Propeller announces the inaugural Water Challenge Peer Mentorship class

11 ventures will join a collaborative initiative between Propeller and The Idea Village and supported by the Greater New Orleans Foundation to train entrepreneurs working to solve our region’s most pressing water challenges.

26 November 2014

Propeller is thrilled to introduce the entrepreneurs who will join our first ever, sector specific 12-week accelerator program focusing on solutions to the Louisiana water crisis. Over the course of 12 weeks, these water innovators will receive one-on-one project scoping, weekly office hours with Lead Mentor and former CEO of The Weather Channel Mike Eckert, and peer learning sessions. 
 
This intensive program will build the pipeline of sustainable businesses working to solve issues in urban water retention, urban and coastal water quality, and coastal restoration, culminating in a shot at $10,000 in seed funding during a live pitch competition at Water Challenge Day on March 23rd, 2015, during the 7th Annual New Orleans Entrepreneur Week.
  • Tippy Tippens // Matter Inc. // Design for Good: Matter is a product design and consulting studio, which creates thoughtful products that give back to our most pressing social & environmental needs. You might have heard of us from our launch product BirdProject Soap. All of our products are beautifully made in the U.S. & most in New Orleans.
  • Yvette Tablada & Andres De La Puente // Grounds to Ground // A New Orleans start-up that recycles coffee waste in 100% natural pest repellents and soil conditions for your garden.
  • Harry Vorhoff // Rain Harvesters // Rain Harvesters will sell, install, and manage the best rain harvesting systems in the world.
  • Julia Drapkin // Developing a system that will combine local community observational data and satellite data to connect the dots between where we live, how we live, and the impacts that climate and weather have on the world around us.
  • Alicia Neal // Groundwork New Orleans // Groundwork New Orleans seeks to create an Environmental Education Center which will promote public education, conservation, green infrastructure and utilize creative and environmentally friendly methods to reconnect residents to the River and its tributaries through engagement and education.
  • Dana Eness & Travis Martin // Front Yard Initiative // The Front Yard Initiative will assist residents replace front yard impermeable surfacing with green infrastructure in order to further the sustainability and resilience goals spelled out in the GNO Urban Water Plan, Article 23 of the Draft CZO, the New Orleans Master Plan, and to complement the Complete Streets policy.
  • Zach Hughbanks // Zach Hughbanks Design & Consulting, LLC // An environmentally friendly airboat design for coastal restoration awareness and reconstruction.
  • Connie Uddo // Hike for KaTREEna //  An educational and environmental non-profit working to replant the 100,000 trees lost to Hurricane Katrina in the New Orleans Metropolitan Area.
  • Don & Jon Adams // Advanced Berm Technologies // Creating a process of berm design and deployment that will increase the rate at which the marsh is restored.
  • John Tesvich // Riverbottom Tech // Rebuilding coastal wetlands intelligently and sustainably.
  • Gary Shaffer & Demetra Kandalepas // Wetland Resources, LLC // Seeks to provide storm protection to coastal Louisiana through massive planting of hurricane-resistant baldcypress and water tupelo.