$50K Demo Day Winners Revealed at Tulane Innovation Day 2025, part of New Orleans Entrepreneur Week   

New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW) expanded onto university campuses, increasing access for students and early-stage entrepreneurs seeking connections with industry leaders and investors. The Tulane Innovation Institute, the Albert Lepage Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and the Phyllis M. Taylor Center for Social Innovation and Design Thinking played a key role in this regional economic development event by hosting speakers, startup showcases, and pitch competitions. The Tulane Innovation Institute hosted Tulane Innovation Day on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. 

"Tulane Innovation Day was designed to be a dynamic and high-energy event," said Kimberly Gramm, PhD, the David and Marion Mussafer Chief Innovation and Entrepreneurship Officer at the Tulane Innovation Institute. "The day featured Brett Hurt, a renowned entrepreneur and author of 'Entrepreneur Essentials,' along with Tulane Ventures investees and leading venture investors. The day also featured a $50K Demo Day pitch competition that showcased ten ventures—five with connections to Tulane and five from the broader New Orleans community. This event gave aspiring entrepreneurs knowledge and networking opportunities to turn their ideas into reality." 

During the fireside conversation between Brett Hurt, CEO and co-founder of data.world and Bazaarvoice, and Tulane University President Michael A. Fitts, Hurt shared insights from his entrepreneurial journey and investment approach, emphasizing how today’s students have the knowledge, tools, and access to resources needed to build businesses that create social impact. As his daughter Rachel Hurt, a sophomore at Tulane and an entrepreneur herself, listened alongside fellow students and New Orleans Entrepreneur Week attendees, he described artificial intelligence as a force breaking down traditional barriers for aspiring entrepreneurs. 

Following the discussion, Gramm presented a significant funding award from Tulane Ventures to Kalen Hall, PhD, co-founder and CEO of Informuta, Inc. Informuta, a Tulane University spinout, is tackling antibiotic resistance with its AI-driven technology. The company won the first $50K Demo Day Pitch Competition in the spring of 2024.   

 

Hall participated in a panel discussion with investors and representatives from Tulane Ventures portfolio companies. The panel explored the venture funding landscape in Louisiana, featuring insights from Andrea Turner Moffitt, founder of Future Heights Ventures and member of the Tulane Ventures Investment Committee; Rebekah Gee from Nest Health, a Tulane Ventures portfolio company; and Hurt. The conversation highlighted venture capital’s role in Louisiana’s innovation ecosystem. 
 
The $50K Demo Day judging panel included Hall and Hurt, along with Jeff Eckerling (C-level Executive and Strategic Advisor), Jonathan Kil (CEO of Sound Pharmaceuticals, Inc.), Susan Altschuller (Independent Director at Vestaron Corporation), and Michelle Jackson (CEO of PR Solutions). Before the competition, all teams received guidance from Aaron Foss, a professional startup coach and serial entrepreneur. 

Every idea presented on stage tackled real-world challenges or opened new opportunities for consumers and businesses, from AI-driven healthcare algorithms to sustainable construction materials to platforms empowering nonprofits, wellness practitioners, and parents. The top winners of the competition included: 
 
First Place | Chandler Monk, Cleaved Diagnostics – $25,000— Monk, a PhD candidate at Tulane, won first place for her venture, Cleaved Diagnostics. The company is developing a rapid diagnostic test for congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV), a leading cause of congenital disabilities that can lead to lifelong hearing and neurocognitive deficits. Monk has made significant progress in advancing her research toward commercialization through programs offered by Tulane’s Innovation Institute. In Fall 2024, she secured a $50,000 grant from the Provost’s Proof of Concept Fund. Additionally, she won the Open Medical Innovation Challenge (Open MIC) Night this past fall, a Tulane pitch competition for innovators with health and wellness ideas and solutions. 

Second Place | Tonia and Jim Aiken, SafePush—$15,000—The Aikens won second place for SafePush, a patented medical device designed to reduce injection-related errors in healthcare settings. Aiken, a nurse, attorney, and co-CEO of SafePush, developed the concept after a client lost the use of a hand and an arm due to an injection being administered too quickly. 

 

Third Place | Isabella Kulstad, Cloud IX – $10,000 —Kulstad’s AI-powered conversational interface supports survivors of sexual violence in college settings. The platform offers a secure means for survivors to access vital resources and assistance. Kulstad had previously won first place at the Tulane Innovation Institute's Open Season pitch competition in Fall 2024. 
 
People’s Choice Award | Envy Skin – $500— A liquid pimple patch crafted from natural ingredients was developed by a Tulane undergraduate team—Eleanor Grace Probst, Kiera Stocks, and Dawn Siegall. The founders have actively participated in various Tulane entrepreneurial support programs, including Business Model Canvas Feedback Sessions and Speed Mentoring. 

All four teams are set to participate in the Tulane Innovation Institute’s Startup Team Mentoring program for 2025-2026. Inspired by MIT’s Venture Mentoring Service, this free, yearlong program connects entrepreneurs with experienced mentors to help turn ideas into successful ventures. The Tulane Innovation Institute will continue to guide the winning teams as they work toward their business growth objectives. 

Reflecting on the competition’s impact, Gramm shared, "The startups showcased this year at $50K Demo Day highlight the role academic institutions can play in supporting entrepreneurship in the local community. These startups represent first-class research and market-driven ideas. Through Tulane Innovation Institute programs, we are equipping aspiring entrepreneurs at Tulane and the New Orleans community with the tools to create economic growth in our region.”