The Idea Village

10/24/2025

The Founder Value of VILLAGEx 🌟

Growing a startup takes more than a good idea. It takes the right people, strategy, and capital to turn traction into real growth.

That’s what VILLAGEx is built for. Over four months, founders work closely with mentors, investors, and peers who’ve been there before. They get practical guidance, honest feedback, and connections that open doors.

The results speak for themselves—half of our most recent cohort has already qualified for the Momentum Fund, our follow-on investment for qualifying alumni.

We focus on startups preparing to raise $1M+ because that kind of round changes everything. It lets founders hire key team members, speed up product development, and extend their runway to grow smarter.

VILLAGEx helps founders get there with the structure, support, and network to scale on their own terms.

👉 Learn more and apply for VILLAGEx 2026 at ideavillage.org/villagex
⏰ Applications are open through November 2, 2025 at 11:59 PM CST

08/18/2025

🚀 We’re hiring a Programs Manager at The Idea Village!

If you’re passionate about startups, thrive in fast-paced environments, and want to help founders turn ideas into high-growth companies, this could be your next big move.

At The Idea Village, we believe entrepreneurship is a powerful driver of social and economic change. With 20,100+ entrepreneurs served and $1.8B in new wealth created, we’re building Louisiana into a hub for innovation.

As Programs Manager, you’ll:

• Recruit and coach founders in our accelerators
• Build and activate mentor networks
• Lead program ex*****on and events
• Help shape the region’s startup ecosystem... and more!

We’re looking for someone who loves ecosystem building, has a founder-first mindset, and is eager to strengthen the pipeline of diverse, high-growth startups in Louisiana.

Join us in fueling the future of entrepreneurship in the Gulf South.

📍 Full-time, based in New Orleans
👉 Learn more and apply here: https://www.ideavillage.org/careers-programs-manager

05/22/2025

Scenes from last night’s happy hour, where we toasted to something big 🌊✨

We officially launched the Coastal Innovation Challenge 2025 — a brand-new program from The Idea Village in partnership with Shell GameChanger, built to support early-stage startups solving climate and coastal challenges in the Gulf South.

Think:
✅ Expert mentorship & accelerator support from The Idea Village & Shell
✅ A chance to win the $150,000 Shell GameChanger Award
✅ A community of innovators working to protect and restore our coast

We’re calling on founders with bold ideas in coastal restoration, sustainable construction, biodiversity monitoring, and climate risk mitigation. Know someone doing this work? Tag them!

Applications are open now through August 31, 2025.

🔗 Head to ideavillage.org/coastal-innovation-challenge

05/15/2025

05/15/2025

05/15/2025

Join us next Wednesday at The Shop as we announce the Coastal Innovation Challenge by The Idea Village and Shell!

This call for solutions invites founders to develop innovative technologies that support coastal restoration, sustainable construction, and marine biodiversity.

Selected companies will gain access to expert mentorship, business support, and the chance to compete for a $150,000 non-dilutive Shell GameChanger Award.

🌊 DETAILS 🌊
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 | 5–7 PM
The Shop at the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC)
900 Camp Street, Floor 3

This event is free and open to the public. Register below—or send to an innovator who might be interested!

👉 https://bit.ly/coastalinnovation

05/08/2025

We’re kicking off something big — and we want you there.

Join The Idea Village and Shell during State of the Coast 2025 for a happy hour and major announcement: the launch of the Coastal Innovation Challenge — a call for founders with innovative solutions to protect and power our coast.

📅 Wednesday, May 21, 2025
🕔 5:00 – 7:00 PM
📍 The Shop at the CAC | 900 Camp St. | Floor 3
👉 RSVP at https://bit.ly/coastalinnovation

Let’s shape what’s next for the Gulf Coast — together.

04/30/2025

Demo Day 2025 is tomorrow — and you won’t want to miss it.

After months of bold moves and working with industry-targeted mentors, our VILLAGEx founders are ready to hit the stage. Join us for a high-energy afternoon of live pitches, founder stories, and fresh ideas shaping the Gulf South’s future.

This is your last chance to register — come celebrate startups, connect with our community, and catch a glimpse of what’s next.

📍 New Orleans Jazz Market
🗓 Thursday, May 1st
⏰ Doors at 11:00 AM | Pitches at Noon
🎟 Register below for free

Let’s fill the room with the energy our founders deserve. We can’t wait to see you there.

REGISTER HERE: https://bit.ly/demo-day-25

04/17/2025

🌟 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://www.ideavillage.org/demo-day-2025

🌟 Register for free for Demo Day: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/demo-day-villagex-2025-pitch-showcase-tickets-1320127489859?aff=oddtdtcreator

04/14/2025

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!

03/24/2025

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

03/21/2025

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. 🌎💡