The JEDCO Challenge is back for a sixth year

Our team at JEDCO is dedicated to supporting all businesses in Jefferson Parish, including those that are just getting started. That is why, in 2013, we launched the JEDCO Challenge, a pitch competition to elevate opportunities for regional entrepreneurs. Six years later, the Challenge has become a premier event for Jefferson Parish and an exciting showcase of some of the most innovative startup companies this region has to offer.

Each year, we choose five startup companies to compete for $20,000 in direct capital with additional access to business-boosting services. Each company only has seven minutes to pitch. A panel of Jefferson Parish business leaders choose a winner (with a little help from the audience). In past years, the event has provided a thrilling afternoon of innovation, excitement, and promise. In 2018, we have a new venue and a new date, but we still look forward to delivering a quality event with all the atmosphere and excitement attendees have loved in previous years.

We had close to 30 entrepreneurs apply for the 2018 pitch competition and our team had the challenging task of narrowing down the list.  It was an incredibly competitive year! Our team chose 10 remarkable startup companies to move on to the interview round last week. Our semifinalists (listed below) made up a diverse group of industries with a big vision for the future. Congratulations to the 10 startups that moved on to Round 2:

• Beyond the Equator
• Dig – The Dog Person’s Dating App
• Digital Cargo Management
• Instapath, Inc.
• Pang Wangle
• Pet Krewe
• Pilothouse Software
• Platform Pro
• ProductMatchr
• Stop & Block

A panel of Jefferson Parish business leaders helped us narrow down the list to five. It was a challenging decision, but in the end of two very rigorous days of interviews, they chose five companies to move on to the JEDCO Challenge. A big thank you to Stephanie Kleehammer (Director of Strategic Initiatives at Tulane University’s A.B. Freeman School of Business), Ray Areaux (Registered Patent Attorney and the Founder/Chair of the IP Practice Group for Carver, Darden, Koretzky, Tessier, Finn, Blossman & Areaux, LLC), and Gabby Delgado (Account Producer with Daul Insurance) for helping us make a big decision. The five startups chosen to move on to the final round will pitch at the 2018 JEDCO Challenge powered by Greater Lakeside Corporation.

The event is happening May 15th on the 11th floor of Lakeway One in Metairie from 1-5PM. The event is free and open to the public. Register here.

We’re announcing our JEDCO Challenge finalists on April 12. Stay tuned for the big news!