Launch Pad on WWL

NEW ORLEANS It's a new era for the New Orleans business community, some say, as bright young minds are making the best of what was a disastrous situation.
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"It's a very exciting time in New Orleans right now, said Chris Schultz, an entrepreneur himself. There's a lot of startups and entrepreneurs that have moved to New Orleans since the storm. I think the storm really sort of stirred up a lot of entrepreneurial energy.

Schultz is helping lead the way for those willing to take a chance.

Last month, he introduced what he hopes will become a spark for entrepreneurs in the New Orleans tech industry. It's called Launch Pad -- and the name says it all. It's an incubator, where Schultz will help companies clear hurdles standing in the way of most tech startups.

"We're seeing a lot of activity, and sort of the entrepreneurial eco-system is coming together from all of the facets that you need to start a business, Schultz said. You know, from a capital standpoint, from a space standpoint."

Entrepreneurs work in a shared space, where the exchanging of ideas and skills is encouraged.

Software developer Matthew Tritico said new companies seem to have the mutual goal of helping the New Orleans tech community become a major player both nationally and globally.

"That's really what it's all about, he said. It's just getting different people from different backgrounds -- designers, entrepreneurs, coders, all of us together to talk it out and see what we can do.

This week marks a big opportunity -- as software giant Microsoft is in town for its Worldwide Partner Conference. Tiffany Ingargiola, who works with New Horizons of New Orleans, a local Microsoft training firm, said it's a chance for startups to network with one of the biggest names in computer and web technology.

"I think it's going to have a huge value, huge impact for the partners in New Orleans for sure, and the state of Louisiana," Ingargiola said.

Christian Thilmany, a Microsoft team member who works with startups, sees plenty of potential for the New Orleans tech community.

"I guess the proof's in the pudding, but yeah, it has tremendous potential, and there's no other direction but up," he said.

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