2013 Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup Finalists and Semi-Finalists Announced

The best business plans from college and university teams statewide were recently selected to compete in the next round of the state’s premier business plan competition. Teams from seven Arkansas colleges and universities were announced today as finalists in the 13th annual Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup Collegiate Business Plan Competition that is managed by The Arkansas Economic Acceleration Foundation, an affiliate of The Arkansas Capital Corporation Group. On April 4 at The Chancellor Hotel in Fayetteville, Ark., the 12 advancing semi-finalist undergraduate teams will make a 20-minute presentation after which they will answer questions from judges for 15 minutes. Two judge’s panels will determine the six finalist undergraduate teams. The six undergraduate finalist teams, along with the six graduate finalist teams, will compete in the last round of oral presentations for first-, second- and third-place prizes April 5 at The Chancellor Hotel. “The critical thinking and hands-on development required of this competition benefits the students throughout their lives,” said C. Sam Walls, chief executive officer of the Arkansas Capital Corporation and chairman of The Arkansas Economic Acceleration Foundation. “Whether the students who compete in the competition go on to launch the businesses they developed through the Governor’s Cup program or go on to be successful business leaders in other areas, the skills acquired are invaluable.” Again this year, teams will compete for cash prizes totaling $154,000, which will be awarded Wednesday, April 10, at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock. The 2013 Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup semi-finalists and finalists are: Undergraduate Innovation Finalists

• LifeB – Harding University
• Nat Gas Solution – University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
• Practical Homecare Device – John Brown University

Graduate Innovation Finalists

• EverClean Coating Solutions, LLC – University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
• HomeDx – University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
• Iso Labs – Harding University

Undergraduate Agriculture Finalists

• ARAquaFarm, LLC – Arkansas State University, Jonesboro
• Catch-22 – University of Arkansas at Little Rock
• Smart Feeder – Harding University
• Smart Soil – John Brown University

Undergraduate Semi-Finalists

• 50/50 One Eighty – University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
• Aerial Advantage Photography Services – Henderson State University
• AgWell, Inc. – Harding University
• Catch-22 – University of Arkansas at Little Rock
• eScout – Ouachita Baptist University
• Innovative Medical Sensor Tech – Harding University
• MedBase – Harding University
• Practical Homecare Devices – John Brown University
• Smart Feeder – Harding University
• Smart Soil – John Brown University
• Stuffed Burritos – Ouachita Baptist University
• TrustedWills.com – Ouachita Baptist University

Graduate Finalists

• EverClean Coating Solutions, LLC – University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
• HomeDx – University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
• Iso Labs – Harding University
• MitoGene, LLC – University of Arkansas at Little Rock
• ParadigMed, LLC – University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
• Picasolar – University of Arkansas at Fayetteville

The 2013 Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup Chairman-level sponsors for the competition are Arkansas Business; Delta Plastics; The McLarty Companies; and Talk Business. Arkansas Capital Corporation Group (ACCG) is a privately held group of for-profit and non-profit corporations dedicated to improving the lives of Arkansans. ACCG and its affiliate companies empower entrepreneurs by providing capital to businesses through its capital availability programs and advocating for entrepreneurs through capital, educational and technological improvements. ACCG serves as the platform from which new opportunities are launched and today includes eight affiliates including Arkansas Capital Corporation (ACC), Six Bridges Capital Corporation (6BCC), Arkansas Capital Relending Corporation (ACRC), Arkansas Economic Acceleration Foundation (AEAF), Diamond State Ventures (DSV), Heartland Renaissance Fund (HRF), Connect Arkansas, and Pine State Capital (PSC). The Arkansas Economic Acceleration Foundation (AEAF), established in 1999, is a private 501(c)3 non-profit corporation dedicated to education-based initiatives that promote and foster the development of innovation and entrepreneurship within Arkansas. With broad support from the state’s business community, AEAF’s purpose is to nurture people and ideas to generate future Arkansas entrepreneurs. AEAF established and now manages the Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup, a collegiate business plan competition, as well as business plan competitions for grades 5-8 via the Youth Entrepreneur Showcase (Y.E.S.) and grades 9-12 through the Youth Entrepreneur Showcase 2.0 (Y.E.S. 2.0).