Week in Review: March 31, 2014

The Silicon Bayou has been buzzing with tech and entrepreneurial news. Here are the most popular stories published on Silicon Bayou News in the past seven days:

Introducing #NOLATech Deck: The 2014 Guide to New Orleans Startup Scene

Silicon Bayou News, in partnership with Chris Schultz, has launched the 2014 guide to the New Orleans startup scene, also known as the #NOLATech deck. Similar to the Guide to NYC Tech deck, #NOLATech is designed to be a resource for locals and non-locals alike who are interested in tapping into the New Orleans startup world. From the organizations that help motivate the community to the conferences and events and hangouts where the startup scene thrives, the #NOLATech deck was created to encompass it all.

Emerging New Orleans Businesses Present to Local Angel Investors at Inaugural Demo Day

Capital Village marked the culmination of New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW), the annual celebration of entrepreneurship, which is home to over 50 events, 75 entrepreneurs and a crowd of the nation’s most innovative business leaders, financiers, entrepreneurs and students. Formerly Power Pitch, Demo Day @ NOEW debuted last Friday during Capital Village to bring emerging businesses under the local angel investor spotlight. Six companies pitched including Advanced Polymer Monitoring TechnologiesEducation Everytime (E²), MaritantMobileQubesSNAP Real Estate Photography and  Your Nutrition Anytime, formerly known as Your Nutrition Delivered.

Three Finalists Advance to Final Round of Tulane Business Model Competition

All three finalists were granted $2,000 and an opportunity to present their business models at Tulane University on Friday, April 11, 2014. The grand prize winner will receive $25,000  and enter the International Business Model Competition as a semifinalist. The runner up will receive $10,000. The completely redesigned competition aims to better reward the practical aspects of what make startups successful – the ability to rapidly adapt to customers’ needs. Entrepreneurs pitched their startups along with what pivots they made along the way using the business model canvas. At the Tulane and Entrepreneurship reception following the pitches, TEA President Adrian Mendez announced the three companies advancing to the final round: Million Dollar Scholar, InVision Biomedcial and Tympanogen.

What’s The Big Idea?

All in all, The Big Idea attendees cast 1,348 votes and $33,700 were spread across the 13 new businesses that participated. Each vote was worth $25 which attendees gave to participants in the form of voting “chips.” Whereyart.netCajun Fire Brewing, and KREWE du optic received the most audience votes and were given a chance to then pitch live on stage at the event. At the end of the evening, Cajun Fire Brewing won the grand prize of $50,000.

Four Startups Cash In at 4.0 Schools Education Challenge Pitch at Entrepreneur Week

The early-stage education incubator 4.0 Schools hosted its annual Education Challenge Pitch designed a few years back to bring together passionate entrepreneurs who are building the future of school, one piece at a time. Up to $30,000 was on the line for the eight entrepreneurs that pitched education prototypes and ventures in two tracks: pre-revenue and revenue. After a deliberation from judges, #HWYTYYS was awarded the $2,500 to advance the venture that asks “how would you teach your younger self?” Grand prize winner and revenue track company, Culture Connect was awarded a total of $12,500 to continue to build their platform that puts mobile technology in the hands of every museum and cultural institution. 49% of the audience vote was in favor of pre-revenue track pitch SMARTSnaps, resulting in a $1,220 cash infusion. MakerState, the revenue track company topping out with 53% of the audience votes, took home $6,625 to advance the now national organization that creates maker spaces for kids.

Printing the Future: 3D Systems VP Talks 3D Printed Food and Trillion Dollar Asteroid at NOEW

New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW) Keynote Hugh Evans is Vice President of corporate development and ventures at the company that invented 3D printing, 3D Systems. Individuals and organizations including New Orleans’ Isidore Newman School and General Electric are embracing the technology. Newman recently acquired a 3D printer while General Electric currently has 221 engineers assigned to the next generation aircraft engine, which will be partially 3D printed and produce fuel savings as high as 29%. 3D Systems has also invested in an asteroid mining company, Planetary Resources, based in Seattle that has created a series of space drones, called ARKYD, that will be in space sooner than you would think. Once in Orbit, 3D Systems has plans for six of the over 30 drones to leave to intersect an asteroid that the company believes is worth $1 trillion. The drones would land on the asteroid and claim it. Much more about 3D printing is available here.

PortaVision, Makers of Digital X-Ray System, Wins JEDCO Challenge at NOEW

The JEDCO Challenge, an entrepreneurial pitch competition created by the Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission (JEDCO) and sponsored First NBC Bank, is only in its second year and already making a splash at New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW). PortaVision Medical, makers of the digital X-ray system that improves the quality of care for premature babies, won the second annual challenge.

Startup Crowdsourcing Climate Change Called “Too Big” For New Orleans, Plans to Stay

iSeeChange a crowdsourced climate change reporting project– a public media experiment– that draws on community observations and conversations with top climate scientists. iSeeChange creator and executive producer Julia Kumari Drapkin pitched at the Water Challenge on Monday during New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW). The feedback she received from the judges was shocking: iSeeChange is “too big” for New Orleans. “Our idea is not just big, it’s huge,” said Drapkin. “iSeeChange can change the world right here in New Orleans. We can launch this thing right here with our NOLA talent!”

The Future of 3D Printing in New Orleans Says Entrepreneur Week Announcement

In a highly anticipated announcement, Idea Village CEO Tim Williamson announced the first-ever 3D printed food contest that will pick one food entrepreneur to catalyze the future of food technology in New Orleans. The entrepreneur will receive a ChefJet 3D printer, which was recently announced at the Consumer Electronics Show, to produce 3D printed edibles. 3D Systems VP Hugh Evans explained that 3D Systems launched the ChefJet for a reason: to customize desserts. “It’s a good idea,” he said. The machine can create the most complex and unique designs for restaurants, hotels, wedding planners and more.

The Junior Idea Awards $10,00 to Top Pitch During Youth Entrepreneurship Day

The Junior Idea, an entrepreneurial pitch competition hosted by Junior Achievement and The Idea Village, was a collaborative effort to get students involved in NOEW. The inaugural competition awarded Madison Hannan, a senior at Mount Carmel, $10,000 for her company that creates customized high-waisted shorts from recycled jeans,Infinite Designs Clothing.

3D Printed Design Contest Showcases Height of Creativity and Innovation at New Orleans Entrepreneur Week

3D printing, the 30 year old technology that has captured the imagination of artists around the world, has made its way into New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW) in the form of a 3D Printed Design Contest. The Idea Village, in partnership with the New Orleans Museum of Art, announced the contest a few short weeks ago and received many amazing entries. The winning entry, Nodal Structures by Shea Trahan, was said to make the leap from technology to the realm of art and design. Mandela by Darrin Butler and the 3D Printed Bikini, Lena, by Frances Guevara tied for second place. An honorable mention was also given to 4th grader Ana Hankins, the 3D artist of the future. Taylor told her to continue drawing while also embracing the new technology of 3D printing.

Additional coverage of New Orleans Entrepreneur Week can be found at https://siliconbayounews.com.