As 2019 approaches, the SEED Incubator Center management team wants the public to know about the opportunities that will be available. We encourage start up business owners and longtime entrepreneurs to consider our services.

Business Pitch: $65,000

in cash and prizes

Our Business Pitch Competition is entering its seventh year! The competition is open to all in the divisions of high school, college, general business and technology. There is no fee to enter. For more information visit www.seedcenterswla.org and click on “Business Pitch.” The Competition will be held April 25, 2019, at the SEED Center. The deadline for entry is April 9, 2019.

Our major corporate sponsors are SASOL and Capital One Bank. Their generous contributions help make this event possible.

IMPACT Award of the Month

The Business Incubator enjoyed another successful year. In May 2018, the Incubator was named Outstanding Incubator of the month by the (InBIA) International Innovation (Incubator) Association. The InBIA is comprised of over 2,200 members and 62 countries around the world. Member companies include business incubators, accelerators, coworking spaces, makerspaces, university commercialization and entrepreneurial centers, small business development centers and economic development organizations focused on building sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems in their communities. This is a significant and noteworthy accomplishment for an incubator that is only five years old.

Peer-to-Peer Roundtable

The Peer-to-Peer Roundtable meets monthly with a select group of entrepreneurs who explore business concepts, challenges and opportunities in a confidential setting. Guest speakers, who are subject matter experts, address the group on such topics as social media, state and federal government contracting, bonding, contracting licensing, marketing, effective hiring and interviewing and many other topics. Utilizing the Edward Lowe Perspectives model, entrepreneurs move methodically through problem solving and business strategy. This is not a lecture format as it is very interactive. If you are interested, our next group will begin in August 2019. Please contact us now.

SEBD (Small & Emerging

Business Development)

Program

This is a joint initiative between the Louisiana Economic Development (LED) and the SWLA Partnership for Economic Development. This program offers at a reduced rate (typically 50%) managerial and technical assistance to small businesses in the parishes of Allen, Beauregard, Cameron, Calcasieu and Jeff Davis. To qualify your business, please go to www.ledsmallbiz.com and then contact us.

Incubator Clients

Of course, the major news story of the year was the purchase of Waitr (2017 SEED Center Business Incubator graduate) by Tillman Fertitta for over $300 million. This is a wonderful example of growing our now local success story. At mid-year, the Incubator had 20 clients with gross revenues exceeding $4 million and total employees of 80. Year-end numbers for 2018 are projecting even higher.

For more information on the Business Incubator or its programming, please contact Adrian L. Wallace 433-0977 or email awallace@allianceswla.org.