About Startup Prize

If you have questions, contact Melissa Brannan: melissa@prize.foundation.

Our Mission

Startup Prize was founded to activate entrepreneurs, create opportunities, and transform startups into successful businesses. By connecting founders with mentorship, resources, and investment opportunities, we help transform promising ideas into sustainable ventures.

At its core, Startup Prize exists to catalyze innovation while fostering a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem in Louisiana and beyond. As an inclusive, no-strings-attached program—no entry fees, no equity taken, just opportunities to succeed—Startup Prize opens the door for entrepreneurs of all backgrounds to grow, evolve, and thrive.

There are Three Startup "Prizes"

Prize #1: Elevating Your Business

Every startup that participates in Startup Prize walks away stronger. Through expert mentorship, hands-on guidance, and structured feedback, you’ll refine your business model, sharpen your strategy, and make your company more attractive to customers and investors.

The value of the mentorship alone is worth thousands—this is your chance to tighten your plan, clarify your path, and accelerate your business.

Prize #2: Two Tracks, $10,000 in Cash (for each)

A select group of startups from the Qualifying Events will advance to the Final Final based on the strength of their Portal Application and overall engagement throughout the program.

Finalists will receive one hour each to present their business plans to our panel of Investor Judges behind closed doors. The winner of each track will walk away with a $10,000 cash grand prize. Referred to around here as the “Small Prize,” these cash awards recognize standout companies that demonstrate strong traction, clarity of vision, and exceptional progress during the competition.

Prize #3: Investment in Your Business

While there can be only one grand prize winner in each track, every participant in the program is eligible for investment by Startup Prize Investors. This is the “Big Prize.” Mentors and investors are watching your progress throughout the program, evaluating not just your idea, but your execution, growth, and leadership.

Earning investment requires hard work, meaningful progress, and a clear plan for success— show that you’re ready, and this prize can change everything.

What is Startup Prize?

Startup Prize is a unique entrepreneur education program and competition designed to activate, evolve, and transform startups. It is one of several programs supported by the award-winning Prize Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Shreveport, Louisiana. Since its inception in 2014, Startup Prize has served as a springboard for entrepreneurs, providing education, expert feedback, networking opportunities, and strategic guidance to help founders move toward investment and long-term success.

Originally launched as the Louisiana Startup Prize, the program began as an industry-agnostic competition welcoming early-stage startups across all sectors. In 2020, the program rebranded as Startup Prize: Focus on Health to leverage and energize innovation and resources in Northwest Louisiana and to attract cutting-edge health and medical innovation to the region and state.

For 2026, Startup Prize will continue to advance its Startup Prize: Health vertical, building on years of success attracting and accelerating innovative medical and health startups. Alongside this ongoing commitment, Startup Prize is excited to expand its proven model into the energy sector with the launch of Startup Prize: Energy. This new vertical will bring the same rigorous, founder-centered approach to one of Louisiana’s most vital and dynamic industries.

How Our Program Works

At Startup Prize, we’re not just a competition—we’re a movement. Our mission is to activate, create, and transform startups by connecting entrepreneurs with the resources, experts, and investment capital needed to shine a light on their path to success. Unlike traditional startup competitions, Startup Prize deemphasizes the pitch and prioritizes learning, collaboration, and meaningful connections.

Here’s how it works:

1) Qualifying Events All participants must attend at least one qualifying event. For Startup Prize: Health and Startup Prize: Energy, we will host one online qualifying event and one in-person qualifying event. These multi-day events are designed to provide direct access to mentorship from subject matter experts and opportunities to connect with fellow entrepreneurs. The format includes engaging roundtable discussions, keynote speakers, and expert panels.

Topics at these events are tailored to essential entrepreneurial needs as well as topics within each sector, such as:

Financial Planning: Crafting realistic projections and valuations.
Legal Guidance: Protecting intellectual property and navigating regulatory compliance.
Marketing Strategies: Customer discovery and brand development.
Funding Opportunities: Exploring investment pathways and non-dilutive funding.
Health: Regulatory approvals, reimbursement strategies, clinical validation, provider/payer market navigation.
Energy: Regulatory permitting, environmental compliance, industrial and utility market navigation, field testing, procurement pathways.

2) Entrepreneurial Portal Submission Participants submit an entrepreneurial portal—a lean canvas-based application detailing the problem the startup is solving, their team, customer base, go-to-market plan, and any revenue and investment secured to date. This helps evaluators understand the startup’s trajectory and viability. Feedback from mentors who engaged with participants at the qualifying events adds depth to the selection process.

3) The Startup Prize Final Final Finalists from each track of the vertical are announced and invited to Shreveport, Louisiana, to participate in the Startup Prize Final Final. During this event, startups present their refined concepts to an esteemed panel of investor judges. The top-scoring startup in each track receives a $10,000 Grand Prize.

While the pitch event marks the culmination of the program, the true magic of Startup Prize lies in the relationships forged along the way. We’ve found this event to be a galvanizing moment that leads to deeper mentorship, new partnerships, and investment opportunities that extend well beyond the competition itself.