Contact: Sarah Seagraves,
Senior VP for Marketing
(405) 813-2403
[email protected]
April 22, 2019
OKLAHOMA CITY — Student entrepreneurs from Oklahoma State University claimed first place in both High Growth divisions of the recent Love’s Entrepreneur’s Cup competition that included almost 40 teams from campuses across the state.
The winning teams were revealed in the Love’s Cup Awards Dinner at the Bricktown Events Center in Oklahoma City.
A concept from an OSU team called Bubble Calm, which is marketing a chewing gum that relieves anxiety, claimed the $20,000 first prize in the High Growth Undergraduate division
In the High Growth Graduate divisions, Paldara Pharmaceuticals from OSU claimed the $20,000 first prize with a business plan built around a microbial gel used with existing catheters to reduce urinary tract infections by up to 99 percent.
A third team from OSU, One-Voice, took second place and $10,000 in the High Growth Graduate division.
A team named Ex-bac from East Central University won the $10,000 first place prize in the Small Business division. Ex-bac pitched a concept of a medical grade gel proven to kill harmful bacteria as an innovative method of disinfecting medical equipment without damaging expensive electronics.
Student entrepreneurs in the 2019 Love’s Cup competed for more than $150,000 in cash prizes and scholarships. The competition is managed by i2E, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation that provides investment and business advisory services for Oklahoma-based high growth startups.
Signature sponsor of the event was Oklahoma-based Love’s Travel Stops. Jenny Love Meyer, vice president of communications for Love’s Travel Stops, presented trophies to each student and winning team at the dinner.
Meyer served as keynote speaker for the event, which also featured Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell.
Team leader for High Growth Undergraduate division winner was William Petty, with team member Walter Bowser. Kyle Eastham was team advisor.
Second place in the Undergraduate division was Banners from the University of Oklahoma, with Bridal Wave, LLC, from OU claiming third place.
Beau Blanchard was team leader of High Growth Graduate winner Paldara Pharmaceuticals, with team members William Colton and Becca Perez. David Thomison was team advisor.
Third place in the Graduate vision was Babel Analytics from OU.
Larisa Bolin was team leader of Small Business division winner Ex-bac, with team member Norbu Gurung and Kacee Schier. Team advisor was Stacey Bolin.
A team from Oklahoma Christian University, Project Eden, claimed second place in the Small Business division, while The Hairy Hotel from ECU took third place.
Winners of the High Growth Interview portion of the competition were:
Kozorazzi Technologies, University of Oklahoma, Chickasaw Nation Student Generated Technology Design;
WhiteGlove, the University of Oklahoma, Greater Oklahoma Chamber Healthcare;
Axiom Graphene, The University of Tulsa, Oklahoma Business Roundtable Manufacturing, Material Sciences and Transportation;
Zonx, The University of Oklahoma, OCAST Information and Technology/Communications; and
Seepay, Northwestern Oklahoma State University.
Winners of the Small Business Interview portion of the competition were:
Likeapro, East Central University, IT/APP category;
Kelcares, Northern Oklahoma College, Product category; and
Fillup, Oral Roberts University, Service Category.
