Since winning The University of Tulsa’s Hurricane Pitch Competition in 2024, Tally Receipts has evolved from a student project into a growing startup redefining digital receipts. The venture has raised thousands in capital, completed two accelerator programs and launched a second beta version, earning attention within Tulsa’s expanding innovation ecosystem.
The company was founded by CEO Leah Saucedo (B.S.B.A. ’25), COO Abigail Chow, a finance senior and CTO Alan Meyer, a junior majoring in mechanical engineering, applied mathematics and economics. Together, the team builds the API infrastructure for real-time, itemized receipts that synchronize across wallets, payment platforms and accounting tools.
“We became obsessed with fixing how receipts disappear between the transaction and the moment they’re needed,” Saucedo said. “With Tally, receipts are automatically captured and delivered where they belong, giving consumers and businesses seamless access to item-level purchase data.”
Building Beyond Campus
The founders said winning the competition gave them the confidence and resources to fully commit to their idea. “Since then, we’ve raised $80,000 in capital, completed two accelerator programs, launched our second beta and gathered feedback from more than 1,000 people,” Saucedo said. “What started as a student project is now a real company we’re building full time.”
According to Chris Wright, director of UTulsa’s Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Tally Receipts journey captures the entrepreneurial spirit the Collins College of Business works to cultivate. “Tally reflects the kind of mindset we strive to develop at UTulsa: students who see a real problem, take ownership and move quickly from idea to execution,” he said. “That progression from classroom insight to market traction shows that our students aren’t just learning about entrepreneurship – they’re living it.”
The Next Generation of Innovators
Wright added that the annual Hurricane Pitch Competition provides the foundation for those experiences. “It gives students a platform to test ideas, communicate their vision and receive feedback from experienced entrepreneurs,” he said. “Whether they launch startups like Tally Receipts or lead innovation within established companies, our students graduate ready to create value from day one.”
The Hurricane Pitch Competition returns at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 7 in Tyrrell Hall, offering $25,000 in cash prizes for the top student ventures. Sponsored by Regent Bank and hosted by the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship and JOLT @ TU Business, the “Shark Tank-style” event invites students from across disciplines to pitch their ideas and bring them to life.