AOL cofounder and investor Steve Case made an exciting announcement over the weekend at SXSW. Case, along with venture capital firm Revolution Ventures, Google for Entrepreneurs and UP Global will head out on the third Rise of the Rest Road Trip around the south, including a stop in New Orleans.
Rise of the Rest seeks to celebrate startup communities across the country that are gaining momentum and rising up as entrepreneurs. The road trip wants to accelerate these cities and towns to build upon the next wave of entrepreneurship.
The 1,200-mile bus tour will travel throughout the southern U.S., making its first stop in Richmond on May 4th, then on to Raleigh-Durham, Charleston, Atlanta and finally New Orleans on May 8th.
“The Rise of the Rest bus tour is heading south to some of America¹s oldest cities where entrepreneurs are creating some of the newest businesses, innovations, and jobs…” Case said. “I look forward to celebrating the promise of these rising communities, making investments in local startups, and shining a light on the importance of entrepreneurship in the American south and across the nation.”
Case plans to invest $100,000 in a local startup in each community. Startups based in and near New Orleans can apply to pitch here. Only companies that already have teams, product in market, and customers/revenues should apply.
During his time in New Orleans, Case will host a series of public and private events and visit with entrepreneurs, investors, CEOs, political leaders, and others in the startup community. A more detailed schedule will be released later on.