$50K Demo Day Finalists Announced | Ten Startups will take the Stage at Tulane Innovation Day 2026 During New Orleans Entrepreneur Week
Tulane Innovation Day | New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (March 2025)
Great ideas become great companies with the right support. At the Tulane University Innovation Institute, that support comes through mentorship, access to capital, and practical education for growth. This spring, 10 startups will demonstrate the power of that integrated model at the Institute's third annual $50K Demo Day Pitch Competition.
The competition takes place on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, during Tulane Innovation Day at the A.B. Freeman School of Business as part of New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW). Starting at 2 p.m., the public event will feature startups from the Tulane community and the region competing for up to $25,000 in non-dilutive capital. This year's competition is supported by the Burton D. Morgan Foundation, which shares the Institute's commitment to accelerating high-growth entrepreneurship.
To qualify, startups must have participated in the year-long Startup Team Mentoring program or received multiple one-on-one sessions from the Green Wave Innovation Network (GWIN), a group of 109 Tulane alumni, parents, and local executives dedicated to supporting early-stage ventures.
Awards include $25,000 for first place, $15,000 for second place, $10,000 for third place, and a $500 People's Choice Award. The top three finalists will also receive legal support from Stone Pigman, which offers company formation, fundraising, contract drafting, and corporate governance services for startups, and will be fast-tracked for investment consideration by 1834 Ventures, with one finalist receiving a $25,000 investment.
"$50K Demo Day reflects the progress of startups that have committed to mentorship and disciplined execution," said Kimberly Gramm, PhD, David and Marion Mussafer Chief Innovation Officer at the Tulane University Innovation Institute. "We are grateful to the Burton D. Morgan Foundation, Stone Pigman and 1834 Ventures for their support this year. Their investment helps our founders build stronger businesses and strengthens the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem."
Following a competitive semi-final round last fall, a judging panel from the mentor network evaluated pitch videos using a standardized rubric focused on value proposition, scalability, team expertise, pitch quality, and revenue path. All semi-finalists received feedback and ongoing support. The 10 highest-scoring teams advanced to the final round.
The 2026 $50K Demo Day finalists include:
Abodingo simplifies off-campus housing by giving students and landlords one end-to-end platform for tenant acquisition, property management, lease communication, rent payments, and maintenance requests.
Argus Foresight builds early-warning drone detection systems using networks of low-cost passive RF sensors and edge AI. Developed through DARPA-funded research and field-tested in conflict zones, the technology serves defense and critical infrastructure customers.
CORE addresses "Failure to Rescue" in clinical settings by synthesizing vitals, labs, and patient history into a prioritized roadmap that reduces cognitive latency and prevents avoidable deaths.
LumaWave provides portable photoacoustic sensing technology that delivers real-time, quantitative insights into deep tissue health in clinics, nursing homes, and remote settings.
Meli is a B2B2C estate-planning software enabling financial advisors to collaboratively document personal property with their clients using AI-powered tools to create structured inventories, preserve legacy, and reduce conflict.
Rudra Health builds ANUVA OS, a neurology care coordination platform linking patients, caregivers, and care teams to deliver continuous support between visits and streamline clinical workflows.
Tahda Baby is a culturally responsive pregnancy education and care navigation platform delivering evidence-based modules, practitioner connections, and coordinated support to improve maternal outcomes for health plans, employers, and communities.
Thrivvy delivers AI-powered market intelligence for emerging and mid-sized CPG brands, providing real-time store-level insights into pricing, promotions, availability, and competitive positioning through continuously collected eCommerce data.
Voice of the Youth (VÔTY) is an AI-powered fashion platform for Gen Z that connects social inspiration with seamless purchasing through a creator-driven commerce experience.
XRMedix is developing an augmented reality and AI needle navigation system that enables physicians to perform precise needle-based procedures by projecting 3D anatomical maps onto patients, with integrated real-time needle tracking.
Tulane Innovation Day | New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (March 2025)
Past first-place winners include Informuta (2024) and Cleaved Diagnostics (2025), both of which have since opened laboratories at the New Orleans BioInnovation Center.
Prior to the event, finalists will receive mentorship and pitch preparation with Aaron Foss, an investor and five-time serial entrepreneur.
Tulane Innovation Day begins at noon and features panels and keynote discussions on entrepreneurship, venture capital, and innovation. New this year, the event will include the inaugural Green Wave Innovation Network awards, recognizing three mentors for outstanding contributions to the network.
$50K Demo Day is more than a pitch competition; it is proof of what happens when talented founders commit to building their companies in a region that supports its startup ecosystem. Investors, aspiring entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in the future of New Orleans are invited to see local innovation in action.
Tulane Innovation Day and the $50K Demo Day Pitch Competition are free and open to the public. Registration and additional information about Innovation Institute programs are available at innovation.tulane.edu/noew.
