U of A Startups Win Over $50,000 in Prize Money at Arkansas Governor's Cup

The Winning Teams

ProPika  

• First place, High-Growth/Technology Division-Graduate Track: $20,000​ 

• ​Mission:  

  • ProPika uses its patented technology to process cellulose so fuel producers can transform billions of tons of agricultural waste into sustainable alternative fuels and chemicals.  

• Members: 

  • ​Nhiem Cao, Master of Science in product innovation; Vanessa Noemi Gonzalez, Master of Business Administration; Angel Treat, Master of Business Administration 

DevelopIQ  

• Second place, High-Growth/Technology Division-Undergraduate Track: $10,000​ 

• ​Mission:  

  • DevelopIQ helps developers streamline the process of site selection by utilizing a machine-learning algorithm to help find the best land for their projects.   

• Members: 

  • David Blinn, junior, pre-business; Alivia Brewer, senior, finance and accounting; Trey Thomas Dicks, sophomore, finance; Maricela Reyes Hernandez, sophomore, pre-business; Andres Balderrama Montano, senior, finance and computer science; Ignacio Balderrama Montano, sophomore, finance; Sebas Reyes, sophomore, finance; RyLeigh Werner, senior, supply chain and economics; Daniel (Ganer) Whitmire, junior, mathematics; Ananya Vangoor, senior, engineering 

Wanderist Wines 

• Second place, Small Business Track: $7,500​ 

• ​Mission:  

  • Wanderist is accelerating the wine industry toward a sustainable future by facilitating a seamless transition to wine-on-tap service for local establishments while keeping bottles out of landfills.  

• Members: 

  • Colton Greenwood, Master of Business Administration; Alex Shell, Master of Science in finance; Bryan Shoffit, Master of Business Administration 

DataDroid 

• Third place, High-Growth/Technology Division-Undergraduate Track: $7,500​ 

• ​Mission:  

  • DataDroid is creating a collaborative computer tool for workers in manufacturing and logistics so they can be empowered by technology instead of being replaced by it.  

• Members: 

  • Joe Boehler, sophomore, philosophy; Nathaniel House, senior, mechanical engineering; Larry Marshall, senior, mechanical engineering; Stephen Pierson, mechanical engineering; Ernesto Sierra, senior, computer engineering; Dylan Young, sophomore, international business​ 

Hidalga 

• Third place, High-Growth/Technology Division-Graduate Track: $7,500 

• ​Mission:  

  • Using its eponymous software, Hidalga is optimizing administrative workflows in healthcare by streamlining insurance prior authorizations via algorithmic intuition to save clinics time and money. 

• Members: 

  • Devin Dougherty, Master of Science in product innovation; Lauren Russell Fitzgerald, post-doctoral fellow; Bhavya Patel, Master of Business Administration; Joshua Upshaw, doctorate, psychology.