AOL co-founder meet New Orleans startups

Steve Case, co-founder of AOL and top executive of the Washington D.C.-based investment firm Revolution, knows there is more to the world of startups than what is going on in Silicon Valley, New York City and Boston. AOL co-founder meet New Orleans startups

The “Rise of the Rest” tour will make stops in Richmond, Va., Raleigh-Durham, N.C., Charleston, S.C., and Atlanta before ending its trip Friday in New Orleans.

“We want to shine a spotlight on great entrepreneurs across the country that don’t get as much attention as the entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley and New York City,” Case said.

The tour visited nine cities last year, including Detroit, Pittsburgh, Nashville and St. Louis. AOL co-founder meet New Orleans startups

Case said he chose to end this tour in New Orleans after watching the city’s growth in recent years and hearing about the rising number of startups making a home here.

He said he wants to meet New Orleans startups face-to-face, talk about why they chose to build their business here and learn about what obstacles stand in the way of growth. AOL co-founder meet New Orleans startups

Case expects to hear many stories about the struggle to find and raise capital.

He noted around three-quarters of the venture capital invested in American startups last year went to three states – California, New York and Massachusetts. AOL co-founder meet New Orleans startups

“The other 47 states fought over the other 25 percent,” Case said.

As part of his road trip, Case will invest $100,000 in one New Orleans startup.

Case, who has visited New Orleans before, was aware of the city’s tricentennial year in 2018, which he said appears to be a driving force for many initiatives, including drawing more attention to local entrepreneurs.

He said he is relying on local leaders – including Mayor Mitch Landrieu, entrepreneurs and the Idea Village business incubator – to fill out his picture of the city. AOL co-founder meet New Orleans startups

Case plans to take the stories of local startups back to fellow investors, many of whom are unaware of the growth happening in other cities.

“I want more venture capitalists to get on plane and come see what is happening there,” Case said. AOL co-founder meet New Orleans startups

(Credits to Jennifer Larino)

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