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CONNECTING THE GULF SOUTH’S
TOP FOUNDERS WITH VISIONARY CAPITAL
in new orleans

March 26-28, 2025

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The Gulf South, lovingly referred to as the 3rd Coast, is home to a burgeoning startup ecosystem where talent and world-class resources come together to tackle interesting problems and build forward-thinking ventures. 

The 3rd Coast – Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida – joins the East and West coasts as a vibrant startup hub catalyzing and scaling venture-ready companies.

The 3rd Coast Venture Summit places Gulf South startup founders and nationwide investors, business leaders, & corporate partners at the center of a venture collision.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Join us in New Orleans for this 3-day event and connect with some of the Gulf South’s most groundbreaking technologies and startups that are disrupting existing industries and are on the cutting edge of new ones.

PITCHES ACROSS INDUSTRIES

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Witness groundbreaking ideas and cutting-edge companies presenting live on stage.

INVESTor ROUNDTABLES

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Dive into the latest trends, insights, and strategies shaping the future of startups.

1:1 MEETINGS & NETWORKING

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 Connect with investors, founders, industry leaders, and new collaborators through the 3CVS app.

experience
NEW ORLEANS

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Immerse yourself in New Orleans culture through curated food, music, hotels, and more. 

Jon Atkinson, CEO of The Idea Village, Startup Accelerator in New Orleans

“The 3rd Coast is home to a burgeoning startup ecosystem where talent and world-class resources are already coming together to tackle interesting problems and build forward-thinking ventures.

This summit places startup founders from across the Gulf South in the room with nationwide investors, business leaders and corporate partners in positions to accelerate their growth. The result will be increased deal flow for Gulf Coast startups and overall growth of the regional venture ecosystem.”

JON ATKINSON
CEO, The Idea Village

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Experience a world-class summit that creates multiple opportunities for Seed to Series A founders to meet with aligned investors.

the founder experience

At the 3rd Coast Venture Summit there will be a highly curated group of top founders who have connectivity to the Gulf South region and have already raised some amount of capital to scale their venture. These founders will be able to network, set-up 1:1 meetings with investors, and may be invited to pitch on the 3CVS stage.

Companies selected for 3rd Coast Venture Summit are: 

  • Rapidly Scaling:

    • Seed to Series A

    • Currently or has plans to
      raise follow-on capital

    • Has proven traction

  • Innovating: 

    • 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 an industry

  • Connected to the Gulf South:

    •  Must have connectivity to Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, &/or Florida

APPLY TO attend AS A FOUNDER

Space is limited as we plan to maintain a 2:1 investor-to-founder ratio.

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Investors: Please express interest in attending 3rd Coast Venture Summit 2025 by booking a time to connect or completing an interest form below.

the investor experience

Investor tickets unlock multiple opportunities to network, set up 1:1 meetings with founders and other investors, and see the best of the 3rd Coast pitch on the 3CVS stage.

Meet and engage with some of the most visionary Seed to Series A startups along the 3rd Coast (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida); participating founders will have already raised some capital to date.

3rd Coast Venture Summit will invite investors/funds who:

  • Invest in Seed to Series A rounds

  • <$100M fund

  • Have a deep commitment to founders

  • Have investments in the middle of the country (outside of East and West coasts) as a core part of thesis

2025 ACCELERATOR PARTNERS

Thanks to our accelerator recruitment partners across the Gulf South, helping us recruit and select the top startup talent across the region to this year’s 3rd Coast Venture Summit.

NEW ORLEANS ENTREPRENEUR WEEK

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This event is takes place in strategic alignment with New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW) and the New Orleans Book Festival. Check out all the activities and plan your 3rd Coast Venture Summit trip to sync with more NOEW events.