PowerMoves.NOLA is an initiative of the New Orleans Startup Fund to support high-growth, high-tech startups led by entrepreneurs of color in the area.
Launched in 2014, the program has helped more than 100 companies through direct support in addition to a larger network of investors, advisors and peers. PowerMoves.NOLA is now part of the larger PowerMoves USA, which launched in 2016.
The New Orleans program has announced the new class of fellows, five entrepreneurs who will help make the city’s entrepreneurial ecosystem more inclusive through their participating.
“We are pleased to announce this amazing group of innovators as our next class of PowerMoves.NOLA fellows,” said Jimmy Roussel, CEO of the New Orleans Startup Fund. “We want to attract and retain this caliber of talent in New Orleans. By sourcing and shining a spotlight on this select group entrepreneurs, we’re not only helping them grow their startups, we’re expecting an exponential impact on New Orleans and the surrounding region.”
As the entrepreneurs continue to scale their businesses throughout the program, each of them will receive access to resources such as capital, mentorship, and office space. “This is also about creating deal flow for investors. We’ve selected companies that we think have the potential to provide a compelling return on investment,” continued Roussel.
Meet the 2017 PowerMoves.NOLA fellows:
Brown Girl Media – Lynne McDaniel, Founder and CEO
A digitally native new media company that creates and distributes high-quality lifestyle and entertainment content and other premier media and engaging digital experiences targeted to women of color via web-enabled devices.
Connex – Jason Burns, Founder and CEO
An online marketplace that allows users to search, select, and ship products on the most cost-effective and efficient existing route networks.
Don’t Get Mad Get Paid – Simone Spence, Founder and CEO
An online platform that provides a DIY solution for collecting on past due child support, including filing, document preparation, management, and other tools to make collecting easy.
Exempt Me Now – Sevetri Wilson, Founder and CEO
An online platform that is revolutionizing the incorporation, exemption, and compliance processes for non-profit organizations.
FollowMyCal – Richard Carthon, Founder and CEO.
An online and app-based scheduling solution that allows users to manage multiple calendars on one centralized platform and to share those events with others in a way that is fun and social.