Published January 13, 2023
MONROE, LA – The Entrepreneurship Pelican Cup is now accepting applications for the 2023 competition.
This event is the premier academic business plan competition for the state of Louisiana.
Applications can be submitted at www.ulm.edu/pelicancup. The deadline for applications is February 26.
Open to all majors with one of the largest cash prizes in the nation, The Entrepreneurship
Pelican Cup is an opportunity for students to develop critical thinking, team building,
presentation, and other soft skills, which are all important to career growth.
The Entrepreneurship Pelican Cup is open to any full- or part-time, certificate- or
degree-seeking student currently enrolled at the University of Louisiana Monroe, Edward
Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM), Louisiana State University Shreveport
(LSUS), Centenary College of Louisiana, Northwestern State University, Grambling State
University, or Louisiana Tech University.
The competition requires a written formal business plan judged by business owners
and investors. Six finalists will be chosen to conduct an in person oral presentation
to top tier entrepreneurs. Also, during the awards luncheon, each team will select
one member to conduct a 90 second “Elevator Pitch,” and the winner will receive a
cash award.
This year’s awards luncheon will be held Friday, April 21 at 11:30 a.m. at Bayou Pointe
Event Center on the ULM campus.
This year’s cash prizes include:
First Place $25,000
Second Place $15,000
Third Place $10,000
Elevator Pitch $2,000
First, Second, and Third Place faculty advisors to receive $3,000.
For more information about the 2023 Entrepreneurship Pelican Cup, including a full
list of dates and requirements, visit www.ulm.edu/pelicancup.You can also contact Cathi Hemed, Director of External Initiatives, at (318) 342-1151
or hemed@ulm.edu.
Now in its second year, The Entrepreneurship Pelican Cup was founded by distinguished
ULM alumnus Dhu Thompson. Thompson is the founder, past owner, and former chairman of the board for Delta Plastics,
producer of agricultural irrigation tubing, and the largest recycler of plastics in
Arkansas. He is also the former owner and past chairman of the board for Revolution
Bag that manufactures EPA-compliant trashcan liners. Thompson’s honors include 2004
Arkansas Business Executive of the Year and SBA Person of the Year. In 2019 he sold
the Revolution brands to a New York private equity firm and now focuses on entrepreneurship
growth in Arkansas and Louisiana.
