Wolf Pack LaunchU, Presented by Dr. Bobby and Lori Kent Savoie

Collage of participants in Loyola University's Wolf Pack LaunchU startup accelerator collaborating during Bootcamp, presenting business ideas, networking with mentors, and celebrating at the Final Pitch Competition.

Turn Your Idea Into Something Real.

Wolf Pack LaunchU is Loyola University New Orleans' premier startup accelerator, helping students, alumni, faculty, staff, and parents transform ideas into ventures through mentorship, community, and hands-on learning.

Applications for the next cohort open each September following the Wolf Pack LaunchU Final Pitch Competition.

About Wolf Pack LaunchU

Whether you're exploring your first idea or growing an existing venture, LaunchU provides the mentorship, resources, and community to help you move forward.

Through a proven three-phase experience, founders build confidence, validate their ideas, and prepare to pitch for nearly $50,000 in funding and support.

Build. Launch. Pitch.

🧱 BUILD

Start with an immersive Bootcamp focused on business fundamentals, customer discovery, marketing, financials, and storytelling.

🚀 LAUNCH

Work alongside mentors, participate in workshops, and validate your venture through customer discovery and real-world feedback.

🎤 PITCH

Present your venture for the opportunity to advance to the Final Pitch Competition and compete for nearly $50,000 in funding and support.

Who Can Apply?

LaunchU is open to:

Undergraduate Students
Graduate Students
Alumni
Faculty
Staff
Loyola Parents

No business background required—just an idea and the commitment to build it.

What You'll Gain

Five-day immersive Bootcamp
Dedicated venture mentor
Summer workshops and expert guidance
Customer discovery support
A community of founders
Nearly $50,000 in funding and support opportunities

Current Cohort

The 2026 cohort is currently in the Launch phase, working with mentors, engaging customers, and building momentum toward Final Pitch this fall. Top 8 finalists will be announced in August.

A Proven Track Record

Now in its fifth year, Wolf Pack LaunchU has awarded over $129,000 in funding to ventures across the Loyola community — supporting founders at every stage, from early ideas to growing businesses.

Past LaunchU Winners:

WPLU 2025 Winners

2025:

Katamaran Reptile Ranch - $15,000 - Kat Lee, '27

Breeze Shuttles - $7,000 - Tristan Sariego, '24

Fresh Dripd - Michelle Gauthier Prize for Emerging Food Entrepreneurs $7,000 - Aimee Alleman, MBA '05

Camila & Catherine Co. - $5,000 - Aja Cousin '23

WPLU 2024 Winners

2024:

RITUALI - $12,000 - Breanna Kane, '10, MBA '18

Hey Hey Honey - $7,000 - Sean Mulligan, '20, MBA '21

Drunk and Board - $7,000 - Austyn Malynn, '24

Gumbo Film Labs - $4,000 - Hayden Parker '24

LaunchU Pitch Competition 2023 Header with Founders photos

2023:
Marcel's New Orleans - $10,000 - Ken Faucheux, '04, and Joy Bruce, WLA Cohort 2
DependentCares - $10,000 - Tom Daly, '98
Newrospace - $5,000 - Greg Buisson and Hannah Guihur, '23
HandOffur - $5,000 - Aubin Duchier, '22, MBA '23, Farah Wells, '23, and Gabriel Porges, '23

LaunchU 2022 Winners

2022:
Port Lookout - $7,500 - Srinee Bajaj, '15
The Safety Pouch - $7,000 - David Price, '23
Beaucoup Beauty - $5,000 - Andreca Johnson, '22
Presson Productions - $4,500 - Jonathan Presson, '25
ceres - $4,000 - Rich Simmerman, '21
The Lovelace - $3,000 - Sal Mannino, Faculty
Ate It First - $2,000 - Andrea Alarcon, '17
SMOse - $2,000 - Aubin Duchier, '22

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Join us at the Wolf Pack LaunchU Final Pitch Competition this September and see what's possible. Applications for the next cohort open immediately following the event.