New Orleans 100: Interview With Idea Village

All Day Buffet has compiled the New Orleans 100, a list of innovative and world-changing ideas that have come out of New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina. Designed to encourage discussion about the rebirth of the city, the NOLA 100 highlights the good that has grown out of the tragedy.

PSFK sent a few questions to 5 of the groups from the New Orleans 100 list who are making change for the better in New Orleans.

Our final interview is with Lauren Baum, from Idea Village. They are a really great non-profit organization that nurtures entrepreneurial innovation.

Tell us about Idea Village.

In 2000, The Idea Village was founded by a group of New Orleans expatriates who returned home energized by experiences in thriving entrepreneurial communities across the United States. The founders realized that fostering similar activity in New Orleans was the key to creating positive economic and social change.

The Idea Village formalized in 2002 as a private, independent 501(c) 3 non-profit organization whose mission is to foster innovation and accelerate the growth of entrepreneurial ventures in the New Orleans region.

A hub of talent that acts as a start-up advisory team for entrepreneurs and innovators in New Orleans, The Idea Village has been a key driver of business innovation in New Orleans by providing direct strategy to entrepreneurial ventures and advocating for a vibrant and economically sustainable New Orleans.

How did the tragedy of Katrina provide a unique opportunity for innovation, change and growth?

Katrina exposed the inner entrepreneur in everyone. As we encouraged the local entrepreneurial community to remain relevant, flexible and resilient, we, too, re-focused our efforts to instill the fundamentals of entrepreneurship - self-sufficiency and creative problem solving - at every level. Our staff swelled from 2 to 11 faithful fans of innovation, stronger and more committed to our mission than ever before.

Since Katrina The Idea Village has:

• Supported over 230 entrepreneurs, 90% remain open and 35% have expanded.
• Retained over 1245 jobs and $105 million in revenue.

Three years after the storm, we believe the local entrepreneurial community is, too, stronger and more resilient, with a confidence and a swagger that is untouchable.

What about New Orleans inspires you?

New Orleans has, indeed, become a laboratory of innovation - a hotbed of talent, optimism and opportunity with new networks flocking to the city and existing networks stepping up in full force.

Ironically, where New Orleans’ challenges were exposed by Katrina, the opportunity to leverage a global network of talent subsequently emerged. New Orleans is uniquely positioned to inspire, connect and engage an international audience in developing a vibrant and economically sustainable community and it is initiatives like New Orleans 100 that provide a platform to do so.

Katrina exposed challenges that are not unique to New Orleans – entrepreneurship, education, urban planning planning, politics, economic development — they have national and global significance and consequences. But if you can solve them here, you can solve them anywhere….and we will.

Thanks Lauren!

Idea Village