Nexus Technology Cup

A statewide technology competition designed to surface and support real technical talent in Louisiana. The competition brings together high school students, college teams, and founders who are actively building software, hardware, and technology-enabled solutions.

Dates: December 14-16, 2026 (9am-5pm)

Location: Nexus HQ, 7117 Florida Boulevard, Baton Rouge, LA 70806

Geographic Scope: Louisiana (statewide)

Competition Tracks

• Open Track: For founders and independent builders developing scalable, market-ready technology
• College Track: For university teams applying technical knowledge to practical, deployable use cases
• High School Demonstrations: For student teams developing early technical skills through real-world problem solving

Award Amount

Total Prize Funding: $150,000 in cash prizes

Eligibility

• High school students
• College/university teams
• Independent developers and builders
• Founders with scalable, market-ready technology

Impact (2025 Results)

• 20% of Louisiana parishes represented
• 61% racial diversity among participants
• 7 internship offers generated
• 26 solutions created to tackle real-world problems
• $100K+ awarded to innovators in 2025
• 2025 winner Encore CO₂ received $45K for carbon-recycling technology

Focus Areas

• Software solutions
• Hardware solutions
• Technology-enabled solutions addressing real-world problems
• Climate/sustainability technology
• Healthcare technology
• Environmental solutions
• Education technology

Contact Information

Address: 7117 Florida Boulevard, Baton Rouge, LA 70806

Background

The Nexus Technology Cup is built around people solving real problems with real technology. Participants pitch software or hardware projects to judges from major technology companies including Google, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft.

How to Apply

1. Visit the competition website at nexusla.org/technologycup
2. Select your track (Open Track, College Track, or High School Demonstrations)
3. Submit your application with project details
4. Projects should showcase software, hardware, or technology-enabled solutions
5. Teams will pitch their projects to a panel of judges from leading technology companies

Required Materials

• Project description and overview
• Team information
• Technical specifications or demonstration materials
• Evidence of working prototype or functional solution

Note: The 2025 application deadline was extended to May 7 due to overwhelming interest. For 2026 deadlines, check nexusla.org for specific submission guidelines.