The brand new initiative PowerMoves.NOLA is about creating power and opportunity through entrepreneurship in New Orleans. The goal is to increase the number of high-growth, minority-owned businesses through connecting entrepreneurs to mentors, financing and technical assistance both locally and nationally.
As part of the initiative, PowerMoves.NOLA has launched a flagship program in partnership with startup accelerator Techstars. The Risingstars Boot Camp is an intensive, two-day program designed to help early-stage entrepreneurs build viable, sustainable, revenue generating technology startup companies. The bootcamp will happen right here in New Orleans.
Applications will be accepted through April 15th for the bootcamp that will take place July 4th and 5th, 2014 concluding with a demo day where the 25 selected participants will present to potential investors.
According to PowerMoves.NOLA leaders, participants will receive intensive hands-on guidance and coaching on their business models directly from Techstars mentors and other successful entrepreneurs. Mentors will focus on all aspects of an individual participant’s business model, including developing a strong business value proposition, selecting effective customer development strategies, achieving product/market fit, identifying early adopters and establishing sustainable revenue streams while controlling costs.
The bootcamp in itself is a program under the Techstars Risingstars Program, which extends opportunities to demographic groups that are currently underrepresented in the technology startup community.
Risingstars will be awarded a grand prize of $25,000 to the top bootcamp participant. They will also select up to five entrepreneurs to join the Risingstars mentorship program, and PowerMoves.NOLA will select one entrepreneur to receive a $50,000 fellowship.