Pitch Night | IDEAinstitute Fall 2025

We’re back for Pitch Night with the Fall 2025 IDEAinstitute Cohort! Join us on the evening of November 19th at the historic Dew Drop Inn for one of the most exciting startup events of the season.

Looking to learn more about emerging startups in our local ecosystem? Join us for Pitch Night—a chance to see innovative founders take the stage to share the bold ideas they’ve been building this fall.

Pitch Night is a semiannual pitch competition where select early-stage founders from the current program showcase their ventures before a panel of judges and a live (and virtual) audience. Each founder will have 5 minutes to pitch, followed by a 5-minute Q&A session. Companies will be evaluated on their concept, validation, business model, and market knowledge. The winner will receive a $1,500 cash prize to help propel their business forward.

Also on the Pitch Night agenda is the Big Idea Showcase, featuring IDEAinstitute alumni who will display their companies and invite attendees to vote for the most promising idea. The winner of the Showcase will join the stage for a short fireside chat while judges deliberate.

Judges for the evening include Nate Verhoeven, Heidi Raines, Destin Ortega, and Marigny deMauriac.

Join us for this evening event at Dew Drop Inn to connect with entrepreneurial-minded individuals, engage with business leaders and investors, and celebrate the growth of our local innovation community.

Agenda:
5:00 PM — Doors Open to General Public
6:00 PM — Pitches Begin
7:30 PM — Networking and Happy Hour

Livestream: Link will be added the day of the event

Due to Dew Drop Inn policy, you must be 21+ to attend this event.
Limited street parking is available; rideshare is strongly encouraged.

IDEAinstitute is supported by the Regions Foundation, LWCC Foundation, Carver Darden, and Wegmann Dazet.

IDEAinstitute Pitch Night is an in-person event with livestream viewing available for remote audiences. Register today to receive updates and the event link.

The next IDEAinstitute cohort launches in April 2026—applications are open now! Interested founders can complete the on our website to be considered for the next round.

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*IDEAinstitute is a 10-week, idea-stage accelerator that introduces innovative entrepreneurs and first-time startup founders to the tools they need to turn an idea into a scalable venture. This accelerator runs two times per year, one in spring and one in fall; find more information on our website.

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The Idea Village champions innovation and entrepreneurship in New Orleans and throughout the Gulf South. Since its founding in 2000, The Idea Village has supported over 20,100+ entrepreneurs with mentorship, coaching, and access to capital. Alumni companies have generated more than $2 billion in regional economic impact. A 501c3 non-profit, The Idea Village provides business accelerator programs that guide startups from the idea stage through venture capital rounds. The Idea Village works every day to cultivate a robust startup community and create an inclusive, vibrant, and future-driven economy. www.ideavillage.org

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