The Idea Village Continues Regional Expansion

The Idea Village Continues Regional Expansion

New Orleans Business Accelerator Joins Forces with Baton Rouge, North Shore and Bayou Region Partners to identify and grow homegrown entrepreneurial companies

New Orleans, LA – Now in its third decade of accelerating local startups, The Idea Village is working with regional economic development partners across the state to identify, support, and retain promising early-stage entrepreneurs throughout Louisiana and beyond. In the fall of 2022, the New Orleans-based non-profit launched this expansion through partnerships with St. Tammany Corporation and Bayou Region Incubator in Thibodaux. Today, The Idea Village announces partnerships with 3 Baton Rouge-based partners:  Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge Area Chamber and Nexus Louisiana to create Startup City Launch to present the capitol’s IDEAinstitute. 

         “Over the last 20 years, we’ve seen repeatedly that lasting economic development comes from identifying, nurturing and supporting homegrown entrepreneurial companies,” said Jon Atkinson, C.E.O. of The Idea Village. “Why spend time and resources recruiting from out of state, when our region has a wealth of talent with promising startup ideas who are ready to become entrepreneurs?” he said.

In total, since 2019, The Idea Village’s IDEAinstitute idea-stage accelerator has provided 261 early-stage founders with tools, resources, and connections to help them turn their ideas into scalable ventures. The three Baton Rouge entities are the newest partners in the regional effort, joining St. Tammany Corporation and Bayou Region Incubator to continue expanding local access of world-class resources for entrepreneurs across the state. 

“Startup City Launch is a natural progression of the collaborative small business ecosystem we are elevating within the Baton Rouge Area, alongside our partners Nexus LA and LSU Innovation,” said Chris Spalatin, Baton Rouge Area Chamber’s Manager of Small Business Services. “This will build on our region’s small business offerings, allowing innovative entrepreneurs the opportunity to grow their startups into scalable ventures.”

“We’re excited about this partnership and look forward to working alongside The Idea Village to expand opportunities for entrepreneurs in the capital region,” said NexusLA management consultant, Calvin Mills Jr.

Louisiana State University’s focus on innovation and technology commercialization is complementary with the IDEAinstitute program. Andrew Maas, Associate Vice President for Research over Innovation and Ecosystem Development says, “We are excited to partner with The Idea Village for the Startup City Launch program and look forward to a successful program across the region.” Jason Boudreaux, Assistant Director of Entrepreneurial Services at LSU Innovation and Adam McCloskey, Director of the LSU Small Business Development Center, will serve as coaches throughout the program.  

         “Thanks to our partners in St. Tammany, Thibodaux, and Baton Rouge, entrepreneurs throughout Southeast Louisiana can now participate in The Idea Village business accelerator program while forming meaningful connections within their local business communities,” said Atkinson.

         Regional partners offer their local entrepreneurs access to IDEAinstitute, The Idea Village’s proven 10-week accelerator program, designed to give entrepreneurs the knowledge and expertise needed to turn an idea into a scalable business venture. The program is offered in a hybrid format of evening virtual classes, which enables the entire cohort to connect digitally and build connections with a community of peers throughout the program. Led by Dr. Felipe Massa, Associate Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship at Loyola University New Orleans College of Business, these live classes are supplemented with recorded curriculum, reading and suggested “homework” assignments, and opportunities for continued digital engagement throughout the week through a dedicated community Slack workspace.  Additionally, The Idea Village provides access to its world-class network of mentors through a culminating “Coach Week,” where entrepreneurs can sign-up for multiple one-on-one sessions with experienced industry and startup leaders across a wide variety of expertise. Entrepreneurs also receive direct coaching and mentorship through local advisors, curated by regional partners, who often provide access to additional local resources for business growth. Finally, there are also in-person opportunities to connect, through centralized networking events and the final “Pitch Night,” presented by The Idea Village in New Orleans, in addition to hyper-local networking and professional opportunities at the regional partners’ locations.          

“Our partnership with The Idea Village is a key component of our Startup Northshore initiative that strives to advance our strategic business formation and business retention efforts,” said Chris Masingill, CEO of St. Tammany Corporation. “This partnership has brought specific, technical business development support for St. Tammany entrepreneurs from a nationally recognized leader,” he said.

         Startup Northshore launched its first cohort of 15 companies through IDEAinstitute Northshore in September 2022 and is now recruiting for its Spring class. Applications for the Spring 2023 IDEAinstitute cohort are now live: https://bit.ly/IDEAinstituteSpring2023 

Specific services provided by The Idea Village to the regional entrepreneurs include:

• Instruction by Dr. Felipe Massa of Loyola University New Orleans in customer development, business planning, market validation, and pitch development.

• Opportunities to network with peers, specifically fellow entrepreneurs and active founders of other idea-stage companies. 

• Structured coaching from The Idea Village’s network of industry experts and startup mentors. 

• Opportunities to participate in other Idea Village accelerator programs designed for later-stage companies, such as IDEAfuel (designed to support BIPOC founders) and VILLAGEx (an industry-leading accelerator, that offers the opportunity to compete for substantial investment prizes atNew Orleans Entrepreneur Week).

         In Thibodaux, IDEAinstitute Bayou Region has worked with 7 local companies since the program’s launch in September.

         “Our partnership with The Idea Village has cemented our belief that it is critical to anchor economic development right here at home,” said Bayou Region Incubator’s Interim Director, Meli Manuselis. “Many of our entrepreneurs are still recovering from Hurricane Ida – and will be for a while. The fact that they can participate in a world-class business accelerator program while rebuilding is a huge benefit for our local founders,” she said.

         “The launch of these partnerships is a key first step towards building a connected super-regional startup community that supports local founders in creating dynamic, innovative new businesses and allows for strong, local connections wherever they choose to call home,” said Atkinson. “Our goal going forward is to identify and continue engaging other partners throughout the Gulf Coast,” he said.

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About The Idea Village

The Idea Village's core belief is that entrepreneurship is an agent of social and economic change. As an early champion of entrepreneurship in New Orleans, the organization has played an integral role in catalyzing the city's entrepreneurial movement. In addition to supporting nearly 16,300 entrepreneurs, The Idea Village has successfully elevated New Orleans's reputation as a hub of innovation, entrepreneurship, and business. By serving as a catalyst and developing programs that provide direct support and education to founders and early-stage companies, The Idea Village helps entrepreneurs build innovative and industry-leading companies that generate revenue and jobs and help create a more vibrant, inclusive, and resilient local economy. www.ideavillage.org

About LSU Innovation 

LSU Innovation works with the LSU research community to facilitate the evaluation, protection and licensing of intellectual property created at LSU. LSU Innovation also focuses on establishing, developing and growing technology-based startup companies. This work maximizes the university's impact on the intellectual, economic and social development of Louisiana and beyond. LSU Innovation helps LSU entrepreneurs and the community through the evaluation of their discoveries and ideas, mechanisms for protecting their innovations, marketing and industry negotiations for intellectual property and licensing and other agreements.

About the Baton Rouge Area Chamber

The Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) is an aggressively ambitious regional economic development organization with a bias for action. BRAC seeks to push Baton Rouge beyond the status quo, unleash its potential, and support a vibrant business community that believes the finish line does not exist. BRAC seeks to accelerate economic opportunity in the Baton Rouge Area, for everyone, through BRING IT! Baton Rouge, its five-year, regional strategic plan. Learn more about BRAC at brac.org.  

About NexusLA

NexusLA’s mission is to accelerate the growth of high-potential companies by providing them with coaching, capital and connections. Our programs leverage regional collaboration to foster mentorship, investment and opportunity for local entrepreneurs to grow their ideas and transform the technology industry in Louisiana. For more information, please visit https://nexusla.org.