J Terrell Brown Venture Challenge

Round I: Application and video pitch submission. Submissions are generally accepted from late January through February.

Round II: Semi-finalists will submit a five-page executive business plan and pitch deck 

Round III: Three finalists will present live in-person pitches at the Business Education Complex, typically in April. Each finalist will receive a share of the $35,000 prize. The minimum prize is $2,500; the maximum prize is $25,000.

Competitors are required to meet all submission deadlines and guidelines.  

• Applicants must be current LSU-system students (undergraduate or graduate) or alumni who graduated within the last year.

• Entries must be on-campus students (not LSU Online); alumni must have completed an on-campus degree program.

• Individual or team submissions are welcome.

• Applicants cannot be part of multiple teams. 

• Competitors must be present during the entire competition and the final presentation. 

• LSU student(s) must represent at least 51% of company ownership.

• Ventures cannot exceed $150K in lifetime revenue and/or $250K in lifetime equity investment.

• Finalists must have an LLC for their venture before funds are dispersed from the final pitch competition.

• Prize funds will be awarded directly to the LLCs of the three finalists. Funds will not be issued to individuals. The Stephenson Entrepreneurship Institute does not provide guidance on the use/disbursement of these funds; these decisions are at the discretion of the founder(s). 

J Terrell Brown Venture Challenge Success Stories

• Mallard Bay, an online marketplace for hunting and fishing trips; last year, the company announced the closure of its $4.6 million funding round.
• Suds Laundry Service, an app that offers services for commercial and residential customers, won second place in 2019. Suds received $75,000 at the 2023 Demo Day, an event hosted by Pharrell Williams' nonprofit Black Ambition.
• Farmsmarter.AI, the competition's 2024 winners, earned top prize in the Entrepreneurship Pelican Cup sponsored by the University of Louisiana at Monroe. The AI-powered tool for professional farming and recreational gardening communities also earned seventh spot in the Rice Business Plan Competition, the world’s largest student startup competition. In total, these wins yielded more than $150,000 in revenue.