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our 2024 Winners!

2024 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 40 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 2024 WINNERS

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

the 2024 FINALISTS

This year, we received over 65% more applications from a seven-state area, making the judges' decision a challenging task. Congratulations to the selected 20 teams! We are excited to meet you in April.

High Growth/Tech Graduate

High Growth/Tech Undergrad

Small Business

ProPika

University of Arkansas

TokenWhiz

University

of Arkansas - Fort Smith

Allez Armure

Ouachita

Baptist University

Samtracs, LLC

Oklahoma State University

DataDroid

University of Arkansas

Blue's House of Guns

Lyon College

Hidalga Technologies

University of Arkansas

TrekAR

John Brown University

Wanderist Wines

University of Arkansas

AnimalHealth Innovator

University of Arkansas

DevelopIQ

University of Arkansas

Arkansas REM (Arkansas Real Estate Media, LLC)

University of Central Arkansas

Burgess Aerospace Innovations™

Oklahoma State University

Money Launch

Southern Arkansas University

Global Gourmet Market LLC.

University of Arkansas

Biomedical Think-Tank

University of Mississippi

Thinking CAPZ

Philander Smith University

Arkansas Love Kombucha Co.

University of Arkansas -Fort Smith



DormDeals Inc.

Philander Smith University

Sapien Financial

University of Arkansas -

Pine Bluff

144 000 cash Prize Pool

The Arkansas Governor’s Cup is excited to share a major update for the 2024 competition. The Graduate track in the High Growth/Technology division is now open to students from the following states: Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas!

Award

Undergraduate

Graduate

Faculty Advisor

1st Place

High-Growth/Technology

$20,000

$20,000

$1,500

2nd Place 

High-Growth/Technology

$10,000

$10,000

$1,500

3rd Place 

High-Growth/Technology

$7,500

$7,500

$1,500

Award

Four-Year

Advisor

1st Place Small Business

$10,000

$1,500

2nd Place Small Business

$7,500

$1,500

3rd Place Small Business

$5,000

$1,500

ELEVATOR PITCH

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 20 finalists teams receive a $1500 stipend.

title sponsor:

2024 Venture Sponsor:

2024 Calendar

  • January 8: Team Application Window Opens in YouNoodle
  • February 2, 11:59 PM CST: Deadline to submit Round 1 Business Plan in YouNoodle
  • February 23: Finalist Teams are notified
  • March 1, 11:59 PM CST: Finalists confirm commitment to compete
  • March 11: Finalist teams are publicly announced
  • April 1, 11:59 PM CST: Deadline to submit Round 2 Business Plan
  • April 15 – 17, Little Rock, AR: Governor’s Cup Oral Competition
  • April 17, Little Rock: Awards Luncheon. Open to the public.


2024 High-Growth/Technology Sponsor:

2024 Small Business Sponsor:

2024 Competition Event Schedule

Monday, April 15

Tuesday, April 16

Wednesday, April 17

6PM - 8PM

Welcome Dinner at Innovation Hub in North Little Rock

8:30AM - 5PM

Oral Competition at Statehouse Convention Center

11:30AM - 1:00PM

Awards Luncheon at Statehouse Convention Center

 

5PM - 6PM

Happy Hour at Club27

 

 

6PM - 8PM

Preliminary Elevator Pitch Competition with dinner

 

Support our Students. Become a 2024 Governor’s Cup Sponsor.

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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


SOLD OUT
SOLD OUT
SOLD OUT

2024 ARKANSAS GOVERNOR’S CUP SPONSORS:

2024 Awards Luncheon Table Sponsors

Arkansas Community Bankers

Delta Solar

First Security Bank

Forvis

John Brown University Soderquist College of Business

Lyon College

Ouachita Baptist University Hickingbotham School of Business


Pulaski Tech Business & Information Technology

Regions Bank

Simmons Bank

Southern Bancorp

University of Arkansas Fort Smith College of Business & Industry

University of Arkansas Walton College of Business


Tiffany

Henry

Vice President

Education to Develop & Grow Entrepreneurs (EDGE)

Arkansas Capital Corporation

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.


Little Rock

200 River Market Avenue, Suite 400

Little Rock, AR 72201

800-216-7237 or 501-374-9247

Fayetteville

2928 North McKee Circle, Suite 113

Fayetteville, AR 72703

479-251-1732