University of Wyoming Conference Center
2221 Grand Ave, Laramie, WY 82070
Agenda Coming Soon!
We look forward to welcoming you on Friday, May 1, from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the University of Wyoming Conference Center. This event is a great opportunity to support our finalist teams as they pitch their ventures, connect with entrepreneurs and leaders from across Wyoming’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, and celebrate innovation at the University of Wyoming.
Lunch will be provided for all in-person attendees. For those who are unable to attend in person, the event will also be live-streamed.
2026 FINALISTS:
DRNK
DRNK is a mobile ordering and bar-analytics software designed to reduce wait times, streamline bar processes, and provide venue intelligence to owners. Our team’s goal is to help bars reach more customers while reducing the headache of ordering a drink without interfering with the aspects of a bar that people love. We are a diverse group of young, driven entrepreneurs focused on innovation, efficiency, and human connection.
Kaylee Esgar – Marketing and Logistics Lead, Venture MBA Candidate, B.S. Mechanical Engineering from UWYO, Hometown: Pueblo, Colorado
Morgan Voss – Product and User Experience Lead, Venture MBA Candidate, B.S. Mechanical Engineering from UWYO, Hometown: Pueblo, Colorado
Kolten Williams – Finance Lead, Venture MBA Candidate, B.S. Financial Engineering from Montana State University, Hometown: Great Falls, Montana
Palmer Lynn – Team Lead, Venture MBA Candidate, B.S. Business Marketing from Montana State University, Hometown: Cheyenne, Wyoming
MotoMotion
MotoMotion was founded by two University of Wyoming juniors who are also active dirt bike racers, building products “by riders, for riders.” The team combines hands-on mechanical and fabrication experience with business, marketing, and financial support to lead product design, real-world testing, and go-to-market execution. MotoMotion focuses on developing practical, durable solutions that make hauling dirt bikes easier, safer, and more efficient.
Catherine Plummer – Co-Founder, Junior, B.S. Management and Marketing, Hometown: Green River, Wyoming
Alex Hlad – Co-Founder, Junior, B.S. Management and Entrepreneurship, Hometown: Green River, Wyoming
Guide Outdoor Equipment
Guide Outdoor Equipment is a team of four business students at the University of Wyoming, working to revolutionize the hunting industry. Built on deep, firsthand experience in hunting, guiding, manufacturing, and business operations, the team combines management, entrepreneurship, marketing, and economic insight with real-world outdoor expertise. Guide Outdoor Equipment is creating next-level hunting equipment to provide hunters with products they can take pride in. We are revolutionizing the hunting tripod by maximizing setup speed and efficiency. Guide Outdoor Equipment lives by its core values—faith, integrity, grit, service, and patriotism, creating a product that not only we can be proud of, but also that outdoorsmen can rely on and carry in every terrain and situation.
Seamus Casey – Co-Founder, Senior, B.S. Economics and Management and a minor in Professional and Technical Sales, Hometown: Gillette, Wyoming
Samantha Hutchinson – Co-Founder, Sophomore, B.S. Entrepreneurship and a minor in Construction Management, Hometown: Livermore, Colorado
Morgan Evans – Co-Founder, Junior, B.S. Entrepreneurship, Management, and Marketing, Hometown: Cody, Wyoming
Austin Fox – CEO/Co-Founder, Junior, B.S. Management, Hometown: Green River, Wyoming
EzzzUp
EzzzUp is building high-quality, high-value sleep products that solve real-world problems for people who need reliable wake-ups without noise. The flagship product in development is a full-size smart pillow that functions as a silent alarm for night-shift and on-call clinicians and for individuals who are hard of hearing.
Evin Hansen – Founder, Junior, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Hometown: Green River, Wyoming
Interactive Bedtime
Interactive Bedtime builds a tool that makes bedtime more engaging for families. Interactive Bedtime is an AI-powered mobile app that helps parents create personalized, interactive bedtime stories for their children. The company’s goal is to make nightly reading easier, more consistent, and more meaningful for both parents and kids.
Trais Foy – Co-Founder, Non-student, Hometown: Saratoga Springs, Utah
Dallin Rima – Co-Founder, Graduate, PhD Economics, Hometown: Riverton, Utah
Blinx
Blinx was founded from lived experience and is developing a new approach to monitoring absence seizures in everyday life. Our mission is to make seizure monitoring more practical, accurate, efficient and humane.
Kate Clark – Founder, Freshman, B.S. Political Science and History, Hometown: Casper, Wyoming
AWARD STRUCTURE:
The three-tiered John P. Ellbogen Awards:
- 1st Place John P. Ellbogen 50K Award: $24,000
The John P. Ellbogen 1stPlace Award is given to the team with the most convincing business idea and captivating pitch presentation. The recipient of this award has clearly outlined market opportunity, distinctive competence, financial understanding, offerings and viability. - 2nd Place Runner Up Award: $12,000
- 3rd Place Honorable Mention: $6000
John P. Ellbogen $50K Finalist Award: $2,500 for each team
The John P. Ellbogen Finalist Award is presented to the eight teams that have qualified for Round 3 of the John P. Ellbogen $50K Pitch Competition. This award is designed to support the teams’ financial preparations leading up to the event and recognize their achievement in reaching the final stage of the competition.
The Benson Impact & Innovation Award: $2000
The Benson Innovation & Impact Award celebrates Dr. Jon Benson’s inspiring vision for identifying and cultivating high-growth businesses in Wyoming. With boundless passion and unwavering dedication, he joined the University of Wyoming in 2005 to develop and operate the first technology-focused business incubator in the state. This award celebrates the spirit of technology-driven innovation, a commitment to breakthrough innovation, and a forward-thinking approach to problem-solving.
Small to Medium Enterprise Award: $2000
The Small to Medium Enterprise Award recognizes a student-led venture that demonstrates strong potential for growth, sustainability, and innovation within the small to medium business sector. This award is presented to a startup that has effectively identified market needs, developed a viable solution, and shown promising traction or a clear path to success. The recipient of this award is acknowledged for their potential contribution to Wyoming’s economy, fostering local innovation, creating jobs, and enhancing the state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
First Interstate Audience Choice Award: $2000
The First Interstate Audience Choice Award is a special recognition presented to the team who earns the most votes from the attendees at the University of Wyoming pitch competition. This award highlights the idea, presentation, and passion that resonates most with the audience. It acknowledges the team’s ability to engage and inspire others, regardless of the judges’ decisions.
The Micale Community Award: $2000
The Micale Community Award honors a student-led venture that demonstrates exceptional dedication to creating positive social change or community development. This award, named after the Charles A. Micale Foundation, recognizes a startup that not only showcases innovation but also prioritizes making a meaningful difference within the state of Wyoming.
Semifinalist Venture Award: $1,250
To recognize the time, effort, and ambition of all semifinalists, each team that advances to Round 2 but does not move on to Round 3 will receive a $1,250 award. These funds are intended to support continued exploration or development of the team’s venture, even outside the formal competition structure. This award reflects our commitment to cultivating entrepreneurship at all stages—not just among finalists—and ensures every team receives meaningful support for participating in the process.
The $50K and the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative Collegiate Program
Finalists for the John P. Ellbogen $50K Entrepreneurship Competition are eligible for an additional $2,500 prize from the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative Collegiate Program at the University of Wyoming.
To enter, the firm’s leadership team must submit a strategy for creating an ethical culture within their organization. The proposal should incorporate the use of the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative Principles as the centerpiece of the plan.
The winning proposal will be selected by a team of judges chosen from the executive board of UW’s Student Center for the Public Trust. Please note proposals must be two pages or less.
For more information, please contact Kent Noble at knoble@uwyo.edu.