The Louisiana Business & Technology Center at LSU on Tuesday evening celebrated its 27th anniversary—having helped create nearly 10,000 jobs and assisted client companies in raising more than $169 million in equity and investments since its foundation in 1988—and honored its annual award winners.
At the anniversary celebration, held at L’Auberge Casino & Hotel, the LBTC recognized current and graduate companies for their success and impact on the local economy. This year’s award winners are:
- Tenant of the Year: Hydra-Guard, creator of the world’s first refilling hydrating mouth guard for athletic and medical applications.
- Graduate Company of the Year: Vinformatix, a full-service developer of software including mobile apps and infrastructure management.
- Small Business Innovation Research Company of the Year: InnoGenomics, a biotech research company involved in human DNA identification and cancer diagnostics.
- Student Incubator Graduate of the Year: Mashball, the developer of a beach/tailgating game that used crowdfunding platforms to raise capital and market their products.
- Student Incubator Company of the Year: Southern Buoy Lobster, an importer and distributor of high quality Maine lobsters.
- ProtoStripes Company of the Year: Tonal Innovation, a student incubator company that developed a prototype at the LBTC for eFlip, a device for musicians to connect smart devices to their instruments. The company also won the Fourth Annual LSU Elevator Pitch Night competition on Wednesday evening.
