NEW ORLEANS (press release) – New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW) has announced its lineup for the NOEW Summit, happening Thursday and Friday, March 27-28, at Loyola University New Orleans. The NOEW Summit is the culminating event of NOEW 2025 and anchors the free, week-long celebration of entrepreneurship across the city. Now in its 14th year, NOEW runs March 24 – March 29. To register for the NOEW Summit and other NOEW events, visit NOEW.org.
The NOEW Summit is designed for entrepreneurs at all stages. Among those who should attend include investors looking for their next big opportunity, business leaders navigating change, students preparing for careers in innovation and entrepreneurship, and anyone in the Greater New Orleans community interested in supporting and elevating our city’s future. Previously held at Gallier Hall, the NOEW Summit features a lineup led by many leading business institutions and NOEW partners.
“Bringing the Summit to Loyola strengthens our commitment to entrepreneurship, “said Robert “Bobby” Savoie, dean of Loyola’s College of Business. “We are thrilled to welcome this dynamic gathering of business leaders, students, and visionaries to our campus.” Loyola is co-producing NOEW 2025 with The Idea Village.
Taking place at Loyola over two days on three stages, NOEW Summit sessions include:
- Starting Again: Lessons Learned & The AI-Driven Future – Matt Wisdom, founder of TurboSquid, and Chris Meaux, founder of WAITR, share key lessons from their first companies, how they’re approaching entrepreneurship differently this time, and how AI is reshaping the startup landscape.
- Spotlight on Local Success: Exiting in Music Tech – Jim Odom, founder of PreSonus, shares his journey of building and exiting a globally recognized music tech company.
- The Future of New Orleans’ Brand – Walt Leger, President of New Orleans & Co., The Idea Village CEO, Jon Atkinson, & guests, explore how innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship are fueling the city’s next chapter in hospitality and economic development.
- Startup NOIR NOLA – A dedicated mini-summit celebrating Black entrepreneurs and investors, with a lineup focused on funding, scaling, and breaking barriers to growth.
- The Party Starts Here: The Business of Festivals – A look inside how executives of WRSTBND, Gate52, and a soon-to-be-announced festival are redefining the festival experience.
- Universities as Catalysts for Innovation in Louisiana – Josh Fleig (LA.IO) leads a conversation with Dr. Xavier Cole (Loyola), Greg Trahan (LSU), and Tará Lopez (SELU) to discuss how Louisiana’s universities are fueling economic growth in the Gulf South.
- Transforming NOLA’s Hospitality Landscape– Amy Sins (Chef & Restaurateur) Larry Morrow (Morrow Hospitality, Morrow’s, Morrow Steak) and Robert LeBlanc (The Chloe, Sylvain, Barrel Proof) discuss the future of hospitality and nightlife in New Orleans, as well as their expansion into new markets.
- IDEApitch – NOEW’s signature high-growth startup showcase, where The Idea Village’s alumni compete for an investment prize and prestige of winning this annual treasured pitch competition.
- My Black Country: Songs & Stories – Alice Randall, Dusky Waters, and Teena May – Hosted by Arthel Neville, the final NOEW event will feature the new MY BLACK COUNTRY memoir and album by award-winning author and songwriter Alice Randall with guest performances by Black Americana Festival artist/entrepreneurs Dusky Waters and Teena May, and artists Grace Gibson, Leyla McCalla and special guests. Presented in partnership with Loyola’s College of Music and Media and the New Orleans Book Festival.
“NOEW has always been about pushing big ideas forward,” said Jon Atkinson, CEO of The Idea Village. “The 2025 Summit builds on that legacy with a lineup that speaks to the future of business, the creative economy, and the role New Orleans plays in shaping both.”
From its new home at Loyola University, this year’s NOEW Summit delivers a bold and forward-looking agenda built to inspire, equip, and connect the region’s entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders.
NOEW week kicks off Monday, March 24 with NOEW In Your Neighborhood (NIYN,) which offers more than 35 partner-driven events in various parts of the city. From workshops and networking to panels and pitch competitions, NIYN connects and elevates founders, investors, and business leaders while showcasing the innovation and resilience that define New Orleans’ entrepreneurial ecosystem.
