At just 16 years old, Blake Stanfill, a 11th-grade student at St. Augustine High School in New Orleans, Louisiana, is turning his passion for basketball into an innovative technology venture designed to bring young people together. As a recipient of the i.Invest Louisiana Young Entrepreneurs Grant, Stanfill is developing Check Ball, a youth connection app that uses basketball to create community, increase access to recreational opportunities, and get young people off the side

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. T