As the ninth annual festival kicked off last week, startup founders, tech leaders, and aspiring entrepreneurs descended on the beautiful Louisiana city in hopes meeting their next mentor, investor, cofounder, or new friend. Each day showcased a bevy of qualified startups, in addition to providing workshops, interactive discussions, and keynote speeches from Leslie Miley of Slack, Suzanne DiBianca of Salesforce, and many more to an ecosystem that is ready to explode onto the global scene.
The Value
While some may shrug at the idea of an intimate conference in a non-tech hub city, the value of events like these are undeniable for budding ecosystems. Not only does it give founders and investors a chance to possibly meet their next big venture partner, it also allows the community of aspiring entrepreneurs to meet, greet, and be inspired by some of the most influential people in the tech world, as well as local business moguls that could turn their small pipe dream into a thriving New Orleans company.
The History
Launched by The Idea Village in 2009 as the IDEAcorps Challenge, the festival was originally a program designed to engage MBAs and corporate volunteers from across the country. It developed through recovery efforts after Hurricane Katrina, when business students decided that the best way to rebuild New Orleans wasn’t through infrastructure but through meaningful business growth.
The Secret to Success
After nine years, clearly The Ideas Village is doing something right. Whether it’s the free entry that’s spurring anyone with an entrepreneurial bone in their body to participate or the commitment to supporting businesses from the area, this festival has became a staple of the New Orleans startup community, and the community as a whole. And, like any great company, the secret to their success lies within the team. Simply put, New Orleans Entrepreneur Week is what a tech conference should be. They’ve created the perfect balance of professionalism and intimacy that would make even the strangest outsider feel welcomed, while nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit of everyone that walks into the event. Plus, in a city like New Orleans, being passionate and feeling like you belong is always on the menu. Well, that and beignets. Read more about the New Orleans startup ecosystem here at Tech.Co
