The Idea Village

🌟 JOIN US FOR DEMO DAY 2025! 🌟 Demo Day 2025 is the grand finale of The Idea Village’s four-month VILLAGEx accelerator, where high-growth startups refine their business models, sharpen their strategies, and prepare to scale. Over the program, founders gain direct access to expert mentorship, critical resources, and investor connections—positioning them for venture-scale growth. Join us at Demo Day to connect with business leaders, investors, and startup champions as we showcase the Gulf South’s most promising emerging companies. Demo Day is free & open to the public — we hope to see you there! 🌟 More about Demo Day & the current VILLAGEx cohort: https://lnkd.in/gu7YEr9x 🌟 Register for free for Demo Day: https://lnkd.in/gzDnnJSn

Exciting announcement from the IDEApitch 2025 winner (and VILLAGEx Alum) Spot2Nite! 🎉

In partnership with Regions Foundation, TechBirmingham is launching Sloss.Tech/Ideas, a brand-new regional pitch competition offering Southeast startups the chance to showcase their innovations and win over $50,000 in non-dilutive funding! Open to early-stage startups across AgTech, HealthTech, Mobility, and Emerging Tech, the competition provides exposure to investors, professional coaching, and exclusive networking at Sloss Tech—the Southeast’s hottest tech conference. 📅 Competition Date: June 25, 2025 | 📍 Location: Birmingham, AL 🚀 Apply by April 25: Sloss.Tech/PitchApp Don't miss this opportunity to pitch in front of top VCs and industry leaders!

The AI data center boom is shifting away from the coasts — and Louisiana is poised to seize the moment. With our abundant energy, strong water infrastructure, and unmatched economic development support, we’re ready to be a home for AI at scale. We’re not just watching the future unfold — we’re building it. Let’s talk infrastructure, incentives, and innovation. Read the full article via The Wall Street Journal https://ow.ly/8elW50VrSNA #laio #LouisianaInnovation #AIInfrastructure #DataCenters #LED #DigitalEconomy #ResilientSouth #FutureofAI #BusinessDevelopment

Are you an early-stage founder ready to turn your idea into a scalable business? IDEAinstitute Applications Close March 31st, 2025 at midnight! This is your chance to apply for IDEAinstitute, a 10-week accelerator designed to help you validate your idea, build a strong foundation, and connect with a community of like-minded founders. Why Apply? ✔️ Weekly learning modules that include engaging videos, actionable worksheets to help scale your business, and special guests including entrepreneurs and industry experts ✔️ One-on-one coaching opportunities with local startup founders, business leaders, investors, and the Idea Village team ✔️ A flexible, hybrid program format that ends with the IDEAinstitute Pitch Night -- where select entrepreneurs have the opportunity to pitch their businesses to a panel of diverse judges with the chance to win a prize ⏳ Deadline: March 31 ⏳ Apply now—or tag a founder who should! 👉 https://lnkd.in/efihnWu

Big thanks to FOX 8 NOLA and Lucy Bustamante for having our Sr. Director of Strategic Initiatives, Liz Maxwell, on to talk all things #NOEW2025! We’re excited to kick off a week of innovation, networking, and big ideas across New Orleans. See you out there!

Episode 5 of Season 9 of Big Easy Ideas is out now! How can New Orleans grow sustainably while tackling climate change? 🌱🌊 Join industry leaders Courtney Nicholson (Entergy New Orleans), Michael Hecht (GNO Inc.), Kris Khalil (New Orleans BioInnovation Fund), and Rebecca Conwell (UNO Beach) as they dive into sustainability, innovation, and community resilience in our city. This panel covers the challenges, opportunities, and solutions shaping NOLA’s future. Tune in for insights on building a more sustainable, prosperous region. 🌎💡 #SustainableGrowth #NOLAFuture #ClimateResilience #InnovationInAction

Meet Us at the NOEW Summit – Explore the Lineup & Get Your Free Pass! We’re thrilled to be co-hosting New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (@hellonoew), a week-long celebration of business, innovation, and culture. Catch us at the NOEW Summit (March 27-28) at Loyola University New Orleans—the flagship event featuring two full days of insightful panels, workshops, and networking with top entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders. 🔎 What’s happening at the NOEW Summit? ✅ The future of AI and its impact on startups and business ✅ Lessons from founders who have built, scaled, and exited companies ✅ How innovation is shaping hospitality, music, and the creative economy ✅ Pitch competitions, networking, and expert-led sessions Check out the full lineup and claim your FREE pass now at @hellonoew’s link in bio!

Calling Early-Stage Founders! Applications are now open for IDEAinstitute and METRONOME, 10-week accelerator programs designed to help founders turn ideas into scalable businesses. What cohort members get: ✅ Expert-led instruction on customer development, business modeling, pitch prep, and more ✅ Opportunities for 1-on-1 mentorship from industry leaders ✅ A collaborative founder community & networking opportunities 🎶 METRONOME builds on IDEAinstitute with specialized support for music industry-adjacent businesses, offering exclusive mentorship and industry-specific workshops. Apply by March 31st at Midnight (CST)! 🔗 Scan the QR code to submit a founder profile, or learn more by heading to https://lnkd.in/g8Ztpybe #StartupAccelerator #Entrepreneurship #IDEAinstitute #METRONOME #TheIdeaVillage

NEW episode alert! 🌱 Louisiana and the Gulf Coast are leading the charge in decarbonizing industry and driving renewable energy innovation. Join us for a fireside chat on the necessity and opportunities ahead to engage communities in reaching critical climate goals by 2050. 🌎 🎧 Listen now on Spotify and Apple Music! #BigEasyIdeas #RenewableFuture #CommunityEngagement #ClimateInnovation #GulfCoast #Sustainability #Decarbonization