LSU Alumni Spotlight: Jacob Voiselle

LSU Alumni recognized at the White House for advancing AI innovation and supporting Native American economic growth

Subterra Technologies, a company created by Jacob Voiselle (2024 BACH ENGR), was honored at the White House by Vice President J.D. Vance and the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at the Native American Coalition for Economic Prosperity’s Government-to-Government Roundtable Series.

Building AI Innovation in Louisiana 

Voiselle has been the chief business development officer at Subterra Technologies since September 2024. He works with Chief Executive Officer Noah Deshotel (2024 BACH ENGR, 2025 MAST BUS) and Chief Strategy Officer Michael Chustz, (2004 BACH ENGR).

“We’re LSU grads,” Voiselle said. “Being graduates from the flagship [university] of the state, you have a sense of pride, you have to live up to something. I feel like we’re trying to do that by bringing AI innovation to Louisiana.”

What Is Subterra Technologies? 

Subterra Technologies is a full-service artificial intelligence firm that offers both AI consultation and development. The company’s mission is to build customized, private AI solutions to help businesses stay secure and efficient in their work. As AI grows, Subterra will consistently develop solutions to improve its models.

Through the consulting process, they sit with businesses, learn their workflow (including business operations), and what's most valuable to them with respect to their data. Afterward, they construct a customized AI solution specific to that business that benefits them and assists them in accomplishing their overall goals.

Customized AI Solutions for Modern Businesses 

Subterra also develops large language models that they use as a template for chatbot development.  As the name suggests, chatbot development is the creation, development, and implementation of an AI assistant that can help with navigation on a website, or help with finding sources similar to OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Anthropic’s Claude. “When you see a website, you see ‘Hey! We’re an AI assistant, message us,’ We do stuff like that,” Voiselle said. “We host models on their own servers.”

Breaking Down Data Barriers 

Subterra also develops an AI model to improve workflow automation, but what makes the company unique is its focus on data integration. By breaking down the barriers between different data systems, the AI is more efficient, and the many moving parts of a business can be synthesized, smoothing out intercommunication with the company's data.

Now, they're very service-based with a focus on custom development, a lot of it AI development for businesses.

Serving the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe Through Technology 

Voiselle is Native American himself, belonging to the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe. Because of this and his familial connection with the Chairman of the Tribe Marshall Pietre, he and his CEO Deshotel are considered the AI advisors of the tribe. 

Pietre invited the young innovators to the White House with other tribal leaders, who, along with Subterra were recognized by the executive branch for their efforts in expanding AI technology in Louisiana.

From Marksville to Washington, D.C.

“The whole goal of the visit was to get governmental leaders, specifically tribal leaders, talking with industry leaders and people involved in the federal government,” Voiselle said. “It was all for the economic development of Native Americans and enhancing their sovereignty and success in this administration.”

Companies like to partner with Native American tribes because they don’t have as many regulations as other parts of the United States. Because the land is a sovereign nation controlled by tribal governments, production is cheaper and the customer pays less money for products. Voiselle said it's a win-win for both companies and consumers.

Tribal Partnerships and Future Economic Growth 

The government is predicting the energy demand will be significantly greater within the next five to 10 years, as the population gets larger and AI becomes more intelligent, so the executive branch arranged the luncheon with Native American tribes from around the United States, and suggested that they ramp up production of energy within the sovereign nation.

A Proud Moment for Louisiana and Indian Country 

Voiselle was thankful for the opportunity to attend the conference on behalf of Tunica-Biloxi. “I was just super proud to be a part of Chairman Marshall’s tribe,” Voiselle said. “He’s from Marksville, where we’re based, so it was just super, kind of inspiring to see someone from a small town making big waves in Washington D.C.” 

He remembers his time fondly and appreciates Pietre allowing them to go to the White House and meet with Vice President Vance and Secretary Kennedy.