NOEW 2026: A New Chapter for Entrepreneurship in New Orleans
New Orleans showed up. From citywide events to two packed days at The Summit, NOEW 2026 demonstrated how this city builds differently.
In its 15th year, NOEW entered a new chapter, with Loyola's Center for Entrepreneurship & Community Development (CECD) serving as sole producer for the first time. But NOEW has never been a single-institution story. More than 50 partners and sponsors helped bring the week to life, including 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 Entrepreneurship Institute.
The energy was visible across the city long before the first session began. Through media appearances, podcasts, outdoor advertising, and support from community leaders like Mayor Helena Moreno, excitement for NOEW reached thousands across New Orleans.
NOEW 2026 In Review
NOEW 2026 marked a turning point for entrepreneurship in New Orleans.
Explore the full NOEW 2026 Wrap Deck for key takeaways, photos, attendee feedback, and highlights from the week.
▶ View the Full Wrap Deck: https://www.noew.org/noew2026-recap
🎥 Watch Loyola's NOEW 2026 Recap Video:
By week's end, more than 2,800 people had participated in 12+ events across the city, culminating in The Summit at Loyola University. Over two days, 1,400+ attendees gathered for 100+ sessions and conversations designed to connect founders, students, investors, business leaders, and ecosystem builders.
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.
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.
- Dr. 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.
Looking Ahead
NOEW 2026 demonstrated what is possible when a city comes together around entrepreneurship.
The momentum continues next year as New Orleans Entrepreneur Week returns March 8–13, 2027, with The Summit returning to Loyola University on March 11–12.
Until then, the conversations, partnerships, and ideas sparked during NOEW 2026 continue to move forward across New Orleans and the Gulf South.
Learn more and stay connected at noew.org.