Love’s Travel Stops and i2E help collegiate entrepreneurs turn big ideas into funded businesses
Oklahoma’s most driven student entrepreneurs took the stage April 23 at the 2026 Entrepreneur’s Cup Awards Dinner, showcasing the ambition fueling the state’s next generation of business leaders.
Hosted by i2E and presented by Love’s Travel Stops, the evening brought together outstanding student teams from campuses across Oklahoma, awarding more than $260,000 in cash prizes and scholarships for winners of the annual student business plan competition.
From sustainable agriculture to cutting-edge robotics, this year’s competitors tackled complex challenges with creative, market-ready solutions. Now in its 22nd year, the Entrepreneur’s Cup continues to serve as one of Oklahoma’s premier platforms for developing student entrepreneurs. The competition features three primary divisions: High Growth Undergraduate, High Growth Graduate, and Small Business.
Additional honors were presented during the awards dinner, held at the Will Rogers Theatre in Oklahoma City. Winners were chosen for their compelling business plans, impressive pitches, and real-world potential.
“Competitions like these get students real world experience and real-world practice,” Zaine French, from winning University of Oklahoma team Nocturne Systems, said. “This competition has been fundamental to my progress as an entrepreneur and as a person. I’ve learned much more than I ever could have expected.”
“In addition to the incredible experience of developing a business plan and pitching, the cash prizes and scholarships are always a major part of the Entrepreneur’s Cup competition,” i2E President Darcy Wilborn said. “It was exciting to hear these students pitching to the reality of their award rather than hypothetical venture capital, talking specifically about what they could do with $30,000 to actually launch their business in Oklahoma.”
High Growth Winners
In the Undergraduate division, GreenSense from the University of Tulsa claimed the top prize of $30,000. ASA from the University of Central Oklahoma earned second place, and Nocturne Systems from the University of Oklahoma placed third.
In the Graduate division, Auximotus from the University of Tulsa took first place and the $30,000 top prize. TorchBear from Oral Roberts University earned second, and Verda Robotics, also from the University of Tulsa, placed third.
Small Business Winners
In the Small Business division, OASIS from Oral Roberts University claimed first place and a $25,000 prize. In”Vase”ive Forestry from East Central University earned second place, and fellow East Central University team Heirloom Fashion House rounded out the top three.
Pitch Winners
Three competitors earned top honors in the 90-second pitch competition, each receiving a $2,000 prize:
- Timothy Blanco, OASIS, Oral Roberts University (Small Business)
- Jaylen Rider, ASA, University of Central Oklahoma (High Growth Undergraduate)
- Anagraciela Lara, TorchBear, Oral Roberts University (High Growth Graduate)
Paulsen Scholarship Award
The Paulsen Awards recognize outstanding students demonstrating exceptional entrepreneurial promise. This year’s $5,000 scholarship recipients were Jared Fimple from Oklahoma State University, Nathan Thaler from University of Oklahoma, and Vusal Karimov from University of Tulsa.
Black Oak Social Innovation Award
The Black Oak Innovation Award, funded by the Moore Family Foundation, celebrates ventures that harness innovative business thinking to address pressing social and environmental challenges. This year’s winners were:
- 1st Place: Auximotus, University of Tulsa, winning $4,500
- 2nd Place: Catering Change, Oral Roberts University, winning $3,000
- 3rd Place: EcoShield, University of Tulsa, winning $1,500
About the Entrepreneur’s Cup
The Entrepreneur’s Cup is a statewide collegiate business plan competition that simulates the real-world process of researching a market, writing a business plan and making a presentation to potential investors. Over its 22-year history, over 3,150 students have participated, showcasing 995 innovative ideas and receiving $2.96 million in awards. The program is sponsored by Love’s Travel Stops and administered by i2E, a private not-for-profit corporation focused on growing innovative small businesses in Oklahoma and making a positive impact on the state’s economy. More information is available at entrepreneurscup.org.
