Meet the 2026 i.Invest Louisiana Young Entrepreneurs Grant Recipients: How ParTee Is Driving Innovation in New Orleans

ParTee founders, Emy Foster and Charlie Kehlenbach, standing with Jalin Carter, former program director for Tulane’s Young Entrepreneurs Academy.

Some of the best businesses are born from personal experience. For Emy Foster and Charlie Kehlenbach, a challenge they faced as members of their high school golf team became the inspiration for ParTee—an innovative mobile entertainment business that earned them recognition as 2026 i.Invest Louisiana Young Entrepreneurs Grant recipients.  

Emy and Charlie are 17-year-old juniors at Benjamin Franklin High School in New Orleans, Louisiana, graduates of the Tulane Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) and the founders of ParTee, a mobile golf simulator business that brings a premium golf experience directly to customers. Whether it's a backyard party, corporate event, wedding, festival, or community gathering, ParTee transforms virtually any location into an interactive golf experience. Customers simply book online, and the team handles delivery, setup, and operation, allowing hosts to focus on enjoying their event.

The inspiration for ParTee came from the students' own experiences on their high school golf team. As members of an underfunded program, they often struggled with transportation to practices and limited access to training opportunities. Rather than viewing these challenges as obstacles, they saw an opportunity to create a solution. What began as an idea to make golf more accessible quickly evolved into a scalable business serving New Orleans' growing market of golf enthusiasts, professionals, and organizations seeking unique event entertainment.

Beyond its business potential, ParTee demonstrates a strong commitment to community impact. The founders recognized that many events lack engaging activities that encourage guests to interact with one another. Their mobile golf simulator creates memorable experiences by bringing people together through friendly competition, teamwork, and conversation. It is an excellent example of how entrepreneurship can generate both economic opportunity and social connection.

Charlie setting up a ParTee simulator.

The i.Invest Louisiana Young Entrepreneurs Grant supports aspiring entrepreneurs across Louisiana, ages 13 to 19, who have developed a market-ready product or service. Co-sponsored by PR Solutions LLC, the grant provides funding, recognition, and mentorship to help young innovators transform promising ideas into successful businesses.

“We are excited to support young innovators like Emy and Charlie, who took a game they love and turned it into a viable business,” said Michelle Jackson, Founder and Executive Director of i.Invest. “They are a wonderful example of the creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit that New Orleans youth have to offer.”

Since its inception, the broader i.Invest initiative has provided entrepreneurship training to more than 50 youth entrepreneurship teams and awarded more than $50,000 in cash and in-kind prizes to help launch the next generation of Louisiana business leaders.

Congratulations to Emy Foster and Charlie Kehlenbach on being named 2026 i.Invest Louisiana Young Entrepreneurs Grant Recipients. Their entrepreneurial spirit, innovative thinking, and commitment to solving real-world challenges represent the very best of Louisiana's emerging business leaders. We look forward to watching ParTee continue to grow and inspire other young entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into impact.

To learn more about their services visit, https://rentpartee.com/.

From Classroom to Company—How New Orleans Teen Founders Hayden Le and Grace Nguyen Are Redefining Outdoor Skincare with EcoAqua

Hayden Le and Grace Nguyen, 18-year-old co-founders of EcoAqua.

Meet the 2025-26 i.Invest Louisiana Youth Entrepreneur Grant recipients, Hayden Le and Grace Nguyen, the 18-year-old co-founders of EcoAqua and seniors at Benjamin Franklin High School in New Orleans, Louisiana. As driven 12th-grade student entrepreneurs, Hayden and Grace are already making waves with an innovative, eco-conscious skincare solution designed specifically for athletes and outdoor enthusiasts. Their work was recognized through the i.Invest Competition, developed in partnership with the LifeSkills Foundation, a New Orleans–based nonprofit led by Executive Director Michelle Jackson. Since its founding in 2015, LifeSkills has provided funding, mentorship, and resources to promising youth entrepreneurs nationwide—helping young leaders turn real-world problems into impactful businesses. EcoAqua exemplifies what happens when youth innovation meets purpose-driven entrepreneurship.

Founder Q&A: How EcoAqua Is Changing Outdoor Skincare for Athletes and Adventurers

Q: What is EcoAqua, and what problem does it solve?

EcoAqua is a 3-in-1 moisturizing sunscreen and mosquito repellent cream created to simplify outdoor skincare while prioritizing skin health and environmental responsibility. Designed for athletes and outdoor enthusiasts who are constantly on the move, EcoAqua combines SPF 50 sun protection, long-lasting mosquito repellency, and deep hydration in one easy-to-use product.

After surveying more than 150 student-athletes, the founders discovered a widespread issue: three out of five athletes regularly experience swelling, blisters, and intense itching from mosquito bites, as well as frequent sunburn. Existing solutions often require layering sunscreen and bug spray—products that don’t mix well and often leave skin feeling dry, sticky, irritated, or heavy. EcoAqua eliminates this problem by offering a single, effective formula that protects against both sun and insects while keeping skin moisturized and comfortable.

Q: Who inspired the creation of EcoAqua?

EcoAqua was inspired by personal experience. During a hot summer day in PE class, co-founder Hayden noticed that sunburns and mosquito bites discouraged students from fully participating in outdoor activities like kickball and basketball. Co-founder Grace, a competitive swimmer and avid fisher, faced constant exposure to mosquitoes and gnats, often waking up with swelling, bruises, and intense itching that interfered with her athletic performance and love for the outdoors.

Bonding over these shared frustrations, the founders realized this was not an isolated problem. As daughters of Vietnamese immigrants who shared stories of growing up in the harsh sun and with relentless mosquitoes, Hayden and Grace felt compelled to create a better solution—one that protected skin without sacrificing comfort or convenience.

Q: What makes EcoAqua unique?

EcoAqua stands apart through its clean, all-natural, and skin-friendly formulation. The product contains no harmful chemicals such as DEET or parabens. Instead, it uses citrus oils and picaridin for mosquito repellency, titanium dioxide for sun protection, and aloe vera with beeswax for hydration.

The non-greasy, fast-absorbing formula leaves no white cast and is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin. EcoAqua provides up to 90 minutes of UV protection (with reapplication encouraged every 2 hours) and up to 8 hours of mosquito-repellency, making it ideal for sports, travel, outdoor adventures, and everyday use.

Q: What social impact does EcoAqua aim to make?

EcoAqua demonstrates that sustainability and personal care can coexist. By combining sunscreen, bug repellent, and moisturizer into one product, EcoAqua helps reduce overconsumption and packaging waste. Beyond the product itself, the founders are committed to educating athletes and outdoor enthusiasts about proactive skin care habits that protect both long-term health and the environment.

EcoAqua is more than skincare—it’s protection, purpose, and peace of mind for every outdoor adventure.

Q: What are the next phases of the business development process, and what resources do you need to grow?

Participation in the Tulane YEA! program has been instrumental in advancing EcoAqua’s growth by providing structured mentorship, pitch coaching, and access to competitive entrepreneurial opportunities–including presenting its business concept at NOLA Entrepreneur Week 2025. Tulane YEA! also supported early customer discovery and acquisition efforts, helping translate EcoAqua’s science-backed prototype into a market-ready consumer product.

As a recipient of the i.Invest Louisiana Youth Entrepreneur Grant, EcoAqua received $500 to support business growth and mentorship from the i.Invest team, led by Jackson. The grant will fund hands-on STEM and entrepreneurship activities for EcoAqua affiliates, focusing on cosmetic chemistry product testing and business development. To learn how you can help bring their business idea to market, contact Michelle Jackson at mjackson@prsolutionsllc.org.

i.Invest 2024 Rising Start-up Grant Recipient: 14-Year-Old Aditya Hariharan Launches E.Dojo: A Virtual Martial Arts Platform for Accessible Karate Training

Aditya Hariharan, a 14-year-old student at Walter Panas High School in Cortlandt Manor, NY, is the founder of E.Dojo, a virtual martial arts platform designed to make karate training affordable and accessible to all. As a recipient of the 2024 i.Invest Rising Start-up Youth Entrepreneur Grant, awarded by LifeSkills Foundation, Aditya will receive $500 to help develop his business model. LifeSkills Foundation, based in New Orleans and led by Executive Director Michelle Jackson, has been dedicated to supporting young entrepreneurs since its founding in 2015. Through E.Dojo, Aditya is transforming the traditional approach to karate instruction, making it flexible, enjoyable, and tailored to each student’s needs.

Below is a Q&A discussion with Aditya about his work to build the E.Dojo platform:

Q: Describe your product or service.

E.Dojo is a virtual martial arts platform that offers a range of lessons designed to accommodate students of different skill levels and learning styles. The platform provides on-demand video lessons covering various karate techniques, such as kihons (basics), katas (forms), kumite (sparring and self-defense), and even weapon training. Each lesson is customized to a student’s belt rank and age, ensuring a personalized learning experience.

Students can also participate in interactive activities like follow-along videos, training assignments, and competitions with their peers. After completing their assignments, they submit videos for evaluation by certified instructors, who offer feedback and award BUDO Points—a reward system that motivates students by allowing them to earn eco-friendly products and other prizes. To ensure flexibility, students can also attend live virtual "Dojo Hours" for real-time instruction and feedback from instructors. After mastering their techniques, students test for their next rank through a method of  their choice, reducing anxiety and stress.

Q: What inspired the creation of your product?

The inspiration for E.Dojo came from my personal experiences with martial arts. As a black belt and employee at a local karate school, I’ve spent eight years learning and four years leading classes. Throughout my journey, I noticed many challenges with traditional karate instruction, particularly the rigid scheduling. It was difficult to fit classes into my already busy school and extracurricular schedule, and I often had to switch locations or miss classes altogether. Many of my peers faced similar struggles too.

E.Dojo addresses these issues by offering an on-demand curriculum that allows students to learn at their own pace, anywhere and anytime. By offering flexibility and affordability, E.Dojo ensures that martial arts education is accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial or scheduling constraints. E.Dojo helps students overcome the obstacles I faced and ensure they could enjoy martial arts training without the burden of rigid structures.

Q: What social impact does your company/product demonstrate?

E.Dojo is committed to democratizing martial arts, making karate training accessible to children from all walks of life, including those from underprivileged or remote communities. By providing affordable virtual lessons, E.Dojo empowers children to learn martial arts in a way that promotes fitness, discipline, and self-confidence. Our platform’s adaptability also ensures that children with different learning styles or abilities, including those with disabilities, can participate and succeed.

In addition, E.Dojo emphasizes sustainability. We recycle uniforms and encourage students to repurpose household items for training. Students also earn BUDO Points by engaging in community service activities like tree planting and volunteering. By promoting environmental consciousness and social responsibility, E.Dojo encourages students to improve themselves and their communities.

Q: What are the benefits of your product for kids?

According to the National Institutes of Health, martial arts training improves determination, consistency, and motivation, as well as enhanced strength, agility, endurance, flexibility, and cardiovascular health. However, traditional training often comes with high costs and rigid schedules, making it difficult for many families to access. E.Dojo solves this problem by providing a more affordable and flexible alternative.

With our platform, students can access a wide range of on-demand lessons and practice at their own pace. This ensures that students, regardless of their backgrounds, can enjoy the physical, mental, and emotional benefits of martial arts. Whether they’re learning for fun, fitness, or discipline, E.Dojo helps students set and achieve their goals in a way that works for them.

Congratulations to the E. Dojo team! To connect with him and provide support and/or mentorship, please contact Michelle Jackson at mjackson@i-investcompetition.com.