Week in Review: December 5, 2011

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:

You’re Invited! The First Annual Silicon Bayou 100 Release Party: Big news! The event you’ve all been waiting for is nearly here. After receiving several hundred nominations and many grueling hours of work by our judges, the names on the first annual Silicon Bayou 100 will be released on Monday, December 5th, 2011.

Aerial Imaging and Geospatial Firm Pixxures Expands to New Orleans: Pixxures, Inc., one of the nation’s leading aerial imagery and geospatial firms, has opened a new office in New Orleans.“We are expanding our offerings and the New Orleans location will ensure local, timely support for our customers throughout the Southeast,” said Peter Briere, General Manager.

Ignite Your Start-up with Launch Pad Ignition: Info Session December 6th: Launch Pad Ignition is preparing to open applications for their 2012 class. Interested start-up founders and the public are invited to an information session on Tuesday, December 6th, 2011 from 5:30 – 7:00 pm.

Last In Concepts Boasts 800 Employees and $30M in Sales: Jack Warner and Brandon Landry were students at LSU when they came up with the idea for their sports bar and restaurant Walk-Ons.  After getting a C+ for their business plan at LSU, the two found a great location near campus, hustled up $5,000, and opened up shop in 2003.

TOOLBOX: How to make national headlines with your start-up: Even if you don’t have the time, manpower, or funds to execute an extensive PR strategy, there are still ways to promote yourself and stay in a positive light in the public eye.  Below are some tips and resources that can help you become your own publicist, and create traction with the media.

News and Good Cheer from The Idea Village: The Idea Village entrepreneurs have been hard at work since the official Season Kickoff in October, working with The Idea Village network on critical growth strategies to scale their ventures. These entrepreneurs are preparing for the culmination of the 2012 Entrepreneur Season, New Orleans Entrepreneur Week: March 10-16, 2012. Mark your calendars.

BioDistrict Economic Impact: $4B In Capital Investment & 70,000 Employees: The BioDistrict currently has more than 70,000 employees in all trades within the geographic area, and an estimated 15,000 employed by the major institutions of the District. As a result of the investments and implementation of the master plan recommendations, more than 36,000 net new, ongoing and construction jobs in the region are estimated for year 20 of the plan, nearly 21,800 of these at the end of five years.

Fuel Production Continues To Be Major Economic Driver for Louisiana: ith national attention focused on the dangers and environmental impact of drilling and refining oil, Louisiana as a state presented mixed feelings to the media. As much as we hate our dependence on oil, as a nation and as a state, we can’t turn our backs on it just yet. What we can do is look to the future and find creative new ways to satisfy our energy needs.

Blade Dynamics’ First New Orleans Made Blade Hits The Market: Blade Dynamics, which manufactures high tech wind turbines, produced its first New Orleans-made blade at the Michoud manufacturing facility in eastern New Orleans on Thursday.

What’s your signature #?: Everyone’s got their signature hashtag – from @MollyOehmichen‘s #tietuesday to @Liz_Money‘s #newleaf. It can be business-related or just for fun, a one-time tag or a recurring theme. ANYTHING can be hashtagged. It can be an actual tag you want to be searched for or something completely made up and run together like my favorite injured pride tag #biggirlsdontcry.