LSU Stephenson Entrepreneurship Institute Announces J Terrell Brown Venture Challenge Finalists

Three LSU student businesses have been selected to present in a live pitch competition for a share of $35,000 in the 13th annual J Terrell Brown Venture Challenge to be held on Thursday, April 18 at the LSU Business Education Complex.

More than 50 student teams submitted business plans for the first round; 13 applicants were moved forward to the semi-final round. All projects were judged and scored by a panel of faculty members and others in the entrepreneurial network. 

The three finalists are Eternal Exchange, FarmSmart and Flickleball.   

• Eternal Exchange redefines the burial plot market with a direct, streamlined platform, ensuring clients have a simplified and dignified transaction experience. The founder is Ellen Frye, an entrepreneurship major.
• FarmSmart is an AI-powered platform connecting modern professional farming and recreational gardening communities alike to specifically tailored, high-quality information on how to best manage their crops. The founders are Grant Muslow, a computer science and computer engineering major; Julius Pallotta, a biological engineering major and Colin Raby, a mechanical engineering major.
• Flickleball is an immersive tabletop football game with an elevated and tilted realistic football field using cups and foam footballs to create realistic football scenarios. The founder is Joseph Wampler, an interdisciplinary studies major. Delaney Peppito, a studio arts major, is the art director. Connor Pittenger, a natural resource ecology and management major, is the game development director.

On April 18, the finalists will give a 10-minute investor pitch in front of a live audience. A 10-minute question and answer session follows each presentation with a group of judges made up of local business professionals and investors. The judges will determine how to divide $35,000 among the three winners based on the presentations. 

To RSVP, visit lsu.edu/business/venture by April 15. 

About Stephenson Entrepreneurship Institute

The mission of the Stephenson Entrepreneurship Institute is to promote and foster entrepreneurial practices through education, outreach, and research. An integral part of LSU’s E. J. Ourso College of Business, the SEI utilizes its various programs and other means to address entrepreneurial challenges and positively impact students, the regional economy, the state of Louisiana, and the nation. A generous donation by LSU alumni Emmet and the late Toni Stephenson made the continued development of the college’s entrepreneurship institute possible.