Meet the Founders: Wolf Pack LaunchU 2025 Cohort
This summer, a bold new group of student, alumni, faculty, and staff entrepreneurs stepped into Loyola University New Orleans’ LaunchU accelerator — a program designed to give them the tools and traction to grow their ideas into real businesses.
From May through September, these founders have been immersed in a transformative journey of learning, testing, building, and pitching. They’re launching ventures that reflect their lived experiences, passions, and professional expertise — whether it’s a biodegradable coffee filter for campers, a microtransit solution for college towns, or a bodycare brand rooted in emotional honesty.
The LaunchU Journey
LaunchU began in May with an intensive, weeklong boot camp held on Loyola’s campus. Over five days, teams worked side-by-side in the classroom and in one-on-one coaching sessions, building out their business model canvases, clarifying their value propositions, and refining early-stage prototypes.
Sessions covered every foundational area of entrepreneurship — from customer discovery and product development to revenue modeling and financials. Founders also learned how to pitch, how to do meaningful market research, and how to make their first marketing and brand decisions. The week ended with professional headshots, individual milestone planning, and a networking lunch with local mentors — a powerful moment of connection between new founders and the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
After the bootcamp, teams kept up momentum through a curated summer webinar series featuring industry leaders and alumni experts. These included Leslie Campisi on marketing and branding, Brittany Heims on strategic networking, legal guidance on intellectual property from Baker Donelson attorneys Kirsten and David, and an interactive workshop on managing chaos as an entrepreneur with chef and founder Amy Sins (‘98). Each session gave founders a deeper perspective on what it really takes to sustain and scale an early-stage business.
Now, in the final stretch of the program, teams are preparing for their first round of internal pitches on August 22. Their final milestone — the LaunchU Final Pitch Competition — will take place September 11, where they’ll present their ventures to a public audience of the Loyola community, judges, mentors, and potential investors.
The 2025 Ventures: In The Founders' Own Words
aRVee, L3C.
Founder: Paris Scott — Staff
After 8 years in AV, I've made it important that every home imaginable stays compatible in an evermore digital age. Here at aRVee, we provide products and services tailored to standardize residential AV for even the oldest shotgun house.
Connect Here:
arveeav.com
@kinsermarcel
Breeze Shuttles
Founder: Tristan Sariego (Alumni, Class of 2024), Owen Diesel, & Nick Yum
Breeze Shuttles is a free, ad-supported electric microtransit service expanding in New Orleans and other college towns. We provide safe, sustainable rides for students, locals, and tourists, funded by hyperlocal advertising. Our mission is to reduce drunk driving, boost local business traffic, and make short-distance travel easier and more affordable.
Connect Here:
breezeshuttles.com
@breezeshuttles
Camila & Catherine Co.
Founder: Aja Cousin — Alumni, Class of 2023
Camila & Catherine Co. is a mid-market luxury jewelry brand inspired by Christian symbolism and timeless elegance. Each collection blends affordable quality with meaningful design, offering faith-driven pieces that elevate everyday style. Through curated drops and elevated packaging, we create a personal, spiritual, and stylish jewelry experience.
Connect Here:
Etsy Shop
@camilacatherineco
DoloWan
Founder: Michael Duckworth — Alumni, Class of 2025
DoloWan is a brand that produces rolling papers that have artwork on the packaging. This is a lightweight and inexpensive way for people to collect art from artists in various local communities. We do collaborations with artists, musicians, and other businesses giving them another product line to add to their merchandise tier as well as building a more connected community that these artists can grow within.
Connect Here:
dolowan.shop
@dolowan.shop
FaireCost
Founder: Damian Clark — MBA Alumni, Class of 2023
FaireCost is an AI-powered tool built for small food entrepreneurs to reduce costs and run smarter operations. It integrates with POS systems to deliver real time recommendations on sourcing, staffing, and menu optimization helping users cut food waste, improve margins, and make data-driven decisions. With access to historical pricing, hyper customized menu insights, and local supplier options, FaireCost gives food businesses the edge they need to thrive.
Connect Here:
@fairecost
FreshDripd
Founder: Aimee Alleman — Faculty, Class of 2005
Fresh Dripd makes biodegradable, single-serve coffee filters so you can brew a perfect cup anywhere—no machine, no mess, just your favorite coffee.
Connect Here:
freshdripd.com
@freshdripd
Katamaran Reptile Ranch
Founder: Kat Lee (Undergraduate Student, Class of 2027) & Jake Brown
We’re Katamaran Reptile Ranch and we breed New Caledonian geckos; stunning, low-maintenance reptiles that make incredible pets. What sets us apart is our absolute dedication to the health and genetics of our animals. We're not just selling geckos; we're providing meticulously cared-for, vibrant companions to reptile enthusiasts and first-time owners alike. Our focus on ethical breeding practices ensures happy, healthy geckos that thrive in their new homes.
Connect Here:
MorphMarket Shop
@katamaran.reptile.ranch
Lexeuse
Founder: Kourtni Harding — Alumni, Class of 2025
Lexeuse is a holistic hair salon led by a registered nurse and cosmetologist, blending science with beauty. We design personalized haircare regimens based on each client’s lifestyle, diet, medical history, and mental well-being. Our mission is to nurture healthy hair from the inside out while promoting relaxation and emotional balance.
Connect Here:
@hairbykourtni
MC Global Music LLC
Founder: Randy Martono-Chai — Staff
I’m building a VR platform that offers an immersive music learning experience for music enthusiasts around the world.
Connect Here:
@mcglobalmusic
Potluck Design Studio
Founder: Rushing Haise — Faculty
Potluck is a design studio helping small businesses figure out who they are and how to reach their people. We believe in creating quality work for small businesses through authenticity and collaboration because everyone brings something different to the table.
Stick’em Patches
Founder: Hippolyte Barbier de Preville — Undergraduate Student, Class of 2026
Stick’em Patches are the first-ever protective patches designed specifically for tennis and pickleball shoes. Hard courts wear down shoes fast, causing holes, breakdown, and even injury risk. Stick’em is a simple, durable patch that reinforces high-friction areas, extends your shoe’s life, and helps keep you safe on the court. Just peel, stick, and play, no tools, no downtime, just longer-lasting performance.
Connect Here:
@stickempatches
Survīval Mōd
Founder: Parjest (Pea) Thevenard (Staff) & Bobbie Gilbert
Survīval Mōd is a bodycare and lifestyle brand for people living alternative, complicated, and beautiful lives. Rooted in emotional honesty, we transform everyday routines into personal-care rituals with tools and experiences that help you feel empowered, grounded, and held—wherever life takes you.
Connect Here:
survivalmod.store
@survivalmodstore
TBD Magazine
Founder: Lauryn Hinton (Alumni, Class of 2022) & Soledad Luciano Santiago (Alumni, Class of 2023)
TBD Magazine is a quarterly publication and creative hub dedicated to preserving the power of print across the South and Caribbean. We celebrate the stories of queer and BIPOC artists while serving as a resource for intentional printing, publishing, and archiving.
Connect Here:
tbdzine.com
@tbd.mag
Final Pitch – September 11, 2025
📅 Save the date! The LaunchU 2025 Final Pitch Competition will take place on Wednesday, September 11, at 6:00 PM in 114 Miller Hall, located in the College of Business at Loyola University New Orleans.
Finalists will present their ventures live to a public audience of mentors, investors, community leaders, and supporters — competing for funding, visibility, and future startup support.
🎯 Up next: On August 22, all teams will submit their first round of recorded pitches. A panel of judges will review these and select the Top 8 finalists who will advance to the Final Pitch competition. Stay tuned for the official announcement of the finalists — and in the meantime, be sure to RSVP to attend and cheer them on!