GUEST BLOG: MARK LEWIS, FOUNDER OF EVOLVE MEDIA A.I.
We’re excited to introduce our Guest Blog Series, where select community leaders, entrepreneurs, and industry experts will share their insights, lessons learned, new ventures, and visions for our region’s future with you. Today, we hear from Mark Lewis, Founder of Evolve Media A. I.
New Orleans has always been a city of celebrations. The pandemic hit us hard—not just in terms of health, but also in spirit. COVID-19 canceled and postponed major events, with only the fortunate ones able to pivot virtually. In pre-pandemic years, Mardi Gras alone generated more than $1 billion in economic activity for the city. That was lost in 2021.
I’ve lived here for most of my life, and I could feel the collective disappointment. More than anything, the pandemic made us yearn for moments of togetherness we might have taken for granted.
It’s in that spirit that I believe the city’s return to in-person celebrations will be a momentous occasion. The first Mardi Gras, Jazz Festival and Saints game back open to the public, with COVID-19 in our rearview mirror, will be unforgettable experiences.
This also makes our current moment ripe for entrepreneurial opportunity.
MARKING THE OCCASION
I co-founded a new company, Evolve Media A.I., in New Orleans before the pandemic hit. Our concept is simple: people already take photos and videos of weddings, birthdays, sports events and any other life milestones they attend. With our app, an event organizer gives attendees the option of scanning a QR code when they walk in the door and automatically uploading their footage to our cloud platform when they leave. Our A.I. video editor then automatically and selectively stitches together the best photos and videos into a single personalized, affordable, high-quality memento for everyone to enjoy.
As I said, this was before the pandemic hit. Obviously, our plans got somewhat put on hold. But now that the country is beginning to reopen, Evolve Media A.I. is sensing people’s eagerness to jump back into celebrations as soon as they safely can.
Our goal is to make Evolve Media A.I. a unique tool to help people commemorate this incredible, relieving moment in history. And there isn’t a better city to do that than New Orleans.
NEW ORLEANS: WHERE TECH AND CULTURE COMBINE
We’re deeply committed to thriving in New Orleans. In fact, the city plays an essential role in our business.
So far, we’re hiring exclusively local software engineers and developers, and our initial strategy will focus on connecting with New Orleans–based companies and event organizers. There is no better city to launch a company like this. New Orleans has a global reach and a human touch; we’re a tight-knit community with bold ideas and national recognition. It perfectly blends a future-looking tech industry with culture, art and human connection.
Besides, Louisiana is my home. Why would I want to leave?
A TECH LEADER IN THE EVENTS SPACE
The pandemic has forced our entire economy to rapidly adopt new technology. Events are no exception.
Right now, 66 percent of event planners are using video for marketing purposes—and of that number, 93 percent say video plays an important role. Looking to the future, a clear majority of industry professionals also believe digital event technology will stick around post-pandemic.
New Orleans has the opportunity to be on the cutting edge of this trend. Between our thriving tech sector, our affordable cost of living, our innate warmth and our enthusiasm for festivities, the city is poised to be a national leader in a fully reopened economy, when people begin reaching out, hugging and celebrating in-person once again.
I’m confident that New Orleans will succeed in this new world. It will require a focus on developing strong ideas, recognizing and retaining talent, and building a long-standing community. That work is well underway, thanks to organizations like The Idea Village.
With dedicated people, hard work and an innovative spirit, New Orleans can emerge as a leader in post-pandemic America—one that carves a path other growing cities can follow.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mark S. Lewis is the co-founder and CEO of Evolve Media A.I. and a longtime entrepreneur in Louisiana. After working at IBM for 13 years, he co-founded the first locally-owned internet service company in New Orleans, growing revenue from zero to $4 million in less than three years. He's since engaged with the community as president of the Louisiana Technology Council for a decade, the project coordinator for the Louisiana IT Symposium and a moderator for Louisiana Economic Development's CEO Roundtables series. He was recently awarded Marshall B. Klein Louisiana Entrepreneur of the Year by Entrepreneurs’ Organization of Louisiana. Mark is also a best-selling published author and career coach for local entrepreneurs.