swift and Sweet Events provides all-inclusive venue and planning services for weddings, parties and other gatherings that anticipates every need from tables and chairs to food and drink to decorations to invitations and photographers.
