New Orleans has experienced an increase of entrepreneurial endeavors such as clubs and events. Adding to the mix, the Loyola University New Orleans Entrepreneurship Association, founded and chartered just last semester, recently put on a pitch event called “Pitch it, Loyno!,” in which local students could put their ideas to the test in front of a live audience.
Students, senior Sean Rowland and junior Garrett Hoffman, launched the association with a mission to create a social setting for current and past student entrepreneurs to network and share skills and experiences.
Founding president and economics major Rowland said, “I have a profound passion for entrepreneurship, and I have also noticed students at Loyola from every college have a general interest in entrepreneurship. We wanted to give these students a way to connect and make the process of starting businesses easier and more proactive.”
Students were able to pitch either original business ideas or their existing business models to a panel of three judges last Thursday (January 30) evening. Below is information about the winners:
ArtistLance – 1st place ($400)
Entrepreneur: Bryan Mooney
ArtistLance works to connect emerging musical artists with young professionals to outsource their branding marketing.
Launchange – 2nd place ($200)
Entrepreneur: Ethan Levy
Launchange is a community of driven students, young professionals, and startup gurus from New Orleans who want to use their skills to create impact through collaboration.
Holomua – 3rd place ($100)
Entrepreneur: Luke Livaudais
Holomua is a social non-profit that works to alleviate financial and health/wellness illiteracy in the greater New Orleans area.
Nanny GoGo – crowd favorite ($50 and a pair of Feel Goodz sandals)
Entrepreneur: Catherine Carter
Nanny GoGo provides parents with a reliable, safe, and easy way to find a temporary nanny when an unforeseen event delays them from picking up their child.