In a state known for its culture, cuisine, and creativity, Louisiana just made another bold statement — this time in tech. From June 17 to 19, Baton Rouge hosted the inaugural Nexus Technology Cup, a multi-day competition designed to spotlight the state’s top tech talent. And let’s be clear: this wasn’t your average start up contest.
Held at Nexus Louisiana, a business tech complex dedicated to elevating innovation in the South, the event brought together everyone from high school coders to college teams, seasoned startup founders, and independent inventors. The goal? Simple: showcase cutting-edge solutions to real-world problems and reward the most promising breakthroughs..
💼 Real Prizes, Real Stakes
Unlike the usual idea showcases that never go past the whiteboard, the Nexus Technology Cup put money where the innovation is. Thousands of dollars were awarded to winning teams to push their projects closer to launch.
Two teams in particular made headlines:
- Encore CO₂ walked away with not just 1st place, but also the Most Innovative Award. Their mission? Reimagining carbon capture by transforming CO₂ into usable products like clothing, eyewear, and even the world’s first carbon-derived hard seltzer — brewed using emissions from a local brewery. Total prize haul? A cool $45,000.
- FarmSmarter AI, a student-led initiative, took the top spot on the college track and a $15,000 prize. Their AI system helps farmers identify plant diseases and get custom farming advice backed by research.
🔊 Big Names, Bigger Conversations
This wasn’t just about who could build the best product — it was also about who could move the culture forward. The event pulled in heavy hitters, including Ryan Williams, the Baton Rouge-born founder of real estate investment platform Cadre, who returned home to speak with the next generation of innovators.
Representatives from Louisiana Economic Development (LED) also showed up, signaling growing public support for homegrown innovation. And the crowd included a strong showing from investors across the state, many of whom were looking to make real bets on the talent coming out of this region.
🎤 From the Source
Speaking on 2une In, Nexus Louisiana President Tony Zanders emphasized the unique format of the competition:
“This isn’t just about ideas. It’s about showing what’s already being built right here in Louisiana,” he said.
He later doubled down in a message shared with Newtral Groundz:
“We’ve assembled the state’s top technologists in one place for the first time to showcase solutions to Louisiana’s top challenges. While only six teams won cash prizes, every Louisianan won this week.”
🏆 Bigger Than Just Tech
The Nexus Cup made one thing clear: tech isn’t just happening in Silicon Valley. It’s thriving in the Gulf South — and Louisiana is laying the groundwork to be a serious player in the space. From climate tech to agri-tech and beyond, this event proved that the state has both the talent and vision to compete.
And as WBRZ’s John Pastorek put it,
“Nexus Louisiana is kinda like the LSU Tigers — they’re on top.”
🧠 The Takeaway
The energy coming out of Baton Rouge this week is the kind of momentum we like to see. It’s a reminder that innovation can come from anywhere — and often does. With events like the Nexus Technology Cup raising the bar, Louisiana’s tech future looks a lot less like a long shot and more like a homegrown legacy in the making.
