Empowering Innovation & Investment to Grow Community & Capital for Black Founders
Greater New Orleans:
A place where Black startups are prioritized, promoted, and championed
STARTUP NOIR NOLA is a focused effort to present and promote the strengths and assets of the Greater New Orleans region, curated to amplify the ability for Black founders to access needed tools and expand the pool of tools itself.
STARTUP NOIR NOLA supports, socializes, and stimulates the power of Black entrepreneurs, enhancing local awareness and national attention to the existing brain trust and growing potential of New Orleans as a hospitable hub for Black startups.
Why New Orleans?
Kornelius Bankston
TechPlug
“When I founded TECHPLUG in 2019, I knew New Orleans could be a market that our work could have a lasting impact and our business could scale. I have found that our community work resonates with our neighbors. The business community has been receptive and open to me and TECHPLUG. I believe in New Orleans and the rich resources that she offers for burgeoning and established businesses. I am excited about the city’s growth.”
Dr. Lana Joseph
Jrumz
“I decided to launch JRUMZ in New Orleans because this city is the heartbeat of music and culture. As an audiologist and a proud New Orleanian, I wanted to create a brand that not only delivers premium sound quality but also reflects the spirit, creativity, and resilience of this incredible city. JRUMZ is my way of sharing the sound of New Orleans with the world.”
Courtney Williams
TORSH
“New Orleans is where TORSH’s mission found its spark and soul. This city’s grit and community push us to think bigger, stay grounded, and keep making an impact for educators everywhere.”
Rodney Sampson
Opportunity Hub
“It is imperative that students and alum at HBCU’s be exposed to high growth company building in the fourth industrial revolution as a career path or entrepreneurship journey. Doing so ensures that Black communities and beyond are positioned to obtain upwardly mobile careers, start scalable firms, create net new jobs and build new multi-generational wealth creation with no reliance on pre-existing multi-generational wealth. This is why OHUB is excited to join forces with Greater New Orleans, Inc. on their upcoming HBCU Startup Internship.”
Arielle Brown
Bea’s Bayou Skincare
“New Orleans has a rich culture, gains international spotlight, and is full of tenancious people with thought-prvoking and creative ideas. The manufacturing industry here offers space for opportunity and honestly, could use some flavor from haircare and personal care businesses, so I’m excited to grow here and be a part of that drive!”
Branson Morgan
Boot64 Ventures
“After co-founding and recently closing my startup Ceres, I joined Boot64 Ventures to empower diverse entrepreneurs in New Orleans with a seat at the table. As a Black founder and now participant within the local venture capital community, I’m proud to see the future initiatives that will arise out of Startup Noir Nola.”
Damon Burns
Finance New Orleans
“Starting Munivestor in New Orleans was important to me because technology startups tend to create new economic opportunities for cities. In return, the local community has supported us with funding, talent, culture, sales opportunities, technical support, and exposure. Receiving the level of attention and touch we get in New Orleans would be hard to replicate in larger startup markets.”
