Steve Case is one of the founders of the technology company AOL. This week, he’s leading a bus tour across five Southern Cities to get a closer look at local startup businesses. On Friday, the Rise of the Rest bus tour makes a day-long stop in New Orleans.
As part of his road trip, Steve Case will invest $100,000 into one New Orleans startup. Today, start-ups competing for the money will pitch Case their ideas in a uniquely New Orleans way — the Krewe du Nieux pitch competition held on a parade float rolling down Magazine street.
Tim Williamson is the CEO of Idea Village, a local business incubator that organized the tour’s stop in New Orleans.
“One key message coming out of New Orleans is: Not only are we creating great entrepreneurs, but were going to do this New Orleans style, “ Williamson says. “We’re not trying to be the next Silicon Valley, we’re not trying to be the next New York, we want to be the next New Orleans.”
The tour’s other activities include a fireside chat with Walter Isaacson, a pitch meeting for high-growth startups, and a networking happy hour with Steve Case at the New Orleans Jazz Market.
Tech and Innovation reporting on WWNO is supported by Bellwether Technology.