The Idea Village, a hub for entrepreneurship in New Orleans, has announced NOLA100, a list of drivers of the local ecosystem who have started ventures from 1999 onward.
The Idea Village staff at their headquarters in New Orleans.
Each entrepreneur has also surpassed $1 million in sales and have been recognized as leaders on the entrepreneurial renaissance in New Orleans. By 2018, the city’s tricentennial, the goal is to have 100 members on the list.
The inaugural group includes: APMT, Inc.; Audiosocket; Big Easy Blends, LLC; Dinner Lab, Inc.;Dukky, LLC; eTax Credit Exchange, Corp; Fleurty Girl; Golden Leaf Energy; Hollywood Trucks, Inc.; HUKA Productions, LLC;IDScan.net; inFRONT; iSeatz, Inc.; Kickboard, Inc.; KREWE du optic; Lucid; Naked Pizza; Netchex; NOLA Brewing Company, LLC; NOLA Couture; The Occasional Wife; PosiGen; Search Influence; Solomon Group; Sucré; Tierra Resources LLC; TurboSquid.com; Your Nutrition Delivered; and zlien.
A few of the entrepreneurs were on site to discuss their vision for the future of New Orleans. “The entrepreneurial movement is well on its way to becoming a significant part of the GDP of New Orleans,” said Matt Wisdom, founder of TurboSquid. “It’s time to recognize these entrepreneurs, their companies, and the impact they are having in diversifying our economy.”
“Just 10 years after Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans is emerging as the hub of entrepreneurship in the South,” states a release from The Idea Village. “Entrepreneurial activity in the Crescent City is currently 64 percent above the national average (The Data Center). We’ve been called America’s No. 1 Biggest Brain Magnet (Forbes), the No. 2 Best City for Women in Technology (SmartAsset.com), one of the 20 Hottest Startup Hubs in America (The Kauffman Foundation), No. 7 on the Most Inspiring City in the World list (GOOD Magazine) and the “Coolest Startup City in America” (Inc.com).”
The Idea Village hopes that these selected entrepreneurs along with those who will join them in the entrepreneurial movement will position New Orleans for the next 100 years.
According to the Kauffman Foundation, “new and young companies are the primary source of job creation in the American economy. Not only that, but these firms also contribute to economic dynamism by injecting competition into markets and spurring innovation.”
The NOLA100 will be honored at Entrepalooza, Sunday, August 30, 2015 at the NOLA Brewery. New members will be added each August in conjunction with The Idea Village’s Entrepalooza event.