It was a year of firsts for the Governor\u2019s Cup, a collegiate business plan competition hosted by Arkansas Capital Corporation and sponsored by Dhu Thompson. Team Thinking CAPZ from Philander Smith University took first place in the high growth undergraduate division becoming the first HBCU to win in the competition. Thinking CAPZ is an AI-powered educational platform tailored to the unique needs of neurodiverse students. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Leading the ‘Thinking CAPZ’ team to first-place victory at the Arkansas Governor\u2019s Cup was an incredibly heartwarming experience,\u201d says Chinwe Uwolloh, Thinking CAPZ team leader.<\/strong> \u201cThis isn\u2019t just a win for us; it’s also a win for countless students who need their learning experiences tailored perfectly for them.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n This was the first year of Arkansas Capital\u2019s EDGE Initiative which aims to provide Education to Develop and Grow Entrepreneurs. Taking an intentional approach to student outreach and recruitment, applications for the 2024 Governor\u2019s Cup increased by 65% from the previous year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The University of Central Arkansas took first place in the small business division with the team Arkansas REM (Real Estate Media), a title UCA last held in 2008. Arkansas REM is a full service real estate media business with the focus of getting more eyes on real estate listings. Team leader Grant Cunningham is an active participant in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. \u201cArkansas Governor’s Cup was such a special event to be a part of. It helped me dive into my business, learn about other innovative ideas in Arkansas, and hear from excellent speakers and judges!\u201d Cunningham said of his experience in the competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2024 was the first year the high-growth graduate division was open to institutions in the states that surround Arkansas. Despite a fierce challenge from second-place winner Samtracs, LLC of Oklahoma State University, the University of Arkansas retained its title of high growth graduation division first-place winner. Team ProPika helps fuel producers leverage billions of tons of agricultural waste through their patented membrane technology. <\/p>\n\n\n\n ProPika CEO Nhiem Cao says of the Governor\u2019s Cup, \u201cArkansas Governor’s Cup was a truly inspiring event. The diverse field of competitors exemplified an equitable environment of inclusiveness. The spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship could be felt throughout the competition. We are very inspired by the experience and grateful for the connections. The contacts and relationships we made throughout the event improve our chances of success.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winners were announced at an awards banquet which included elevator pitches from nine finalist teams. Elevator pitch winners included Sapien Financial from the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, DevelopIQ from the University of Arkansas, and Hidalga Technologies from the University of Arkansas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n