BRF’s Entrepreneurial Accelerator Program celebrates 10 years of launching companies with announcement of 15 new startups, including DiaSante Health
North Louisiana companies added to the Dolores George LaVigne Wall of Entrepreneurial Achievement Fifteen newly launched or growing startups in North Louisiana were announced Thursday, Oct. 10, by BRF’s Entrepreneurial Accelerator Program (EAP). The companies’ logos were added to the Dolores George LaVigne Wall of Entrepreneurial Achievement in BRF’s InterTech 1 lobby – a part of an annual celebration EAP has hosted since 2013 to reveal new companies and celebrate their founders.
The program also celebrated 10 years of launching and assisting startups and small businesses in North Louisiana.
The EAP team, BRF leadership and Mayor Tom Arceneaux are pictured at the EAP 10th anniversary event. Pictured from left to right: Abdul Ibrahim, Brett Brown, Julie Gilley Milam, EAP Executive Director Dave Smith, Mayor Tom Arceneaux, BRF President and CEO John F. George Jr., M.D., Stephen Goodfellow, Tyra Kidd, Jessica Martin and William Anderson.
“We’ve seen dozens of industries in 10 years and met with some of the state’s brightest minds and entrepreneurs. Many of the companies we’ve had the privilege to work with have become household names in Louisiana,” said Dave Smith, EAP Executive Director. “This event is a chance to shine the spotlight on those entrepreneurs and their achievements.”
The wall of company logos is made up of North Louisiana-based startups that have met funding milestones to launch or scale their businesses.
The companies span bakeries to national defense technologies and represent over 700 jobs with an annual payroll of over $25 million.
“EAP was created to fill a critical need in the entrepreneurial ecosystem in North Louisiana. There was a lack of startup assistance, expertise combined with mentorship, and organized capital in the region. Since launching EAP, we’ve created North Louisiana’s first angel funds and piloted a resource network for the State of Louisiana that has gone statewide via the Louisiana Business Hub,” said John F. George Jr., M.D., BRF President and CEO. “We’ve provided services to 507 companies in 10 years and referred hundreds to our resource partners now that there’s a network of support for companies to be successful here in Louisiana rather than leaving the state for investment and expertise.”
A team of financial analysts provides mentorship for entrepreneurs who partner with EAP. Analysts can guide business owners through the lean canvas process, through market research and to pitching for investment or readying them for other financing.
In 10 years, the team has reviewed 1,730 ideas. Of the more than 500 companies that have received EAP services, 138 have been funded through angel investors, banks or grants. They represent a total investment of $270 million.
“EAP has expanded from a Caddo Parish program to all of North Louisiana and now is part of a statewide network,” said George. “We thank the Caddo Parish Commission and the Shreveport City Council for seeding this program in its early days. We’ve since received three federal grants for program expansion and have incredible support from our donors.”
Shreveport mayor Tom Arceneaux is pictured with the 2024 Dolores George LaVigne Wall of Entrepreneurial Achievement company logos that were revealed Tuesday at EAP’s 10th anniversary event.
2024 Dolores George LaVigne Wall of Entrepreneurial Achievement companies
– Adaptive TheraSolutions, LLC
Monique Brasfield – Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Adaptive TheraSolutions helps with accelerating recovery and improving quality of life for patients who are experiencing impaired language.
– Adjuvant Behavioral Health, Inc.
Dr. Josh Myers – Chief Executive Officer
David Callecod – Co-Chief Administrator
Adjuvant serves cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers by providing mental health services that include counseling, medication management, and intensive outpatient care to improve survivability and overall quality of life.
– Archem, LLC
Alex Burke – Chief Executive Officer
Archem is a chemical additives company. Its revolutionary product can help jets burn fuel more efficiently at high altitudes.
– Calosyn Pharma, Inc.
Reid Grimes – Chief Executive Officer
Dr. David Waddell – Co-Founder & Chief Marketing Officer
Calosyn is a biotech company developing a nanoparticle-based therapy for osteoarthritis.
– DiaSante Health, LLC
Lee Holmes – Founder and Chief Executive Officer
DiaSante is a remote patient health monitoring company that allows health practitioners immediate data on patients and can alert both patients and practitioners to areas of concern.
– Danielle’s Devices, LLC
Danielle Nelson – Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Mark Nelson – Chief Operating Officer
Danielle’s Devices is creating a new must-have device in home kitchens with the FreshBar, a new cooler that promotes healthy eating habits through proximity, awareness, and convenience.
– FungoMan, LLC
Romy Cucjen – Co-Founder
Christine Cucjen – Co-Founder
FungoMan is a manufacturer of baseball equipment that has created the premier automatic pitcher, empowering athletes and trainers.
– Gilgalbyte, LLC
Silas Okoh – Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Gilgalbyte is a new software provider for young companies that helps them increase efficiency through online scheduling, mass marketing, and merchant services.
– Group Higher (Haynes Holding Company, LLC)
Jessica George – Founder
Group Higher’s online platform will allow recruiters to simultaneously fill multiple open roles with candidates in existing relationships, leveraging their complementary skill sets, easing candidate adjustment, improving productivity, and reducing overall employee turnover.
– Lagniappe Sourcing Consulting, LLC
Jennifer Jones – Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Lagniappe Sourcing Consulting is a sourcing and recruiting company specializing in professionals with different levels of security clearance.
– North Louisiana Tissue Bank, LLC
James Gandy – Chief Executive Officer
North Louisiana Tissue Bank (NLTB) serves as a connection between the generosity of birth mothers who donate tissues and the advancement of regenerative medicine. By working with hospitals, healthcare professionals, and researchers, NLTB facilitates the collection and proper use of birth tissues to improve
patient outcomes.
– Peach Therapies, LLC
Sara Balch – Co-Founder
Amy England – Co-Founder
Peach Therapies is a locally-owned clinic specializing in physical and speech therapy operating on a private-pay basis that provides direct access to services, eliminating the need for insurance authorization and wait times. Patients receive undivided attention from skilled therapists with extensive specialized training, ensuring personalized care tailored to each individual.
– Reliant Biomedical Technologies, LLC
Dr. Steve Alexander – Founder & Chief Technical Officer
Ahmed Alhaque – Chief Operating Officer
Reliant Biomedical Technologies (RBT) is a medical device company that has developed the BENGI, a novel device that helps properly and safely ventilate patients via audio and visual feedback.
– Rise & Rotate, LLC
Cindy Gamble- Co-Founder
Matthew Gamble – Co-Founder
Rise & Rotate is a mobility assistance company with a revolutionary new device capable of helping those with disabilities continue to live a life of dignity.
– Vantage Data House, Inc.
Bishop George – Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Tripp George – Chief Financial Officer
Vantage Data House is the first-ever membership-based polling platform and is seeking to disrupt the public opinion industry. Vantage provides high-quality data at a reasonable price.
