The 2016 Silicon Bayou 100 is the sixth annual list of the 100 most influential and active people in tech and entrepreneurship in Louisiana. The list is compiled by you, the community, through an anonymous nomination process.
Over the next few days we will be sharing the bios of each of the 100 in alphabetical order. Meet group 8 below:
Michael Hecht
After working with small businesses in New York City and directing business recovery services for Louisiana Economic Development, Michael Hecht has made his mark locally by running the steamship Greater New Orleans, Inc. GNO, Inc. is a regional economic development alliance serving the 10-parish region of Southeast Louisiana and has been integral in bringing attention the digital media scene in New Orleans. On LinkedIn. On Twitter.
Mike Eckert
Mike was a member of the launch team of The Weather Channel and served as its President and CEO for 14 years. Mike is now involved in the New Orleans startup community. He was an Entrepreneur-in-Residence for The Idea Village beginning in summer 2013, and is currently the vice chairman of the board of directors of Angel Capital Association, and the chairman of the NO/LA Angel Network. On LinkedIn.
Neel Sus
Neel is an engineer by education but a true business man by trade. He’s currently the CEO of Susco Solutions, a productivity software development firm, and Touch Studios, a mobile development firm, both based in New Orleans. Outside of his own businesses, he is a founding member of Net2NO, a mentor to young entrepreneurs, and is involved as a board or committee member in many local organizations including the American Marketing Association, Louisiana Technology Council, and GNO, Inc. On LinkedIn. On Twitter.
Neil Gibbons
Neil is involved in a number of ventures, including his role as Board Chair Emeritus, Director and Lead Mentor at the social innovation hub Propeller. He has been balancing non profit mentorship with startups and other leadership roles helping propel many early stage companies past the crucial funding level. Neil also still runs his management company Executive Insight LLC and is the CEO, co-founder and operating partner at Better Digestive Health LLC. On LinkedIn.
Nicholas Pashos
As the founder of BioAestherics, Nick is working to transform breast reconstruction for cancer survivors. The company has created a regenerative nipple reconstruction option for breast cancer patients after they undergo mastectomies.In the past year Nick has won more than $60,000 in funding for product development at local and national business competitions. He is also a current doctoral student and IGERT Fellow at Tulane University. On LinkedIn.
Patrick Comer
Patrick is the CEO of Lucid (formerly Federated Sample), a market research technology firm based in New Orleans that focuses on bringing efficiency and automation to online sampling via their primary product, Fulcrum. After starting out as one man at a desk in Launch Pad, the company now has another office in London a rapidly growing staff. On LinkedIn. On Twitter.
Patrick E. Reed
Patrick is the Director of the Office of Technology Management at LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. He joined the university in 2012 with over a decade of technology transfer experience at both the Georgia Institute of Technology and the LSU Ag Center, bringing a new approach to turning the outputs of biomedical research into products benefiting the public. On LinkedIn.
Peggy Babin
Peggy is the Managing Director of Valmiki Capital Management, which runs the subsidiary Valmiki 504 in New Orleans. The office focuses on Venture Capital and Private Equity investments into local Gulf Coast companies as well as offering opportunities for local investors to the global Valmiki investment portfolios. Prior to Valmiki, Peggy was an associate dean at the A. B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane University for 17 years. On LinkedIn.
Peter Ragusa
Peter is one part of the duo behind mobile health company Better Day Health. Peter, MD, MPH is the CEO and Co-founder. He is a graduate of LSU, the University of Minnesota Medical School and the Yale School of Public Health. He has 10 years of startup, health policy, technology, and healthcare experience. On LinkedIn.
Poco Sloss
Poco has been the President of Bellwether Technology since 1980. The company is a New Orleans-based managed IT services provider that offers clients a comprehensive IT department tailored to fit individual priorities. He has served on several boards including Bureau of Governmental Research, New Orleans City Planning Commission, The Louisiana Children’s Museum, and Canal Barge Company. On LinkedIn.
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