This

is You! Press Release

LSU LBTC Student Incubator Awards $50,000 to Five Startup
Businesses
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 14, 2012

BATON ROUGEThe Louisiana Business & Technology Center held the third annual
Student Incubator Venture Challenge on Saturday, April 12 at the Lod Cook Alumni
Center. The event showcased LSU student entrepreneurs, and the LBTC awarded
$50,000 in seed capital for the startup of five business ventures. The Shaw Group
Inc. served as a platinum sponsor for the event.
The E.P.I.C. Learning ProgramEducating People, Invigorating Communitieswon
$15,000 for its GED Training Program. SupportU, a concierge-service business for
senior citizens, and Mama Ps Bake Shop, a southern-cuisine bakery, both took home
$9,500. Loupe Theory Studios, a film production company, and Moore & Moore PR, a
brand management marketing/public relations firm, each won $8,000.
The E.P.I.C. Learning Program, led by Randy Edwards, won the top award with his
GED Training Programs ability to help adults in low-income communities get help
and a fresh start on life. The E.P.I.C. Learning Program looks to include GED prep, job
preparation and higher learning opportunities for participants in the Baton Rouge
community.
The Student Incubator Venture Challenge event is instrumental in creating jobs for
the Baton Rouge community and retaining university graduates in Louisiana. The
LBTC help start and grow companies by providing entrepreneurs with expertise,
networks and tools needed to make future business ventures successful.
Launched in September 2010, the LSU Student Incubator assists students with
business idea development to begin their business as a career option after
graduation. The program supports more than 40 student-run startups annually by
providing consulting, business planning software, accounting assistance from LSU
accounting seniors, incubation and other valuable resources needed to start and
grow their business. For more information about the LSU Student Incubator, visit
www.business.lsu.edu/StudentIncubator or call 225-578-7127.


The Louisiana Business & Technology Center endeavors to enhance economic
development in Louisiana through the support of existing small businesses and the
development of new businesses. Established in 1988, the LBTCs highly successful
business incubator program has been honored as the National Business Incubator
Associations Incubator of the Year and with the U.S. Department of Commerce
Economic Development Administrations Excellence in Economic Development
2009. For more information, visit www.business.lsu.edu/lbtc or call 225-578-7555.

Carldeon N. Floyd
Berthelot PR Staff
909.553.6493
cfloyd5@tigers.lsu.edu