Investor profile
Innovation Catalyst
Other
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Innovation Catalyst is a nonprofit venture development organization formed by community leaders to strengthen and broaden Louisiana's entrepreneurial ecosystem. It drives new high-growth, scalable company formation by providing Louisiana-based, early-stage companies with capital, coaching, and connections — with a particular focus on companies owned by women, veterans, and minorities that might not otherwise be funded by traditional venture capital. Through its funds (The Catalyst Fund, the Red Stick Angel Network, and the Greaux Innovation Ventures Fund) and programs, Innovation Catalyst seeks to create a 'capital continuum' by funding companies from the idea stage through seed and growth stages, recycling returns to fuel the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem and foster economic development and job creation across Louisiana.
Notable quotes
“We're serial entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, business and civic leaders, and philanthropists. Like you, we love the risks and challenges of bold ideas and burn with a passion to change the world. And we love Louisiana!”
“The Catalyst Fund is a non-profit evergreen fund that recycles its returns and is used as an economic development tool. Part of the fund's mission is to fund women, minority, and veteran-owned companies. This is unlike a traditional venture fund who is interested in ROI for gains toward limited partners, general partners, and portfolio managers of the fund.”
Team
Bill Ellison
CEO, Innovation Catalyst & Red Stick Angel Network; Chairman of the Board
Richard Babb
Director, Red Stick Angel Network
Veneeth Iyengar
Chair, Board of Directors
Brett Scoresby
Team Member
Recent investments
| Company | Round | Size | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advano | Seed | — | — |
| Arix Technologies | Seed | — | — |
| Embera NeuroTherapeutics | Seed | — | — |
| Glass Half Full | Seed | — | — |
| Aura Advertising | Seed | — | — |
| Certification Connect | Seed | — | — |
| DAWn Audio | Seed | — | — |
| Dinner Lab | Seed | — | — |
| FollowMyCal | Seed | — | — |
| Iconic Moments | Seed | — | — |
Frequent co-investors
| VC firm | Deals together |
|---|---|
| Tulane Ventures | 1 |
| Y Combinator | 1 |
| DCVC | 1 |
| NexusLA | 1 |
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