Tulane Innovation Institute’s new event, Open Season, unveils a broader range of early-stage entrepreneurial ideas at Tulane
Energetic conversations and bold ideas filled Oak & Ale in uptown New Orleans on November 19, 2024, as the Tulane Innovation Institute launched a new event to ignite creativity and entrepreneurship among the entire Tulane University community. The inaugural Open Season pitch competition showcased innovative ideas from students, faculty, staff, and alumni, all competing to turn their business concepts into reality.
"Open Season marks an important advancement in our commitment to creating new ventures at Tulane," stated Kimberly Gramm, the David and Marion Mussafer Chief Innovation and Entrepreneurship Officer. "Building on the success of the Open Medical Innovation Challenge (Open MIC) Night, we sought to create a platform for ideas from everyone at Tulane, regardless of their field of study or interests. By broadening our focus, we aim to inspire more entrepreneurs and support the launch of additional startups in the greater New Orleans area.”
The evening brought ten finalists to the stage, selected from 28 competitive entries across multiple schools. Each finalist delivered a three-minute pitch followed by two minutes of Q&A from a panel of expert judges who evaluated the ideas, including:
• Kaylynn Genemaras, Ph.D., Biomedical Engineer and Lead Reviewer, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
• Michelle Jackson, CEO of PR Solutions LLC and instructor at Tulane’s Young Entrepreneurship Academy
• Ashley Cain, RN, founder of Travel Clinic NOLA
• Amber Tucker, Programs Manager, Propeller
• Larry England, distinguished software engineer, Broadcom, and mentor with Tulane’s Green Wave Innovation Network
The top winners of the evening shared $7,000 in prize money, and the Tulane Innovation Institute will provide additional mentorship and resources to all participants.
Isabella Kulstad, an undergraduate at the School of Science and Engineering, won first place and $3,000 for Cloud IX, an AI chatbot designed to assist survivors of sexual violence on college campuses.
Second place ($2,000) was awarded to Caique Costa, a Ph.D. candidate at the School of Medicine, for his research tool FlyFast!, which automates repetitive tasks in fruit fly labs.
Third place ($1,000) celebrated Tulane football player Brandon Kim, an undergraduate at the A.B. Freeman School of Business, for his college football advisory platform that will support young athletes navigating recruitment.
Additional honors included Dr. Marva Lewis, an Associate Professor at the School of Social Work, who received $500 for her pre-packaged Talk, Touch, and Listen social-emotional learning puppet show that promotes child development Dehan Elcin, a Ph.D. candidate in the School of Science and Engineering, also received the audience's “fan favorite” award for his CO₂ biofeedback device, which enhances breathwork therapy.
Over 145 people attended Open Season, the latest addition to the Tulane Innovation Institute’s growing portfolio of programs and events designed to inspire and assist aspiring entrepreneurs across the university and the New Orleans community. Run out of the Robert L. Priddy Innovation Lab at the Institute, this public-facing event showcased Tulane’s thriving entrepreneurial landscape while setting the stage for future initiatives.
Looking ahead, the Tulane Innovation Institute is already gearing up for its next big event, Startup Sprint, happening from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2. Open to the entire New Orleans community, Startup Sprint will invite teams to develop prototypes, form collaborations, and pitch their ideas in a fast-paced three-day competition. Whether you’re a first-time entrepreneur or a seasoned innovator, this is an opportunity to turn your idea into reality. Visit innovation.tulane.edu/startupsprint for more details.
