Launch Fest Impact Report
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