Week In Review: InvoiceASAP, Swellr, Search Influence, Rebirth Financial and More

Here’s our roundup of the week’s top tech business news.   First, the most popular stories Silicon Bayou News published in the last seven days:

Search Influence included on 2011 Inc. 500 – Inc. magazine released the 30th annual Inc. 500, an exclusive ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. The list represents the most comprehensive look at America’s independent entrepreneurs, an integral segment of the economy. This year, New Orleans-based internet marketing company Search Influence was included as an honoree on the prestigious list. Search Influence, which provides its customers with full-service internet and social media marketing, currently has 32 full-time employees and 40 contractors that serve over 1,000 locally focused businesses across the United States and abroad, both directly and as an outsourcing provider to major national companies.

Hollywood Film Studio Opens Shop In New Orleans – Quixote Studios,  the Los Angeles-based film and photo studio that supplies film production crews throughout the country with grip, camera and construction equipment opened a new location in New Orleans at 929 Euterpe St. earlier this month. Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s office noted that New Orleans boasts one of the most diverse portfolio of film and television work in the country, with more movies filmed in Louisiana in 2010 than in California.

NOLA Startup Rebirth Financial Featured in Businessweek – New Orleans-based Rebirth Financial, America’s first person-to-business lending platform and marketplace was featured last week on Businessweek.com. Rebirth Financial was founded by Tulane MBA graduates Chonchol Gupta and Xavier Cabo founded Rebirth Financial in response to the recession.   Rebirth was a key facilitator in funding $390,000 required for NOLA Brewery to start a canning operation. Rebirth was also a successful participant in this years Idea Village Entrepreneur Challenge and was selected to present at FinovateFallin New York next month.

InvoiceASAP Unveils First Fully Integrated Mobile Invoicing Platform Using Jumio For Secure Online Payments – New Orleans-based start up InvoiceASAP introduced the first fully integrated Mobile Invoicing Network for the modern mobile workforce at both the small-to-medium (SMB) and enterprise business levels. InvoiceASAP’s proprietary cloud-based invoice engine enables true on-the-fly mobile invoicing capabilities and seamlessly integrates Jumio’s Netswipe secure online payment technology to deliver the fastest invoice to payment experience. InvoiceASAP was a finalist in the TechCrunch Disrupt conference this spring and has been beta testing since June.

Swellr Connects Community Members to Education Projects through Local Businesses – New Orleans expat Nathan Rothstein, co-founder of NOLA YURP (Young Urban Rebuilding Professionals) Initiative and one of Gambit Weekly’s “40 Under 40,” has teamed up with  Boston businesses to support local community projects.  His newest startup, Swellr, helps connect community members to the needs of education projects by shopping at local businesses.

Jolie and Elizabeth Keep Entrepreneurship Fashionable and Manufacturing Local – Designers Jolie Bensen and Sarah Elizabeth Dewey are the epitome of Southern belles, and their clothing line Jolie and Elizabeth reflects it: fun, ladylike, and sweet. However, these young entrepreneurs are not just creating pretty dresses, but paving the way for the future of a bourgeoning apparel manufacturing industry in New Orleans. The designers attribute part of their passion and success to New Orleans itself. The city, they explain, not only encourages entrepreneurialism and creativity, but also celebrates it.