Tulane YEA! Students Secure Early Funding in Community Business Pitch Competition
Two students from the inaugural class of the Tulane Innovation Institute’s Young Entrepreneurship Academy (YEA!) have successfully secured funding for their business ideas through the New Growth Economic Development Association (NGEDA) Business Pitch Competition, which took place on December 14 at Tarvalla Manor in Marrero, Louisiana. NGEDA supports cultural, educational, and economic development on the Westbank of Jefferson Parish and created this competition to showcase innovative business concepts from students and adults while providing funding for startup businesses.
Shaylor King, a New Orleans Charter Science and Mathematics High School senior, won first place in the youth bracket with her business, Fur-st Response. This mobile service offers 24/7 care for small and large animals, addressing a significant gap in veterinary services. Shaylor also received the Audience Choice Award for the "Most Innovative Entrepreneur," standing out among participants of all ages. She took home a prize of $1,000 to further develop her business.
Rylie Lawrence, a Warren Easton High School sophomore, pitched BabyCool, an innovative stroller with built-in air conditioning and heating to keep infants comfortable in all weather conditions. Rylie placed second in the youth bracket, earning $500, and was honored with the "Most Impactful Entrepreneur Award" for her thoughtful approach to solving a common parenting challenge.
The Tulane Innovation Institute launched the Young Entrepreneurship Academy in the fall of 2024. Supported by the Patrick F. Taylor Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana, and Elevance Health. The program aims to equip high school students in the New Orleans area with the skills to launch businesses and consider entrepreneurship a viable career choice. Students meet weekly on the Tulane University downtown campus and the New Orleans BioInnovation Center, where the curriculum focuses on essential business skills such as market analysis, business strategy, and fundraising.
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The Patrick F. Taylor Foundation promotes education, equal opportunities, and the values of free enterprise to enable individuals to realize their full potential and maximize their contributions to society.
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Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, or Louisiana Blue, is committed to improving the health and lives of Louisianians; founded in New Orleans in 1934, it is a tax-paying not-for-profit health insurer with offices across the region to serve customers. For the past five years, they have been recognized as an honoree of The Civic 50, named by Points of Light as one of the 50 most community-minded companies in the United States. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
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