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Welcome to The Idea Village, a depot of talent and collaboration, created for innovators in New Orleans.

The Idea Village formalized in 2002 as an independent 501(c) (3) non-profit organization with a mission to identify, support and retain entrepreneurial talent in New Orleans by providing business resources to high-impact ventures.

The Idea Village is an independent organization whose attitude is best exemplified by our mantra: “Trust Your Crazy Ideas.”

Idea Village Staff Photo 

BY THE NUMBERS:
To date, we have supported 570 local entrepreneurs by engaging 890 professionals and
allocating over 56,000 consulting hours and $2.5 million in capital. This portfolio generates over $87 million
in annual revenue and has created 1,000 jobs for our community.

THE IDEA VILLAGE STRATEGY:
The Idea Village team supports high impact entrepreneurial talent by identifying growth challenges, setting goals, providing business strategy, marketing support and financial direction. In addition, The Idea Village provides access to development grants, talent and innovative work spaces.

THE IDEA VILLAGE ENTREPRENEUR CHALLENGE:
Each year, The Idea Village hosts The Idea Village Entrepreneur Challenge (IVEC) to drive economic growth in New Orleans. This annual program offers local entrepreneurs access to a diverse resource pool of business experts, professional service providers, MBA students, investors and corporate volunteers who provide resources and strategy to accelerate business growth.  

The program culminates in New Orleans Entrepreneur Week from March 18 - 26, 2011.  Entrepreneur Week marks the culmination of The Idea Village’s year round programming.   Our nation’s most entrepreneurial minds, including 70 MBA students and corporate volunteers, will congregate in New Orleans to provide business strategy to early-stage New Orleans ventures.

THE CRITERIA FOR ACCEPTANCE INTO THE IDEA VILLAGE:
The Idea Village Supports High Impact Entrepreneurs with:

  • Potential to employ knowledge based workers
  • A viable plan to generate sustainable revenues streams.
  • Innovative solutions that fuel long-term and sustained economic growth.
  • The ability to become role models that encourage others to innovate and take risks.

Objective Criteria:

  • For-profit venture
  • Located in the New Orleans Region as defined by 5 parish region
  • Currently generating less than $1 million in annual revenue
  • Currently employs fewer than 10 full time employees
  • Has desire to grow business to more than $10 million in annual revenue in 5-10 years
  • Demonstrates personal investment of capital and/or time in the venture


Past Idea Village Initiatives include:

  • Sustainable Development: To support the growth of entrepreneurs in the green and sustainable industries. Sponsor: Blue Moon Fund
  • Urban Innovation Fund: To provide seed capital and strategy to innovative urban redevelopment entrepreneurs. Sponsor: Rockefeller Foundation
  • 504ward Competition: To support ventures that retain 23-35 year olds in New Orleans.Sponsor: Rosenthal & Jacobs Foundation
  • IV Portfolio: To support the growth and retention of high impact entrepreneurs currently in The Idea Village portfolio, as well as new high impact ventures.

 

Please contact us: innovation@ideavillage.org