Louisiana Tech Cyber Engineering and Electrical Engineering graduate Daniel Kumler of Blairsville, Georgia, and Management and Entrepreneurship major Cade Spikes of Monroe are winners of the inaugural Century Next Bank Startup Prize, established in 2020 through the Louisiana Tech University Foundation to support promising startup companies led by emerging student entrepreneurs at the University.
First place team
A total of $7,500 in cash and prizes was awarded during the TOP DOG New Venture Championship at Louisiana Tech University. Awards were given to the top three finishers as well as for entrepreneurial spirit.
This past October, teams developed ideas and competed in the TOP DOG Idea Pitch. After the pitch, student teams had the option to continue with their ideas and build an investor deck to enter the preliminary round of the New Venture Championship. During the final round in May, seven multi-disciplinary teams advanced to compete in the TOP DOG New Venture Championship.
Team
Peryton Drone: Cyber/Electrical Engineering major Daniel Kumler and Business Management and Entrepreneurship major Cade Spikes won first place and $3,000 with a device that combines flying and driving into one drone in a singular lightweight package.