Current Ventures
Meet the people making a difference in our communities
We’ve been running our accelerator programs since 2011, helping nonprofits and small businesses impact thousands of lives. Our entrepreneurs are working to tackle disparities in community economic development, education, food, health, and water.
2024 Impact Accelerator
See a a listing of our 2024 Ventures
2023 Impact Accelerator
Big Shane’s Landscaping and Lawn Care
Trevor Monnie and Racquel Hayes McKay
Areas of focus: Water
Community Connection Programs
Jewel Chavis
Areas of focus: Education
EntrepreNOLA
Janice Meredith
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
Fressence
Zak Khanboubi
Areas of focus: Food
Gingerbooch
Luke Sirinides
Areas of focus: Food
Harvest
Brandon Pellerin
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
J&C Marks Enterprise
Jay and Chabry Marks
Areas of focus: Water
Recoup 360
Jhane Garner
Areas of focus: Health
Kid’s Kingdom Academy
Lynette Rivers
Areas of focus: Education
Kingdom Culture
Kisha Brown
Areas of focus: Education
Monarch Learning Academy
Kynisha Jackson
Areas of focus: Education
Motivate Wellness Behavioral & Relationship Health Services
Ledora Yerks-Birdlow
Areas of focus: Health
Reju Juice
Kelley Wolfe
Areas of focus: Food
Shop Bayou
Sanaa Msemaji
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
Small Royalty
Dionne Phillips
Areas of focus: Education
Universal Printing
Psytia Fleming Jordan
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
Viola’s Heritage Breads
Carla Briggs
Areas of focus: Food
Wake
Liz Dunnebacke
Areas of focus: Health
Whimscapes
Kellye Schroeder and Mariah Theobald
Areas of focus: Water
Whiskey & Sticks
Kelder Summers
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
2022 Impact Accelerator
ALAS
Lisa María Rhodes & Yasmin Falcon Morales
Areas of focus: Education
Alliance for Cultural Equity
Ayo Fayemi-Robinson
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
Ceres
Rich Simmerman & Branson Morgan
Areas of focus: Food
Delta Builds
Dr. Dorothy Nairne
Areas of focus: Water
The District E Business Alliance
Muriel Lewis & Andre Gonzaque
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
Element Beverage Company
Keishia Deverney
Areas of focus: Food
Fleur-de-Lis Primary Care Clinic
Dr. Courtney Washington
Areas of focus: Health
Flourish Horticulture and Landscapes
Fabian Harper
Areas of focus: Water
Froot Orleans
Romander “Mannie” King
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
Garden Picasso
Preston Robinson, Jr.
Areas of focus: Water
Gloria’s Garden
Gloria Ward
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
KD’s NOLA Treats
Kimberly Dejan, Lee Ateman, Isaiah Alcorn, & Cindy Barnes
Areas of focus: Food
Little Steps Learning Center
Lakisha Mcleod & Aronisha Mickell
Areas of focus: Education
Phoenix Project NOLA
Erin Teresa Marrero-Savoie
Areas of focus: Health
Sankofa CDC
Naish Williams, Ronni Johnson, & Rashida Ferdinand
Areas of focus: Water
Soule Cafe
Kina Bullock
Areas of focus: Food
The Breath is Life Spa
Julie Menhati Singleton
Areas of focus: Health
Yoro
Robert Haynes & Michael Olaiya
Areas of focus: Food
2021 Impact Accelerator Ventures
2 B Chic Boutique and Glam Parlor
Brandy Armstrong
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
The Collaborative Community Initiative
Michelle Nixon Stanton, Jessica Jenkins, Shana Hartmann
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
Eden Project
Joy Okoro, Charles Aponza
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
JB Holton & Associates
Joel B. Holton
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
Be Loud Studios
Alex Owens, Diana Turner
Areas of focus: Education
Ngombo Cafe and Sanctuary
jackie sumell, Jerome Morgan, Christin Wagner, Robert Jones
Areas of focus: Education
Reunion Shoe Company
Dan Fowler
Areas of focus: Education
Turning Tables
Toure Folkes
Areas of focus: Education
Daydream Koffucha
Dalton Honore
Areas of focus: Food
Soba Hibiscus
Firdaws Ashiru, Vondero Weir
Areas of focus: Food
Hotties Tamales
Dior Ellis
Areas of focus: Food
CORE Louisiana Counseling & Recovery Center
Nicole Goldin
Areas of focus: Health
New Orleans Skate School
Bobby Bonsey and Louise Neal
Areas of focus: Health
VIVIFY
Latrina Woods
Areas of focus: Health
We Lift LLC
Irell T. Warren Jr
Areas of focus: Health
Glass Half Full
Franziska Trautmann
Areas of focus: Water
Kost
Keith Marrero
Areas of focus: Water
Nature Study Project
Gerard Perrone
Areas of focus: Water
Urbanscapes Design+Build
John Coyle
Areas of focus: Water
2020 Impact Accelerator Ventures
Addis NOLA
Dr. Biruk Alemayehu, Jamie Lobo, Prince Lobo
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
Billiot Development
Michael Billiot
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
Community Book Center
Vera Warren Williams
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
El Centro
Lindsey Navarro
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
Cipher 360
Kristyna Jones and Larry Irvin
Areas of focus: Education
Electric Girls
Jillian Sandoval
Areas of focus: Education
WhereWeGo
Leah Lykins and Ben Ifshin
Areas of focus: Education
Diva Dawg
Ericka Lassair
Areas of focus: Food
FOWLMOUTH
Ozzie Mendoza
Areas of focus: Food
Grey Bird Baking Co.
Taylor Moore
Areas of focus: Food
Mandela Burger
Ogban Okpo, April Okpo
Areas of focus: Food
Blossoming Minds Health Center & Family Services
Ebony Evans
Areas of focus: Health
Magnolia Yoga Studio
Adrianne “Ajax” Jackson
Areas of focus: Health
Re-entry Mediation Institute of Louisiana
Sr. Alison McCrary, Jack Ward, Julie Griff, Ian Honore'
Areas of focus: Health
Uptown Benefits
Casey Urschel
Areas of focus: Health
Glory Gardens
Rianda “Reedy” Brooks
Areas of focus: Water
Grounds Krewe
Brett Davis
Areas of focus: Water
Home by Hand
Oji Alexander
Areas of focus: Water
2019 Impact Accelerator Ventures
Artist Journey Allen Gallery Studio
Journey Allen
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
Ascent Blends
Domonique “Dinero” Meyers
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
Beaucoup Eats
Lakesha Reed
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
Brighter Horizons Construction
Charles Aponza
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
Connect2Black
Lawrence Martin
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
Crazy Waffle Bar
Sinnidra Taylor
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
ALAS
Lisa Maria Rhodes
Areas of focus: Education
Excellent Readers
Dwann Wagner
Areas of focus: Education
Early Partners
Kim Frusciante
Areas of focus: Education
Legacy Leadership Academy for Girls
Ronicka Briscoe
Areas of focus: Education
Navigate NOLA
Dr. Danielle K. Wright
Areas of focus: Education
STEM Library Lab
Todd Wackerman, Sarah Sievert
Areas of focus: Education
Cajun Fire Brewing
Jon Renthrope
Areas of focus: Food
NO Hunger NOLA
Alyssa Hernandez
Areas of focus: Food
Piety and Desire Chocolate
Christopher Nobles
Areas of focus: Food
Provost Farm
June Provost, Angie Provost
Areas of focus: Food
Schmelly’s Dirt Farm
Susan Sakash & Nicola Krebill
Areas of focus: Food
Vaucresson’s Sausage Company
Vance Vaucresson
Areas of focus: Food
Broadmoor Wellness Initiative
Bethanie Mangigian, LMSW
Areas of focus: Health
Domango Training
Shanda Domango Brown
Areas of focus: Health
I-STARRT
Sonita Singh
Areas of focus: Health
Integrative Spine Care & Wellness
Dr. Rueben Carter
Areas of focus: Health
Jai Bhakti Yoga Foundation
Christina Andrini
Areas of focus: Health
Mother Wit Maternity & Consulting Services
Tanya Tringali
Areas of focus: Health
Cicada Radio
Asher Griffith
Areas of focus: Water
Delta Flora Native Plants
Lees Hopkins
Areas of focus: Water
Gravel Road Builders and Construction Services
Travis Banks
Areas of focus: Water
Louisiana Land Art
Parker Davies
Areas of focus: Water
The Solutions Journal
Dr. Beth Caniglia
Areas of focus: Water
