Hosted by The Idea Village · New Orleans, LA

Pitch Night

The Region's Startup Ecosystem, All in One Room

Watch the Recap Apply for Next Edition Explore The Idea Village →

Pitch Night is where the future of entrepreneurship in the Gulf South takes center stage.

What began as a small demo day has evolved into the region's premier startup showcase. Pitch Night is more than a presentation—it’s a high-energy catalyst that bridges the gap between early-stage talent and global scale.

Twice a year, we bring together the grit of our founders and the vision of our community to celebrate the ideas that will redefine our economy.

2x Year Live Pitches Networking ECOSYSTEM HUB Community

The Pitch Is Just the Beginning

IDEAinstitute Founder Pitches

Meet emerging founders building scalable companies across industries.

Alumni Showcase Competition

See standout alumni companies return to share traction and growth.

Entrepreneur Marketplace

Connect with entrepreneur support organizations, ecosystem partners, universities, and startup resources.

Networking & Community

Meet founders, investors, students, creatives, policymakers, and community members.

Spring 2026
Pitch Night

The Recap

On June 18, 2026, founders, investors, and community members gathered at The House of Blues in New Orleans for another milestone edition of Pitch Night. IDEAinstitute founders took the stage, alumni companies showcased their growth, and the Gulf South startup ecosystem showed up in full force.

Miss it? Watch the full recording below.

Got Inspired by Last Edition?

Be There for the Next!

Submit your founder profile and take the first step toward joining IDEAinstitute. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis starting in August — next cohort kicks off September 9.

Apply for Next Edition

See You in November

Pitch Night returns in November 2026.
Registration for attendees opens soon.

Fueling the Future of the Gulf South.

Our goal is to catalyze the entrepreneurial spirit of our region. By providing a platform for visibility, capital, and community, we ensure that world-changing ideas have the support they need to start, scale, and stay right here in New Orleans.

Built for the Bold. Open to All.

Founders

Apply to IDEAinstitute and grow your company with mentorship and support.

Investors

Get first-look access to high-potential startups in one of the fastest-growing tech hubs in the country.

Community

If you believe in the future of New Orleans, this is your front-row seat to the innovation making it happen.

Catch Up on Past Pitch Nights

From early-stage sparks to ecosystem milestones. Browse our complete library of past recordings and witness the evolution of entrepreneurship in the Gulf South.

Fall 2025