Five founders will pitch for a $50,000 equity investment during OHUB’s second Demo Day in New Orleans.

NEW ORLEANS, LA — On the heels of its first highly successful Climate Tech Bootcamp in New Orleans, a Black-owned firm is once again paving the way for more socially and economically disadvantaged founders to receive early-stage investments in South Louisiana.

OHUB X NOLA presents its latest founders pitch on Thursday, June 13, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Dillard University’s Georges Auditorium, 24 East Road, New Orleans, 70122. Admission is free HERE.

The event will also be livestreamed worldwide across OHUB’s social channels.

This Demo Day marks the end of a 10-week pre-accelerator program of the NETI (New Energy Technology Incubator) Batch 2.0. It’s powered by Climate Tech Bootcamp, OHUB, and Greater New Orleans (GNO) Inc., part of H2TheFuture, a Build Back Better Regional Challenge of The Economic Development Administration.

The program is for climate tech and new energy founders from Louisiana and throughout the United States who are interested in building in or expanding in South Louisiana.

Founded by innovators, entrepreneurs, and investors, Drs. Rodney and Shanterria Sampson, OHUB is a platform for inclusive existential innovation, high-growth entrepreneurship, and early-stage investment. It has supported new-energy entrepreneurial endeavors in the South and is the largest multiculturally
owned multi-campus entrepreneurship center and technology hub in the U.S.

The cohort’s original 41 teams were narrowed down to five standout finalists who will give five-minute pitches, followed by Q & A from local venture funders and OHUB ecosystem partners.

The four pitch judges are: Rodney Sampson, OHUB Chairman and Founder; Stonly Baptiste Blue, Managing Partner and Co-Founder, Third Sphere; Michelle Jackson, Managing Partner, Existential Investments; and Jalin Carter, Tulane University Innovation Institute Program Manager.

WDSU/6 New Orleans anchor Darryl Forges is the Demo Day emcee. Louisiana.

In addition, before the pitches get under way, OHUB Founder Rodney Sampson will have a fireside chat with special guest entrepreneur and pitch judge Stonly Baptiste Blue. Blue came to the U.S. from Haiti as a child and started his first business right out of high school. He founded multiple software, hardware, and service firms. Through Third Sphere, he now helps other founders build impactful climate tech companies, having invested in more than 100 companies. As a member of the Founders Pledge community, Blue has committed to leveraging his success for good.

Meet the OHUB x NOLA NETI Batch 2.0 Finalists

Founders were asked how they would use the $50,000 equity investment.
Johnnie James II / Pursuit of Happiness Farms / New Orleans, Louisiana

REEFBUDS© is a carbon-negative and carbon-sequestering plant-based underwater concrete suitable for any coastal protection or regeneration application.

“Equity and justice are not common features of most business models in this space and that has motivated me to build a model capable of getting our innovations to those with the greatest need and not just those with the largest bank accounts.”

“We will use the $50,000 equity investment to attain disadvantaged business enterprise status, also to
collect data from REEFBUDS© structures previously deployed.”
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Kobby Osei-Kusi / Pirl Technology / Rockville, Maryland

Pirl Technology solves the industrywide problem of a low EV charger uptime rate of 54% by developing next-generation, ultra-reliable EV chargers that increase uptime to a targeted 97%.

“The $50,000 would accelerate our go-to-market by installing pilot charging stations in New Orleans as well as all over the country.”

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Onega Ulanova / QMS2GO / Ruston, Louisiana

QMS2GO is AI-powered software for quality management that streamlines implementation and maintenance, allowing quality managers to focus over 65% of their time on value-added activities.

“Louisiana is home to robust clean and conventional energy companies that can significantly benefit from reducing waste and improving efficiency.”

“The $50,000 equity investment will be used to elevate our marketing efforts and refine our product, creating well-paid jobs in Louisiana for both our team and our customers.”

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Cynthia Wu / Taro AI / San Francisco, California

Taro AI is an automated intelligence tool for cities to monitor the health of their urban infrastructure, starting with trees.

“Taro AI maps and monitors trees and urban infrastructure for a fraction of the time and cost. We are ready and excited to help keep communities vibrant, safe and cool in New Orleans and throughout Southern Louisiana.”

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Thomas Hunter, Jr. / Edenic Energy / Hampton Roads, Virginia

Edenic Energy aims to connect updated data to outdated buildings in disadvantaged communities using a building information engine to address the high barriers of building retrofits and operational costs in old properties.

“Buildings contribute to over 38% of CO2 emissions, and 75% of Black and Brown people are more likely to live in highly polluted areas.”

OHUB’s next Climate Tech Bootcamp, Batch 3.0, is set to begin in September. The program is free to participating founders. To get the latest information and to register, go to https://opportunityhub.typeform.com/cohort3.

Media Contact: Michelle Jackson, Program Lead, OHUB X NOLA, (678) 548-2461, michelle@ohub.at.