Wow. It’s been an entire year to the day since we launched SBN. A year ago, I was frantically trying to get a basic word press blog up and running before the first day of NOEW. I really had no idea what I was doing. And what a year it has been…
What started out as a one man team has now evolved into a full-fledged news organization with over 15 team members. After our first post, 594 more have followed. We presented the 2011 Silicon Bayou 100, shot a pilot episode of SBTV, and launched a job board. And the stats have been amazing. From 683 uniques and 6,770 page views that first month to almost 11,000 uniques and over 125,000 page views this past February…we have been growing with month-over-month growth.
But the most amazing thing has been the excitement, enthusiasm, and conviction from you – the Silicon Bayou Community. The monthly growth in visits alone shows the community is developing and keeps coming back for more. But it’s more than that. It’s the spontaneous emails, the tweets and retweets, and the community’s true interest and belief that we are on to something big.
From NOEW 2011 to Launch Fest, to the expansion of the digital media credits, the passage of the angel investor tax credits, startup financings, big economic development wins like Electronic Arts, Gameloft, and GE Capital, Baton Rouge’s BREW, the launch of LP Ignition’s second class, a successful Startup Bus run, and the unbelievably badass NOEW 2012 we just had last week, Louisiana’s tech startup ecosystem has arrived.
So keep starting those companies, coming up with those crazy ideas, and hustling. The best is yet to come.
We will be having a few birthday cupcakes and more than a few birthday drinks this Friday during happy hour (5-7PM) at Capdeville in New Orleans. Come mingle, celebrate, and toast to another year of growth on the Silicon Bayou! Click here to RSVP.