The ACC Capital Foundation recently announced the winners of its 2026 Governor’s Cup during an awards luncheon at Little Rock’s Statehouse Convention Center. Now in its 26th year, the ACC Capital Governor’s Cup is one of Arkansas’ most prestigious collegiate entrepreneurship competitions. There were 650 people on hand Wednesday, April 15, to honor and celebrate student entrepreneurs and university partners from throughout the state and region.
“The continued growth of Governor’s Cup reflects the strength of entrepreneurship across our campuses and the power of collegiality as more institutions join this effort,” said Sam Walls III, CEO of ACC Capital. “We are proud to celebrate these outstanding student teams and the faculty, mentors, and supporters who help make this program possible.”
The 2026 Governor’s Cup competition saw a 179% increase in applications since 2023, with 18 final teams representing 11 unique institutions across 4 states. The competition also featured 54 judges, 31 sponsors and a total cash prize pool of $141,000 provided by title sponsor Dhu Thompson. Since its inception, the Governor’s Cup has impacted 3,573 students, received 1,098 business plan submissions, and awarded $3,095,000 in prize money.
Among the 2026 honorees:
Winrock Automotive Small Business Division First Place ($10,000): Bond Box Pro., Central Baptist College Second Place ($7,500): Gene-isis, Ouachita Baptist University Third Place ($5,000): Clara Vision Clinic, University of Central Arkansas Elevator Pitch ($1,000): Clara Vision Clinic, University of Central Arkansas.
Startup Junkie Conductor High Growth Undergrad Division First Place ($20,000): ROO Pouch, Harding University Second Place ($10,000): Print Ease, University of Arkansas Third Place ($7,500): SAM (Smart Assistant for Mobility), John Brown University Elevator Pitch ($1,000): ROO Pouch, Harding University.
High Growth Graduate/Technology Division First Place ($20,000): Altaris MedTech, University of Arkansas Second Place ($10,000): Bubby Band, University of Arkansas Third Place ($7,500): Avid, University of Texas at Austin Elevator Pitch ($1,000): Bubby Band, University of Arkansas.
Feature Photo: Altaris Medtech, First Place Winners of High Growth/Technology Graduate | Credit: LRCVB livestream (screenshot)
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