04.16.2025
@ the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock, Arkansas
2025 title sponsor
Arkansas Capital launched the Governor’s Cup over two decades ago to encourage college students to be innovative and think like entrepreneurs. It’s a perfect opportunity for students who are interested in becoming entrepreneurs and small business owners; who may just want to learn about entrepreneurship; or who already have a business idea, and they don’t want to wait until after college to launch!
The competition doesn’t require students to start their businesses, although nearly 30 companies operating in Arkansas today have their roots in the competition. C-Suite executives from several of them report their companies would not have launched if it hadn’t been for the Governor’s Cup.
Ultimately, students get a true entrepreneur education experience. They are fully immersed into what it takes to launch a startup from the ground up. The rigor of the work leads them to gain a much greater appreciation of the challenges real-world entrepreneurs face in the business model and customer development process.
Students also get constructive and meaningful feedback throughout the process from nearly 60 volunteer judges – most of whom are Arkansas-based entrepreneurs, small business owners, and current or former large corporation executives. Many competition alumni say they continue to benefit from the networking opportunities and relationships created through their Governor’s Cup experiences.
The competition is open to undergraduate students in Arkansas and graduate students from Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas!
High Growth/technology | Undergraduate | Graduate | Faculty Advisor |
1st Place | $20,000 | $20,000 | $1,500 |
2nd Place | $10,000 | $10,000 | $1,500 |
3rd Place | $7,500 | $7,500 | $1,500 |
SMALL BUSINESS | Four-Year | Advisor |
1st Place | $10,000 | $1,500 |
2nd Place | $7,500 | $1,500 |
3rd Place | $5,000 | $1,500 |
ELEVATOR PITCH | WINNER AWARD |
Small Business | $1,000 |
High-Growth/Technology- Undergrad | $1,000 |
High-Growth/Technology- Grad | $1,000 |
Note: In addition to the above awards, all 18 finalists teams receive a $1500 stipend.
title sponsor:
University of Central Arkansas, Philander Smith University, and the University of Arkansas take first place at the 2024 Governor's Cup!
High Growth/Tech Graduate | High Growth/Tech Undergrad | Small Business | |||||||||
Place | Team | Institution | Prize | Place | Team | Institution | Prize | Place | Team | Institution | Prize |
First | ProPika | University of Arkansas | $20,000 | First | Thinking CAPZ | Philander Smith University | $20,000 | First | Arkansas REM | University of Central Arkansas | $10,000 |
Second | Samtracs, LLC | Oklahoma State University | $10,000 | Second | DevelopIQ | University of Arkansas | $10,000 | Second | Wanderist Wines | University of Arkansas | $7,500 |
Third | Hidalga Technologies | University of Arkansas | $7,500 | Third | DataDroid | University of Arkansas | $7,500 | Third | Arkansas Love Kombucha Co. | University of Arkansas Fort Smith | $5,000 |
Elevator Pitch | Hidalga Technologies | University of Arkansas | $1,000 | Elevator Pitch | DevelopIQ | University of Arkansas | $1,000 | Elevator Pitch | Sapien Financial | University of Arkansas Pine Bluff | $1,000 |
2025 Calendar
Date | Event / Description |
December 2, 2024 | Applications to the Governor’s Cup open in YouNoodle |
January 31, 2025 4:59pm CST | Deadline to submit Round 1 Business Plan |
Feb 14, 2025 | Semi - Finalist teams are notified of selection |
Feb 19, 2025, 11:59 pm CST | Semi - Finalists confirm commitment to compete |
Feb 21, 2025 | Governor’s Cup announces semi-finalist teams |
Feb 24 - March 7, 2025 | Virtual Semi-Final Round 2 |
March 10, 2025 | Finalist teams are notified of selection |
March 14, 2025 | Finalists confirm commitment to compete |
March 24, 2025 | Governor’s Cup announces finalist teams |
April 14 - 16, 2025, Little Rock, AR | Governor’s Cup Oral Competition |
April 16, 2025, Little Rock, AR at 12:00P CST | Awards Luncheon |
2025 High-Growth/Technology Sponsor:
2025 SMALL BUSINESS Sponsor:
Support our Students. Become a 2025 Governor’s Cup Sponsor.
request information
2024 Governor’s Cup | Sponsorship Description | Benefit: 8 top table at awards banquet | Benefit: Judging role(s) | Award Presentation by Representative | Benefit: General Print/Digital Media Recognition | Benefit: Half Page Ad in Program |
Title Sponsor | Overall Governor's Cup Sponsor | x | x | x | x | x |
Venture Sponsor | Awards Banquet Sponsor | x | x | x | x | x |
Elevator Pitch Sponsor | Back the thrilling 90-second elevator pitch competition at the final awards banquet. | x | x | x | x | x |
Division Sponsor | Support the leading teams in the following divisions: High Growth/Tech Grad, High Growth/Tech Undergrad, Small Business 4 year, Small Business 2 year | x | x | x | x | |
Investor Circle Sponsor | Invest in the future of our communities by supporting the 2024 Arkansas Governor's Cup | x | x | x | x | |
Table Sponsor | Support the student teams at the 2024 Arkansas Governor's Cup Awards Banquet | x | x |
- Tuesday, September 10 at 3P via Zoom: Governor's Cup 2025 Info Session Register Here
- Thursday, October 3 at 3P via Zoom: Written Business Plan Training with L.B. Hudson of My Financial Snapshot (and Gov Cup judge!) Register Here
- Wednesday, October 30 at 1pm at the Innovation Hub in North Little Rock: Governor's Cup Advisor Training by Sarah Goforth, University of Arkansas and previous Governor's Cup Advisor Registration Forthcoming
- Thursday, January 23, 2025 at 3P via Zoom: Oral Presentation Training with ARise
- Thursday, February 20 at 3P via Zoom: Elevator Pitch Competition Training with ARise
2025 ARKANSAS GOVERNOR’S CUP SPONSORS:
Tiffany
Henry
Vice President
Education to Develop & Grow Entrepreneurs (EDGE)
479-692-1043
200 River Market Ave., Suite 400 | Little Rock, AR 72201
thenry@arcapital.com
Arkansas Capital created the Arkansas Economic Acceleration Foundation (AEAF) in 1999 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
The mission of AEAF is to be a catalyst in an environment focused on ideas and initiatives that nurture Arkansas’s future entrepreneurs, especially young Arkansans living in the state’s underserved communities.
Click here to receive updates on our programs and offerings.
