NOEW 2026: Loyola Plants Its Flag as a Home of Entrepreneurship in New Orleans

In its 15th year, NOEW entered a new chapter — with Loyola's Center for Entrepreneurship and Community Development (CECD) stepping up as its sole producer for the first time. But NOEW has never been a single-institution story. What makes this week the largest entrepreneurship event in New Orleans is the breadth of the community that powers it. In 2026, Lead Partners GNO, Inc., Junior Achievement of Greater New Orleans, StartUP Northshore, The Beach at UNO, The Idea Village, Tulane Innovation Institute, Lepage Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, and Xavier University joined Loyola to bring six days of programming to life across the city — pitch competitions, industry forums, capital access events, networking gatherings, and more, connecting founders, students, investors, business leaders, and ecosystem builders at every stage of their journey.

The energy was visible across the city long before the first session began. TV appearances, podcast episodes, a NOEW billboard, a streetcar wrap rolling through the streets of New Orleans, and a personalized video from Mayor Helena Moreno — who shouted out the CECD and encouraged the entire city to attend — reaching over 25,000 viewers. Across sectors and neighborhoods, New Orleans showed up. The week culminated at the NOEW Summit on Loyola's campus, where 1,400 people gathered across 52 sessions and 134 speakers, part of more than 2,600 attendees who took part in official NOEW events across 12 venues over six days.

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The Mayor Came to Loyola

One of the most electric moments of the entire Summit came when City of New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno took the stage at Loyola. The room was full — packed with founders, students, community leaders, and everyday New Orleanians who came because they believe in what this city can become. That energy speaks to something bigger than any single event: when people are given a space to gather around the things that matter — economic opportunity, community, a shared future — they show up. Loyola was that space in 2026, and Mayor Moreno's presence was a powerful reminder that entrepreneurship isn't just a business conversation. It's a civic one.

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Loyola’s College of Business Showed Up

Before a single session began, Loyola students were already at work. 85 volunteers powered the NOEW Summit behind the scenes — checking in attendees, coordinating speakers, supporting logistics, and ensuring that 1,400 people had a seamless experience on our campus. 80% of those volunteers were Loyola students, and 88% of them came from the College of Business. But their presence didn't stop at the volunteer role.

Many took the opportunity to step into sessions, engage with speakers, and build real connections with founders, investors, and community leaders from across New Orleans. They weren't just helping run an event — they were participating in it, learning from it, and representing their university with every conversation they had. From the students working the registration desk to the ones sitting front row asking questions, NOEW 2026 was a showcase of what the College of Business and Loyola are made of.

Loyola Highlights from the NOEW Summit

Loyola wasn't just the home of NOEW 2026 — it was woven into the fabric of the event itself. Members of the Loyola community took the Summit stage as speakers, moderators, panelists, and workshop facilitators. Here's a look at the sessions where Loyola voices led the conversation:

• Andrew Albert '14 — Alum | The Idea Village

The 3rd Coast Playbook: Winning Coastal Capital from the Gulf South — Moderator

Albert moderated a strategic conversation with founders and VCs on how Gulf South startups can attract investment from national and coastal investors.

• Ryan Chavez — Professor, College of Music and Media

AI & the Artist: Marketing Music in the Age of Algorithms — Panelist

Professor Chaves joined a candid conversation about how AI is reshaping music marketing and what it means for artists trying to build an authentic brand in the digital age.

• Lisa Collins — Professor, School of Communication and Design

Reclaiming the Narrative: Independent Media and Community Power in New Orleans — Moderator

Collins led a powerful conversation with independent media founders on how local storytellers amplify underrepresented voices and shape how New Orleans sees itself beyond the tourist narrative.

• Jane Cooper — Professor, College of Business

FundU: How to Make Your Startup Fundable — Panelist

Speaking as a representative of Flamingo Funders, Professor Cooper gave founders a direct look at what local investors are actually looking for — alongside Gulf South Angels and Corridor Ventures on the Founders' Stage.

• Trey Drury — Professor, College of Law

The Legal Landmines That Slow Startups Down — Moderator

Professor Drury moderated a frank conversation about the legal pitfalls that quietly derail growing companies — from equity tension and co-founder dynamics to contracts that don't age well.

• Stephanie Gaskill — Associate Director, Jesuit Social Research Institute

Entrepreneurship as Reentry: Stories of Change — Moderator

Gaskill moderated one of the Summit's most human sessions — spotlighting formerly incarcerated entrepreneurs, their journeys, and the support systems that help them thrive.

• Dr. Michelle Johnston — Faculty, College of Business

The Seismic Shift in You — Workshop

Grounded in her bestselling book, Dr. Johnston challenged founders and executives to make 7 practical mindset shifts that help leaders build teams and cultures that actually scale — a session that drew strong praise in post-event surveys.

• Lebron Joseph (LBJ) '83 — Alum | Anchor, WGNO-TV & WYLD-FM

From Backyard BBQ to $17 Million for Good: The Hogs for the Cause Story — Fireside Chat Moderator

LBJ led a beloved fireside chat with Becker Hall of Hogs for the Cause — the story of how a backyard cookout became a $17M+ force for pediatric brain cancer research.

• Robért LeBlanc '00 — Alum | Founder, LeBlanc + Smith

Serving Innovation: How New Orleans is Building Restaurant Tech — Panelist

LeBlanc joined founders from Oyster Sunday and Ingest to explore how restaurant technology gets built and scaled in a city where hospitality excellence sets the standard.

• Fletcher Mackel '97 — Alum | Anchor/Reporter, WDSU TV NBC New Orleans

Inside the Cult Brands: Batter a Bakery & Super Witch on Social Growth — Moderator

Mackel moderated a lively discussion with the founders of Batter Bakery and Super Witch Ice Cream on how they've turned Instagram and TikTok into cult-brand-building engines.

• Jonathan McHugh — Faculty, College of Music and Media

Building Empires: The Business of New Orleans Music — Moderator

McHugh moderated a standout session exploring how New Orleans musicians — including Andrew Campanelli (The Revivalists) and Robert Mercurio (Galactic, Tipitina's) — are building full business empires beyond the stage. Presented by the College of Music and Media.

• Dr. Leo Seoane '91 — Alum | Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine (XOCOM)

The New BioDistrict: What's Now & What's Next — Panelist

Dr. Seoane joined leaders from across the BioDistrict New Orleans ecosystem to discuss the district's renewed vision and the investments accelerating growth in healthcare and life sciences in our region.

• Frankie Weinberg — Faculty, College of Business

Scale Yourself First: A New Approach to Mentorship — Workshop

Weinberg led an interactive workshop on the Founders' Stage, challenging entrepreneurs to rethink mentorship from the inside out.

 

NOEW 2026 was proof of what's possible when a university is deeply, genuinely connected to its city. Loyola didn't just host this event — we helped shape it, we showed up in it, and we sent our community out into it. The founders and innovators who walked our campus this year left knowing that Loyola is not just a place to learn — it's a place where the future of New Orleans gets built.

See you in 2027, New Orleans.

For more information, visit www.noew.org