The Nexus Technology Cup returns to Baton Rouge with a bigger prize pool for local tech talent

It’s not too late to apply for the Nexus Technology Cup but you’ve definitely got to get a move on. 

The window for submissions to the statewide competition awarding promising technical talent closes on Sept. 30.

The event, set for Dec. 14–16, will be held at Nexus’ headquarters in Baton Rouge. It offers Louisiana-based developers a chance to win a share of $150,000— roughly $50,000 more than last year’s prize pool —and present live demos to industry leaders, corporate partners and tech investors.

Interested candidates have three ways to enter the race. 

The first is the Open Track, which is geared towards entrepreneurs, developers and early-stage startups whose projects are in at least the prototype stage. Teams for this track are open to both hobbyists and professionals.

Students are also encouraged to submit and have one of two tracks to choose from. All projects must have a faculty advisor. 

The College Track is open to undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in a Louisiana college, university or technical school. 

Teams for this division can consist of students with a variety of majors and from different schools throughout the state. Entries should emphasize solving real-world obstacles with the potential for scalability as well as viability within the open market, according to the Nexus application.

A new High School Track is aimed at students enrolled in Louisiana high schools. Homeschooled students, school groups and clubs are also welcome to apply. The competition seeks innovative student-led projects that demonstrate early technical skills through practical problem-solving.

What to learn from last year’s winners

This year will be the second time that the Nexus Technology Cup is taking place, with last year’s winners taking home more than $100,000 from the competition.

Encore CO2, founded by Jordan Losavio and William McGehee, won first place in the Open Track. 

The Baton Rouge-based company turns waste carbon dioxide into consumer products while supporting clean energy manufacturing. The company was also given the Most Innovative Award and received a total of $45,000. 

The second-place winner was Unknown Cyber, a cybersecurity firm with an AI-driven platform, led by a team of University of Louisiana at Lafayette professors. Shay Claiborne of New Orleans landed third place for MilestoneMate, a digital platform that simplifies early childhood development tracking and support. 

Last year, Louisiana State University students grabbed the top two spots in the College Track.

FarmMind (formerly known as FarmSmarter.AI), an AI assistant designed for agricultural professionals, won first place and a $15,000 prize. Second place was given to APNE, a system that identifies misinformation in online news sources, while University of Louisiana at Monroe Unika Bista and Divya Shah received third place for Dristi, an app that provides independence for the visually impaired by providing real-time scene descriptions.

Baton Rouge High School student Benjamin Namikas brought home $2,500 for Hexlio, a productivity app. Ren Hopkins, Aiden Bass and Brady Afeman of West Monroe High School raked in the same amount for POSEIDON, a custom-built robot.