blogalicio.us

The @mayorcapdeville just pulled up @ cap (Taken with Instagram...

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 19:03:07 -0500

The @mayorcapdeville just pulled up @ cap (Taken with Instagram at Capdeville)

Lunch & Learn September 21st

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 11:44:05 -0500

Hi Everyone-
Be sure to RSVP to this month’s Lunch & Learn program presented by Orian Williams of Fleur de Lis Financial. Orian will share with us tips on “Protecting Your Business (That You’ve Worked So Hard to Build)”!

Free pizza from Reginelli’s will be provided by Fleur de Lis Financial.

Click here to RSVP

Taken with instagram

Sat, 27 Aug 2011 15:06:37 -0500

Taken with instagram

The good ole’ Strand (Taken with Instagram at Manhattan...

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 17:37:40 -0500

The good ole’ Strand (Taken with Instagram at Manhattan Beach - The Strand)

Makin Popsicles (Taken with instagram)

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 09:01:13 -0500

Makin Popsicles (Taken with instagram)

Taking a break on the Natchez chase (Taken with Instagram at...

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 07:02:54 -0500

Taking a break on the Natchez chase (Taken with Instagram at Natchez Trace- ridgeland)

Have a safe trip (Taken with Instagram at Nautical Whimsy)

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 13:33:16 -0500

Have a safe trip (Taken with Instagram at Nautical Whimsy)

In Tupelo Mississippi, birthplace of the King. (Taken with...

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 12:50:36 -0500

In Tupelo Mississippi, birthplace of the King. (Taken with Instagram at Elvis Presley’s Birth Place and Museum)

Video

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 08:56:42 -0500

Venture for America-StartUp Summit

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 11:42:20 -0500

Launch Pad will host a great opportunity from Venture for America on

Tuesday, July 12 at 6:30 PM in the IP Boardroom

Please read the invite below from Andrew Yang of Venture for America

RSVP to: eileen@ventureforamerica.org

Hello -

With your help, we want to send 10+ of the top college graduates from around the country to New Orleans to work for your companies.

Venture for America (VFA), a new national non-profit, will begin recruiting at top colleges around the country this fall for its inaugural class of 2012 Venture Fellows. VFA (patterned after Teach for America) will be offering a competitive fellowship program for top college graduates to work in select start-ups or early-stage companies for 2 years. At the same time, the organization aspires to spur enterprise and encourage entrepreneurship in parts of the U.S. that struggle to attract top college graduates. The goal of Venture for America is to create 100,000 U.S. jobs by 2025 and train hundreds of future founders and CEOs.

You can find out more about the organization at www.ventureforamerica.org.

Our goal is to place at least 10 Fellows at entrepreneurial companies in the New Orleans area starting in the Summer of 2012. To that end we’ll be hosting a Start-up Summit on Tuesday, July 12th at 6:30PM at Launch Pad in the IP Boardroom. Light fare will be provided by Capdeville Restaurant and everyone is invited next door to Capdeville for drinks after the event.

We are expecting a good turnout and hope you will plan to be part of it!

Please RSVP to Eileen Lee (eileen@ventureforamerica.org), and let us know if we can provide any other information that might be helpful.

Congratulations on the great work that you’re doing - we’re eager to send young people to both support and learn from you.

All of the best, - Andrew

Venture for America

Launch Fest Impact Report

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 13:59:49 -0500

Friends -

Its hard to believe it just a month ago we gathered for Launch Fest to celebrate the startup spirit in New Orleans. Having Brad Feld and Scott Case in New Orleans was truly a highlight!

It’s been an amazing month since then with the Launch Pad Ignition founders hitting New York for TechCrunch Disrupt last week and headed out to Silicon Valley for meetings next week.

We want to take a moment to reflect on the experience and share the impact of Launch Pad Ignition and Launch Fest on the entrepreneurs who we fund and support.

LAUNCH PAD IGNITION

Please give our 2nd Annual Impact Report a read to see all about what was accomplished through Ignition.

We funded 6 high-growth startups in March. Those startups went through an intensive 7-week program prior to Launch Fest that has continued over the last month. We’re proud of what we’ve built:
Most startups funded in Louisiana in 2011.
First startup conference in Louisiana - completely free and open to the public.
The first Launch Pad Ignition class includes:
Dydra - cloud-based database as a service
Gamebuilder Studio - cross platform game creation tools
Badger - social picture sharing around interests
Rayku - peer-to-peer micro-tutoring network
Kinio - sell films online
Liveset - HD streaming platform for live concerts
MEDIA & LINKS
Tech Cocktail - Launch Pad Ignition Blasts Off First New Orleans Startup Class
Wall Street Journal’s All Things Digital - New Orleans Start-Up Accelerator Ignition Launches Six Companies
NOLA.com / NOLAVie - Six local startups pitch their ideas at Launch Fest
TechCrunch - Absolute Must Watch: Office Hours With Paul Graham at TechCrunch Disrupt
TUAW - Companies to Watch at Disrupt
Pictures from Launch Fest
Videos of the presentations
Videos of the Ignition pitches

SUPPORTERS

Thank you to all of the investors, speakers, mentors, attendees and volunteers who came together for the event and supported these founders. A big thank you to all of our sponsors, without whom it would not have been possible.
Microsoft BizSpark, New Orleans Downtown, UEP Kauffman Foundation, Louisiana Entertainment, FBT Investments, BVM Capital, LGDI, Jones Walker and Launch Pad.
NEXT STEPS

Stay tuned for big announcements coming from Launch Pad Ignition companies. Applications for Launch Pad Ignition open December 1st. And you can get a leg up on things by kicking off your entrepreneurial venture now by joining Launch Pad.

Thanks again!

- Chris, Barre, Peter, Will, Katy & the Launch Pad Ignition founders

Everything You Need to Know About Launch Fest

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 12:26:51 -0500

Hey folks!

Jazz Fest is here and Launch Fest is right around the corner. We hope you’re as excited as we are. Please save this email, its got everything you need to know!

THE DEETS

When: Wednesday, May 4 & Thursday, May 5 - 2-5pm - Registration opens at 1pm
Where: New Orleans Museum of Art, One Collins C. Diboll Circle, City Park New Orleans, Louisiana 70124 (Map)

We’ve got a great lineup of speakers.
Brad Feld - Foundry Group
Scott Case - Startup America
Stephen DiMarco - Compete.com
Anne Driscoll - Ning
Bob Dorf - Customer Development
Sean Greene - SBA
Leah Culver - Convore
Brent McCrossen - Audiosocket
Wednesday, May 4 - Entrepreneur Day - Programming targeted towards startups
1pm - 2pm - Conference registration at NOMA
2pm - 5pm - Sessions
7pm - Speaker + Investor + Mentor + Founder dinner (invitation only)
Thursday, May 5 - Investor Day - Demo Day - Ignition company pitches & investor sessions
Noon - 1:30pm - Investor roundtable luncheon in NOMA boardroom (invitation only)
2:00pm - 3:15pm - Startup America panel & Brad Feld
3:30pm - 4:30pm - Ignition demo day pitches - if you can just make one thing, you don’t want to miss this!
4:30pm - 6:30pm - Investor + Founder reception
THE LAGNIAPPE

A few tasty extras to fill ya up on Launch Fest.

Dress is casual
We want you to be comfortable and ready to enjoy all New Orleans has to offer while you’re here

Transportation to NOMA/Launch Fest/Jazz Fest
There is a shuttle bus making continuous trips from the French Quarter/Downtown to the Fairgrounds each day. You can purchase tickets and learn more here.
NOMA is a 15 minute cab from downtown hotels.

Parking Info
Parking is available around NOMA in City Park. On Thursday Jazz Fest will be going on, so plan a few extra minutes to find a parking spot. Parking will be available by the tennis courts.

Admission to Launch Fest May 4-5th
Paying for admission to the New Orleans Museum of Art is NOT required, just mention you are here for Launch Fest. If you have not registered, please do so now, but don’t worry about bringing tickets, we’ll have your name on the list for check in.

Attending Jazz Fest May 4-8th
Purchase your ticket online or at the gate For more information and full line up click here

Attending Barre Fest May 5-6th
If you’ve read this far, we’ve got a treat for you. Our very own Barre Tanguis is hosting his own fest Friday & Saturday alongside the action at Jazz Fest. Stop by Barre Fest before or after your day at Jazz Fest, walk ups welcome and encouraged. We’ll be socializing during the day and partying at night Friday and Saturday. Cold beer, bbq, live music and Barre! What more could you want?
1459 Verna Court (map)

Happy Launch Fest! See you Wednesday.

- Katy, Barre, Peter, Chris, & Will

Lunch and Learn April 13th with Brent Lemoine

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 10:37:43 -0500

Come to Launch Pad on Wednesday, April 13th for our monthly Lunch and Learn program at Noon.

This month Brent Lemoine of Stern Agee will discuss

Retirement Planning for Small Business Owners and Employees

Lunch will be assorted Po-Boy’s from Johnny’s and provided by Stern Agee.

Click HERE to RSVP!

Lunch and Learn with Jude Boudreaux March 30th

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 10:15:08 -0500

Join us at Launch Pad on Wednesday, March 30th from Noon until 1 for our monthly program Lunch and Learn.

Jude Boudreaux of Upperline Financial Planning will present:

“Cash Flow Management at Home (or Budgeting that Doesn’t Suck)”: A strategy to simplify your financial life and increase harmony at home.

Lunch from Capdeville is sponsored by Upperline Financial Planning.

Space is limited so RSVP now!

Throw Me Some Information Mister!

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 13:29:34 -0600

As the new Community Manager at Launch Pad I feel like I’m really starting to get into the “swing of things” but I still have a lot to learn and there is one area that I need some major advice in…

…Mardi Gras! Even though I grew up in Mississippi, it was in North Mississippi where our spring ritual was dressing up in hoop skirts and giving tours of antebellum homes. Not exactly a party..so this year is my first Mardi Gras ever and I need all the help and advice I can get! Let’s start with first things first: King Cake. I had my first piece when I bought a regular king cake at Rouse’s…nothing special yet it was a formative moment in my young, new life here in New Orleans. I appreciate glitter icing in a much deeper sense now and I’m already wondering if I can hoard a few in my freezer to make it through the non-king cake season? Fueled by cinnamon and sugar, I’ve know at least enough about the season to have a wig and comfortable (and sparkly!) shoes ready. What’s the best way to take in all the action? Do I stake out a spot hours before or hop on my bike and explore the whole route? Do I need to pack food and drink for the day? Where is the bathroom?!! Clearly, I need some tried and true advice to survive “the marathon”. Do you watch from the street, a friend’s house, or a pub, or do you mix it up and do all three? Now supposing I’ve got a spot for watching parades, a drink in my hand and a Hubig’s pie tucked under my wig, can somebody tell me, how do I get a Zulu coconut? What are the magic words to get royalty to throw my way? Besides the coveted Zulu coconut, what are other throws I should strive for? I’m sure your first Mardi Gras is one you’ll never forget, that is, of course, if you can remember it in the first place! Which leads me to perhaps the most informative area of discussion. How DO you survive the “marathon” of indulging? I’ve been told the secret is “bloody mary, beer, coffee, repeat”. But I must admit, I’m not much of a coffee drinker…do you think it would be ok to sub Zapp’s for coffee? Katy LP Community Manager Loading…

Launch Pad Graduation Celebration

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 15:22:40 -0600

We’re celebrating the graduation of 3 Launch Pad companies on Tuesday, March 1st. We’ll have pizza from Noon until 1:00 and you can join us in congratulating our graduates and explore office openings at Launch Pad.

Click here and RSVP now!

Announcing Launch Pad Ignition

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 13:23:20 -0600

I am excited today to announce Launch Pad Ignition, our new startup accelerator program.

This is the culmination of several years of planning and preparation, and we are particularly excited to be launching as a part of the TechStars Network, and by extension the Obama administration’s new Startup America Initiative.

Ignition has been a personal passion project. The conversation started a year ago, after I wrote my open letter to David Cohen (see, they really work). Andrew Hyde has been a huge supporter and Taylor Davidson has been instrumental in helping us model this out and make it happen. Thank you to the fantastic mentors who have already committed to being onboard. If you’re interested, please contact me. I’m excited to be working with my co-founders of Barre Tanguis, Will Donaldson, Peter Bodenheimer and Mark Graffagnini, this really is like a startup itself.

An exciting leap for the New Orleans startup ecosystem, Ignition creates a framework to help founders refine their product offering, invigorate their business plans, and raise funding to fuel their growth. So, if you are a startup in New Orleans, or willing to move to New Orleans to accelerate the growth of your company, definitely check out the info and get your application in before March 18.

Learn more about Launch Pad Ignition, the TechStars Network, and Startup America. See more detailed information in our press release. We are proud to be playing a role in accelerating entrepreneurship. Startups, start your engines!

Secrets to a 5 Minute Pitch

Sat, 08 Jan 2011 12:19:25 -0600

We’re doing a Five Minute Pitch on Wed at Launch Pad. Here is the coaching guidance that I just sent out to the companied presenting.

format - we are going to hold you to 5 min, so be sure to keep your pitch tight and focused. this is plenty of time if you are rehearsed and gives you an opportunity to communicate about your company or project in a way that will keep the audiences attention and hopefully spark conversation with you afterwards.
goal - what do you want to accomplish? start there, think about that deeply. are you trying to raise funding, attract users/customers, generate press? utilize this forum to accomplish something for your business. focus on achieving that goal and don’t worry if your pitch isn’t broad enough to be interesting to everyone. that’s why we’re keeping them to 5 min. this is not an exercise, this is an opportunity to accomplish something for your business.
ask - close (and maybe open too) with your ask. be specific and be clear. ie: 1) we’re looking to find new school customers, so if you know anyone in education, please refer me to them. 2) we’re currently raising a seed round of $500k and have $200k committed. 3) we are looking to generate awareness about our platform so please follow us @yourname and tweet about us 4) we’re looking for beta users to please sign up on www.yourwebsitename.com for an invite.
practice - please, please, please give your pitch out loud, standing up. if you don’t you will run too long. You will have 100x improvement in your pitch by giving it several times, getting feedback, doing more of whats working, less of whats not. ask for candid feedback. treat this as the real-deal, not a practice. you want to be proud of your pitch.
show, don’t tell - if you have a product, show it, demo it if you can do it very quickly. 1-2 min videos are great, b/c you can prepare them in advance and they can be extremely professional. live demos are difficult to do, if you are going to do it, please have someone else to “drive”. screenshots of your product are actually much better than a live demo. remember, the audience doesn’t know your product nearly as well as you do, so showcase the “wow” factor, but don’t expect them to understand it and don’t try to do a deep dive about how it works. focus on the sexy and sizzle.
elevator pitch arc - there are lots of blog posts about what people want to hear in an elevator pitch. this obviously varies depending on what your goal is. but have a clear outlined format, don’t just talk. you’ll be judged by the audience as much on your professionalism and clarity in approach as you will on your product. remember to touch on things like: problem, solution, market, team, traction, business model.
deck - i’d recommend keeping it to 5-8 slides, unless you are able to run your preso very tightly and succinctly. don’t read whats on the slide, use the slide for backup and then give context, explanation or tell a story. make sure that what you are saying connects with the slides but you are not reading bullet points, nothing is more dull.
get excited! relax and have fun - the coaching advice here is to help you be prepared and confident. practicing beforehand will give you confidence and help you relax. make sure your excitement about your company comes through, excitement is contagious. this is a friendly audience, everyone is rooting for you. you will be great.

Here are some resources that I like:

LPTV Episode 57 - Lela Cloud, Lionel Milton, George Mauer, Nick Sagano

Mon, 22 Nov 2010 13:05:13 -0600

We had our Thanksgiving Episode this week with a packed list of guests, turkey tasting, & even a cranberry eating contest!! Watch here and see what happened!

Watch live streaming video from launchpadlive at livestream.com

4:00 - 4:04 - Standard Welcome with Chris Schultz & Andrew Larimer 4:04 - 4:10 - News, Headlines, & Upcoming Events 4:10 - 4:11 - Who’s on & What they do 4:11 - 4:14 - Kate Grace Bauer & Arthur Mintz - Fantastic Mr. Fox 4:14 - 4:19 - Tech Segment - Barrett Conrad // Nick Sagona // PhireCMS 4:20 - 4:23 - George Mauer // Fringe Festival // The Asstronots 4:23 - 4:26 - Lela Cloud // Cloud Candi 4:26 - 4:30 - Lionel Milton // LionelMilton.com 4:29 - 4:30 - Thanksgiving contest!! most in one minute!

LPTV - Episode 56 - November 12 - Suzy Rivera, PJ's Coffee, Kristen McEntyre, & Darren Hoffman

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 11:38:33 -0600

For Episode 56 Megan Hargroder and Chris Boudy hosted outside of Capdeville. Suzy Rivera came on the show to discuss Life-Yoga New Orleans and also her company “Shoe”. Kristen McEntyre & Darren Hoffman of Tutti Dynamics were also on the show discussing their latest kickstarter project. Watch and find out more! :)

Watch live streaming video from launchpadlive at livestream.com