Governor’s Cup Celebrates 2026 Winners at Awards Luncheon Attended by 650 Guests

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., April 15, 2026 — The ACC Capital Foundation announced the winners of the 2026 Governor’s Cup during the Awards Luncheon held Wednesday, April 15, at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock. A total of 650 attendees gathered to celebrate student entrepreneurs, finalists, and university partners from across the region.

Now in its 26th year, Governor’s Cup continues to grow as one of Arkansas’s premier collegiate entrepreneurship competitions. This year’s competition saw a 179% increase in applications since 2023, with 18 final teams representing 11 unique institutions across 4 states. The competition also featured 54 judges, 31 sponsors, and a total cash prize pool of $141,000 provided by title sponsor Dhu Thompson. Since its inception, the Governor’s Cup has impacted 3,573 students, received 1,098 business plan submissions, and awarded $3,095,000 in prize money.

“The continued growth of Governor’s Cup reflects the strength of entrepreneurship across our campuses and the power of collegiality as more institutions join this effort,” said Sam Walls III, CEO of ACC Capital. “We are proud to celebrate these outstanding student teams and the faculty, mentors, and supporters who help make this program possible.”

The 2026 Governor’s Cup winners are:

• Winrock Automotive Small Business Division
  • First Place ($10,000): Bond Box Pro., Central Baptist College
  • Second Place ($7,500): Gene-isis, Ouachita Baptist University
  • Third Place ($5,000): Clara Vision Clinic, University of Central Arkansas
  • Elevator Pitch ($1,000): Clara Vision Clinic, University of Central Arkansas

• Startup Junkie Conductor High Growth Undergrad Division
  • First Place ($20,000): ROO Pouch, Harding University
  • Second Place ($10,000): Print Ease, University of Arkansas
  • Third Place ($7,500): SAM (Smart Assistant for Mobility), John Brown University
  • Elevator Pitch ($1,000): ROO Pouch, Harding University

• High Growth Graduate Division
  • First Place ($20,000): Altaris MedTech, University of Arkansas
  • Second Place ($10,000): Bubby Band, University of Arkansas
  • Third Place ($7,500): Avid, University of Texas at Austin
  • Elevator Pitch ($1,000): Bubby Band, University of Arkansas

Governor’s Cup was established in 2001 and remains a flagship program for recognizing and advancing collegiate entrepreneurship in Arkansas and beyond. This year’s theme, collegiality, reflects the growing number of participating institutions and the collaborative spirit behind the competition. For more information, visit www.argovernorscup.org.

About ACC Capital:

ACC Capital is a private, nonprofit special project finance company formed in 1957 by Winthrop Rockefeller and other business leaders in Arkansas who saw the need to transform the state from an agricultural-dominated economy to a more diverse commercial economy. Through its affiliates and subsidiaries, ACC Capital partners with commercial banks, small businesses, and others from the private and public sectors to create and preserve employment opportunities and stimulate economic development in Arkansas and its bordering states.

Since its creation, ACC Capital and its partners have deployed more than $2.34 billion to small businesses and economic development projects. ACC Capital is certified by the U.S. Department of Treasury as a Community Development Financial Institution and by the Arkansas State Bank Department as an Economic Development Enterprise. These certifications affirm ACC Capital’s commitment to serving all communities, including unserved and underserved areas.