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  1. Why Launch Pad Ignition Matters to New Orleans

    We’re serious about creating a strong startup ecosystem in New Orleans, so I wanted to share why Ignition matters to doing this.

    We’ve raised the bar this year with Launch Pad Ignition, have made investments in 6 high-growth tech companies, and now are doing our best to get them funded.  An important piece of this is keeping them in New Orleans to develop the startup ecosystem here (we have companies who have moved here from Brooklyn, Mountain View, CA & Toronto.)  Staying here is going to be market-driven, ultimately they will go where they get funded. 

    We want to keep these companies here and we need your help. 

    You can make a difference in the growth of startup ecosystem in New Orleans by helping these founders to fall in love with this city just as we all have.  Many of you already have given your time and wisdom generously as mentors to Ignition.

    If you’d like to engage, here are a couple quick ways:

    • Swing by Launch Pad and meet the founders or grab a beer at Capdeville with them anytime for the next 2 weeks
    • Come to Launch Fest on May 5th - just a 3 hour commitment to hear these guys make the pitch of their lives to investors

    Why is Launch Fest a big deal?  Because we have early stage investors from all over the country descending on NOLA to take a look at these companies.  (Jazz Fest didn’t hurt either.)  We have more 30+ early stage national investors (VC’s and angels) flying in for Launch Fest. Foundry Group (Brad Feld - Boulder), AOL Ventures (NY/SF) True Ventures (SF), Launch Capital (Boston), KBSP(NYC), Tennessee Ventures, plus many more.  Any local investor (or entrepreneur raising capital) would be crazy to miss this.

    One more thing I wanted to highlight.  The speakers we have for Launch Fest show the commitment that folks are making to NOLA and we need to understand and acknowledge the important of this as a community.We have the CEO of Startup America - Scott Case & one of the leading VC’s Brad Feld, speaking at Launch Fest.  This is the only Startup America event in the Gulf South, something we are working to get as much mileage out of possible.  

    Don’t miss the chance to take part.  Register for Launch Fest now.