Fin Gourmet receives prize to grow Asian Carp Signature Line

Commonwealth of Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development Old Capitol Annex 300 West Broadway Frankfort, KY 40601
Contact Joe Hall 502.564.4886 Rick Johnson Kentucky Innovation Network 859.246.3231

Fin Gourmet wins Entrepreneur Pitch Competition in Murray

Asian Carp startup receives prize to grow her business

MURRAY, Ky. (June 18, 2014) – A western Kentucky entrepreneur has received a significant boost in growing her business.

Lula Luu presented her business, Fin Gourmet, to a panel of local judges during the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development’s entrepreneur pitch competition in Murray Tuesday. For her award-winning presentation, Luu received a cash prize and the opportunity to present her business to the Kentucky Angel Investors Network in Frankfort later this year.

“I really enjoyed my experience,” said Luu. “To have an opportunity to pitch to an established panel of businessmen and women and to receive valuable feedback and input from them was priceless. What I found so unique to Kentucky is the willingness to share resources and to foster entrepreneurs wherever they may be on their business journey.”

Fin Gourmet specializes in the harvesting and processing of natural Asian carp, raised here in Kentucky. Luu says that procuring the fish locally is important to her customers. Her company recently moved from New Orleans to Kentucky in order to open a new venue in Paducah where Luu hopes to make their Asian carp products a signature line.

Luu was one of four entrepreneurs to participate in Tuesday’s competition. Participants had 10 minutes to present their business idea to the judges.

“Having this competition in west Kentucky was exciting,” said Loretta Daniel, director of the Kentucky Innovation Network Office in Murray. “Both the turnout at the event and the quality of the presenters shows that entrepreneurship is thriving here. I am proud of all four competitors. They represented their companies and our region well. Lula Luu with Fin Gourmet did a fantastic job, and I can’t wait to see her compete this fall in Frankfort in the statewide final competition.”

Murray was the third stop on the competition circuit. Events also will be held in Elizabethtown, Richmond, Covington, Lexington and Louisville later this summer.

The event is sponsored by the Office of Entrepreneurship within the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, along with the Kentucky Angels Network and the Kentucky Innovation Network. For more information on the competition, visit kyinnovation.com

Last year, the Cabinet successfully launched the Kentucky Angel Investors Network. Kentucky Angels brings new ventures and accredited investors together via monthly online meetings, providing investors access to form deals and partnerships with entrepreneurs statewide. Membership is open to those accredited investors in and outside the state who are passionate about investing in Kentucky companies. To learn more about Kentucky Angels, visit www.kyangels.net

 # # #

The Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development is the primary state agency in Kentucky responsible for encouraging new jobs and investment in the state. New capital investment announced in Kentucky in 2013 totaled more than $3.3 billion, spurring more than 14,000 projected new jobs. Information on available industrial properties, workforce development assistance, incentive programs, community profiles, small business development and other economic development resources is available at www.ThinkKentucky.com.