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.
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

Paw Bakery
Myishen Haines
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
