Ventures - Entries Archive
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
Sponge City
Jenny Wolff & Joanna Farley
Areas of focus: Water
2018 Startup Ventures
24 Carrot Garden
Angel Chung Cutno, Lauren Barron
Areas of focus: Food
Bailey’s Grocery and Market
Conrad M. Bailey, Wanda G. Bailey
Areas of focus: Food
Beautify
Kiyann Clanton, Maya Sewell
Areas of focus: Education
Bright Side Oysters
Nathan Herring
Areas of focus: Water
Culinaria Center for Food Law, Policy, and Culture
Pepper Bowen
Areas of focus: Water
GEM Construction Group
Glenn Moore
Areas of focus: Water
Gienetix
Metoqua Anderson, Justin Anderson
Areas of focus: Health
Insanitea Kombucha
Jordi Figueras
Areas of focus: Food
Irene Morgan Schools
Adrienne Wallace, Melanie Dukes, Malaika Hankins, Ella Every-Wortman
Areas of focus: Education
The Mastectomy Boutique
Dr. Iisha K. Bailey
Areas of focus: Health
Mastodonte
Arien Hall, Luisa Abballe
Areas of focus: Water
The New Orleans Council for Community & Justice
Jordan Bridges
Areas of focus: Education
New Orleans Stormwater Training Corps (NOSTC)
Oji Alexander, Monique Pilié, Daniel Johnson
Areas of focus: Water
WhereWeGo
Ben Ifshin, Leah Lykins
Areas of focus: Education
KNOW Card Games
Freddi W. Evans
Areas of focus: Education
RePurpose Food Co.
Shani Christopher
Areas of focus: Food
Saul’s Light Foundation
Kimberly Novod
Areas of focus: Health
The Split Second Foundation
Hope Leblanc, Darryl Willis, James E. Vinturella, Mark Raymond Jr.
Areas of focus: Health
Water Block, LLC
Atianna Cordova
Areas of focus: Water
2018 South Broad Business Initiative
A Priority One Rental Car
James Washington Sr. & James Washington Jr.
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
Chef D’z Cafe on the Ave.
Donald Smith
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
Emerald Service
Ty Davis
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
We Bleed Ink Tattoo Shop
Trevone Sansom
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
Umoja Visions
Beverly D. Smith
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
The Lipstiq Lady Cosmetics
Tara Simmons
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
Nola Organic Mani-Pedi Spa
Sonjauh V. Green
Areas of focus: Community Economic Development
2018 Growth Ventures
Bhoomi
Arpit Bhopalkar & Elora Turner
Areas of focus: Food
Bellegarde Bakery
Mollie Sciacca
Areas of focus: Food
Cupcake Fairies
Michele Burton-Oatis & Melissa Woods
Areas of focus: Food
Recirculating Farms Coalition
Emily Shinn
Areas of focus: Food
Ma Momma’s House of Cornbread, Chicken, and Waffles
Nicole P. Mackie & René P. Guzman
Areas of focus: Food
Teaching Responsible Earth Education
Heather Szapary, Arianne Carson, Chris Lee
Areas of focus: Water
The Water Collaborative of Greater New Orleans
Nathan Lott & Talia Latch
Areas of focus: Water
Home by Hand
Oji Alexander
Areas of focus: Water
Urban Conservancy
Dana Eness
Areas of focus: Water
Mymee
Mette Dyhrberg, Eric Lubow
Areas of focus: Health
The Doc Griggs Foundation
Dr. Eric Griggs
Areas of focus: Health
Magnolia Yoga Studio
Adrianne Jackson
Areas of focus: Health
Playworks
Qasim Davis, Brandi Freemen, Christine Saja, Trishana Williams
Areas of focus: Health
KID smART
Elise Gallinot Goldman
Areas of focus: Education
Start the Adventure in Reading
Veronica Reed & Amanda Chittenden
Areas of focus: Education
2017 South Broad Business Initiative
Da Grill Mobile Catering Service
Ben Smith
Custom Optical New Orleans, LLC
Derrick Perique
The Black Professional
Tiffany Willis
Crescent Flight Operations
Captain Philip Moore
Chef Mike, Personal Chef
Chef Michael Marina
La Vie En Rose Cafe
Kirby Jones
All Pro Maintenance Services
Henry Byous, Newtrell Brown, Jason Everett
Mackie One Construction
Earl J. Mackie, MBA
The Godbarber
Ardell Toney
2017 Startup Ventures
The Great Delta Tours
Barbara Johnson, M.P.A, FM
Areas of focus: Water
The Juror Project
William Snowden
Areas of focus: Education
2nd Chance Donuts
Chris Keefe
Areas of focus: Food
Greek Girls Rice Pudding
Artemis Antippas
Areas of focus: Food
Erosync
Alfred Matthews III, Jared Bluford
Areas of focus: Education
Marine Gardens, LLC
Michael Boatright, Kristen Boatright
Areas of focus: Water
Goshin-Kai Academy
Andre Maximum
Areas of focus: Education
Orleans Resource Center, LLC
William Belisle, Ph. D.
Areas of focus: Water
Instar Farms, LLC
Erika Nolan, Maggie Kaiser
Areas of focus: Food
What’s Your Revolution
Dr. Charles S. Corprew, III
Areas of focus: Health
Magnolia Landscape Architecture
David Abadie
Areas of focus: Water
JustBeFly Fitness
Daymian McGuire
Areas of focus: Health
Clean Course Meals
Kim Sawyers
Areas of focus: Food
Crescent City Corps
Brent Godfrey
Areas of focus: Education
SPLC Health & Wellness
Warren Lattimore
Areas of focus: Health
Sista Midwife Productions
Nicole Deggins
Areas of focus: Health
AquaTerra Consulting
Kristen Butcher, Eva Hillmann
Areas of focus: Water
YEAH! YOGA
Bonita Day, Camille Baldassar
Areas of focus: Health
STEM Library Lab
Todd Wackerman, Sarah Sievert
Areas of focus: Education
Schmelly’s Dirt Farm
Susan Sakash & Nicola Krebill
Areas of focus: Food
Mymee
Mette Dyhrberg, Eric Lubow
Areas of focus: Health
2017 Growth Ventures
Batture, LLC
Robert Mora & Jennifer Snape
Areas of focus: Water
Best Life Pharmacy and Restaurant
Chris Sylvain & Cynthia Sylvain
Areas of focus: Health
Bluefin Data
Andrew Petersen
Areas of focus: Water
College Beyond
Paris Woods & Sarah Payne
Areas of focus: Education
Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana
Deborah Visco Abibou
Areas of focus: Water
Dancing Grounds
Laura Stein & Jeremy Guyton
Areas of focus: Education
Descant Ranch Food Hub
Seth Descant & Chris Fry
Areas of focus: Food
Footprints To Fitness
April Dupre
Areas of focus: Health
High Level Speech & Hearing Center
Dr. Lana Joseph
Areas of focus: Health
Kids of Excellence Child Development Center
Kristi Givens & Precious Acker
Areas of focus: Education
STEM NOLA
Dr. Calvin Mackie
Areas of focus: Education
Wilcox Academy of Early Learning
Rochelle Wilcox
Areas of focus: Education
LifeCity
Liz Shephard (CEO), Jessica Nehrbass (Director of Impact) & Molly Richard
Areas of focus: Water
Southern City Farm, LLC
Andrew Prat
Areas of focus: Food
Sugar Roots Farm
Sharessa Garland & Ecoee (Joan) Rooney
Areas of focus: Food
2016 Startup Ventures
Mothers & Caretakers Mending Family Foundations
Charmaine Washington, Chanda Washington, and Joan Surgent
Areas of focus: Food
Ready Responders
Benjamin Swig & Justin Dangel
Areas of focus: Health
Electric Girls
Flor Serna & Maya Ramos
Areas of focus: Education
Coastal Communities Consulting (CCC)
Sandy Nguyen, Cristina Duong & Katrina Williams
Areas of focus: Water
The GlassLand Project
Guy Packard Seaberg, R. Thomas Seaberg, Chris Prasad & Joseph Santiago
Areas of focus: Water
Maritant
Chris Stuckey
Areas of focus: Water
Lift Louisiana
Michelle Erenberg
Areas of focus: Health
Landscape Metrics
Benjamin Wellington & Matthew Seibert
Areas of focus: Water
Bike Rite
Nicholas Reed
Areas of focus: Health
The Hite Law Group
Nicholas Hite
Areas of focus: Health
PrepBiz
Kenneth Bibbins
Areas of focus: Health
Louvis Services
Lou Anne White
Areas of focus: Health
The Southern History Project
Sheila Sundar
Areas of focus: Education
Kids of Excellence Child Development Center
Kristi Givens & Precious Acker
Areas of focus: Education
Well Therapeutics
Dr. Lori LeDuff & Nicole Goldin
Areas of focus: Health
Santosha
Haiyan Khan, Vicki Judice, Kimberly Vanwagner & Eva Sohl
Areas of focus: Health
The University Medical Center Urban Farm
Catherine Hudson
Areas of focus: Food
826 New Orleans
Douglas Keller & Aubrey Edwards
Areas of focus: Education
Whole Village Art Therapy
Holly Wherry
Areas of focus: Education
TrainingGrounds
Christine Neely & Melanie Richardson
Areas of focus: Education
Louisiana Coastal Services, Inc.
Erik Mayo
Areas of focus: Water
Garden on Mars
Jeanette Bell
Areas of focus: Food
Pine Biotech
Elia Brodsky, Jaclyn Williams, Dr. Claudia Copeland, Dr. Amitha Dasari, Dr. Leonid Brodsky
Areas of focus: Health
Descant Ranch Food Hub
Seth Descant & Chris Fry
Areas of focus: Food
College Beyond
Paris Woods & Sarah Payne
Areas of focus: Education
Sugar Roots Farm
Sharessa Garland & Ecoee (Joan) Rooney
Areas of focus: Food
2016 Growth Ventures
Clear Health Analytics
Kathryn Wollan & Jennifer Sclar
Areas of focus: Health
Grow Dat Youth Farm
Johanna Gilligan & Mike Kantor
Areas of focus: Food
Hanging Gardens
Colleen Butler & Anthony Mayer
Areas of focus: Water
The Healthy School Food Collaborative
James Graham
Areas of focus: Food
Martin Ecosystems
Nicole Waguespack
Areas of focus: Water
Operation Spark
John Fraboni & Max Gaudin
Areas of focus: Education
ORA Estuaries
Tyler Ortego
Areas of focus: Water
Royal Castle Child Development Center
Pearlie Harris & Tim Harris
Areas of focus: Education
Sankofa
Rashida Ferdinand & Rosamar Torres
Areas of focus: Food
TrueSchool
Maggie Riddell & Gabrielle Alicino
Areas of focus: Education
Whetstone Education
Libby Fischer
Areas of focus: Education
XS Martial Arts Dojo & Save One Now Acquisition
Jason B. Horne & Monica F. Horne
Areas of focus: Education
Youth Rebuilding New Orleans
William Stoudt
Areas of focus: Education
LHS Solutions, Inc.
Eliel Oliveira & Salvatore Peraino
Areas of focus: Health
2015 Startup Ventures
Capstone
David Young
Areas of focus: Food
Louisiana Farm to School Alliance: Farm2School Database
Katie Mularz
Areas of focus: Food, Economic & Workforce Development
Gator & Crane, Inc.
Emily Gaddis and Darrell Griewe
Areas of focus: Food
Friends of Lafitte Greenway: Growing the Greenway
Sophie Harris & Nellie Catzen
Areas of focus: Food
Top Box Foods
Sam Heyman & Connor DeLoach
Areas of focus: Food
Coastal Rewards
Amory Walker
Areas of focus: Water
New Orleans Mosquito Control Board
Claudia Riegel
Areas of focus: Water
Coastal Waters Workforce
Christina Quijano
Areas of focus: Water
504HealthLearn
Jahangeer Khan & Susan Todd
Areas of focus: Health
Bausey Medical Solutions
Nathaniel Dorsey
Areas of focus: Health
The Resilient Teacher
Stephanie Choy
Areas of focus: Health
Adinkra NOLA
Elizabeth Fletcher
Areas of focus: Education
The Beautiful Foundation, Incorporated
Lauren Perry
Areas of focus: Education
Upturn Arts
Dana Reed
Areas of focus: Education
RisingFoundations
Kelly Orians & Calvin Duncan
Areas of focus: Education
unCommon Construction
Aaron Frumin
Areas of focus: Education
YEP Design Works
Alberta Wright
Areas of focus: Education
Coastal Engineering Solutions
Brent Duet
Areas of focus: Water
Youth Run NOLA: WeRunNOLA Maps
Denali Lander
Areas of focus: Health
High Level Speech & Hearing Center
Dr. Lana Joseph
Areas of focus: Health
2014-2015 Ventures
Community Plates
Melissa Spiesman, Lauren Rudzis, Kevin Mullins, and Jeff Schacher
Areas of focus: Food
The Cookbook Project
Adam Aronovitz and Alissa Bilfield
Areas of focus: Food, Education
New Orleans Food and Farm Networks @ Edible Enterprises
Ashley Mann and Sanjay Kharod
Areas of focus: Food
Center for Restorative Approaches
Troi Bechet
Areas of focus: Education
Live Oak Wilderness Camp
Jack Carey, Bene Webster, Caleb Dufresne, Iris Howorth, Jeremy Guyton, Lucy Scholz, Oskie Creech, and Team
Areas of focus: Education
Million Dollar Scholar
Ras Asan and Derrius Quarles
Areas of focus: Education
Brothers Empowered 2 Teach
Kristyna Jones and Larry Irvin
Areas of focus: Education
Coordinated Care for the Whole Child
Connie Bellone
Areas of focus: Education, Health
Clear Health Analytics
Kathryn Wollan and Jennifer Sclar
Areas of focus: Health
RDnote
Molly Hegarty
Areas of focus: Health
Treux North Wellness
Danielle Burrell
Areas of focus: Health
Greenman Dan
Dan Johnson
Areas of focus: Water
Magnolia Land Partners
Mark Bernstein
Areas of focus: Water
Public Lab: the Riffle Project
Stevie Lewis
Areas of focus: Water
2013-2014 Ventures
Network Voluntours
Zach Cheney & Melissa Garber & Theodore Nathan
Areas of focus: Economic & Workforce Development
FitLot
Adam Mejerson
Areas of focus: Health
Griffin Law Group LLC
Robyn Griffin
Areas of focus: Health
Land Trust for Louisiana
Marisa Escudero & Bridget Kelly
Areas of focus: Water
Limited Times LLC
Elizabeth Townsend Gard & Ron Gard
Areas of focus: Economic & Workforce Development
Pelican Bomb
Amanda Brinkman & Cameron Shaw
Areas of focus: Economic & Workforce Development
TrueSchool
Amy Vreeland
Areas of focus: Education
Werkly
Eric Bernstein & Alix Keller & Kristie Weatherford
Areas of focus: Economic & Workforce Development
Where Y’Art LLC
Catherine Todd & Collin Ferguson
Areas of focus: Economic & Workforce Development
2012-2013 Ventures
VertiFarms
Douglas Jacobs & Kevin Morgan-Rothschild
Areas of focus: Food
Birthmark Doula Collective
Latona Giwa & Dana Keren
Areas of focus: Health
BreakOUT!
Wesley Ware
Areas of focus: Social Justice
The Well Integrative Medicine
Sarah Galos, Arwen Podesta & Sarah Mason
Areas of focus: Health
Justice and Accountability Center of Louisiana
Ameca Reali & Adrienne Wheeler
Areas of focus: Social Justice
VEGGI Farmers Cooperative
Khai Nguyen & Daniel Nguyen
Areas of focus: Food
Louisiana Lost Lands Environmental Tours
Lindsay Pick & Marie Gould
Areas of focus: Water
Broadmoor Arts & Wellness Center
Emily Wolff
Areas of focus: Health, Education
Nola Tilth
Megan Webbeking
Areas of focus: Food
New Orleans Master Crafts Guild
Jonn Hankins
Areas of focus: Economic & Workforce Development, Education
The Healthy School Food Collaborative
James Graham
Areas of focus: Food
2011-2012 Ventures
New Orleans Food Co-Op
Lori Burge
Areas of focus: Food
Goods that Matter
Tippy Tippens
Areas of focus: Water
Dryades Public Market
John Burns
Areas of focus: Food
Good Citizen
Nolan Marshall, Jr. & Nolan Marshall III
Areas of focus: Education
Greenlight New Orleans
Andreas Hoffmann
Areas of focus: Water
Resurrection After Exoneration
John Thompson
Areas of focus: Economic & Workforce Development