Louisiana’s nickname is Sportsman’s Paradise, not only because of the affinity locals here have for hunting, fishing and water sports, but because of the lush natural landscape and warm climate that make those sports possible

It’s the same factors that have given birth to two local entrepreneurs.

Edward Daniel is the owner of Daniel Outdoors. It’s an online company that sells hunting, fishing and shooting products over the internet. The company’s success, up against giants like Amazon and other major retailers, is impressive by any standards but all the more so because Edward is just a sophomore in college. Or was until he recently decided to take a long break. Stephanie met Edward two years ago when he was just a senior in high school and was running his first company, making duck blinds, and put him on the over of the Baton Rouge Business Report. He’s come a long way since then and has plans to go a lot further.

Nicole Waguespack is president of Martin Ecosystems. It’s an environmental tech company that manufactures and supplies products used to address a variety of environmental challenges including storm-water and waste water treatment, shoreline protection, bank stabilization and habitat restoration. What’s really fascinating about Martin Ecosystems is that its products are made out of recycled plastic bottles. From this material they are able to create floating treatment wetlands, living shorelines and new marsh that is finding its way not just across the country but around the world.

Photos at Mansurs on the Boulevard by Ken Stewart.