Deadline: November 02, 2025
The Idea Village is offering VILLAGEx, an industry-leading, mentor-driven accelerator program for venture-scale startups in New Orleans, Louisiana, designed to help founders rapidly scale, access mentorship and resources, raise at least $1M in funding within 24 months, and connect with a global network of investors and advisors.
Seed-stage startups are selected for the program based on a venture’s ability to prove it is rapidly scaling, serving a new or niche market in an innovative way, incorporating technology to solve a problem or improve a process, offering a new or unproven business model with the potential to revolutionize a particular industry, and planning to take on at least $1M in funding in the next 24 months.
VILLAGEx is a four-month accelerator program specifically designed for seed-stage startups in the Gulf South that are ready to scale and raise significant funding. Selected startups work closely with executive-level mentors, startup experts, and business professionals to gain the guidance, resources, and connections necessary for rapid growth.
The program emphasizes mentorship through its Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) and Investor-in-Residence (IIR) structures. EIRs, who are experienced founders and operators, lead program development and provide one-on-one guidance to ensure each company can maximize its growth potential. IIRs assist startups in becoming investor-ready, including pitch deck preparation, investor targeting, pitch rehearsals, and facilitating introductions to suitable investors.
Advisory boards are established for each startup, consisting of 4–5 mentors who meet monthly to provide strategic guidance, milestone accountability, and progress evaluation. Additionally, VILLAGEx leverages the Morrow community, a global network of over 100 accelerators, to offer participants access to more than $1M in perks, including legal services, proforma development, graphic design support, and coworking space at The Shop.
Peer-to-peer connections are a key part of the experience, fostering collaboration and long-term relationships among startups facing similar challenges. Participants also gain opportunities to network with alumni, board members, investors, and industry leaders through exclusive Village events.
Capital-raising support is central to the program. Startups that have already raised seed funding can leverage the accelerator to hit operational milestones and prepare for Series A funding. Professional pitch coaching and deck development ensure that each company graduates with compelling materials to secure investor interest.
The program culminates in Demo Day, an annual showcase where startups present their growth and potential to over 300 members of the regional startup community, including investors and entrepreneurs. IDEApitch, the program’s annual pitch competition, offers top-performing VILLAGEx startups the opportunity to compete for significant investment awards, including $100,000 for eligible graduates and $250,000 for the IDEApitch winner.
For more information, visit The Idea Village.
