JEDCO

Press Releases

JEDCO Announces Cordina Challenge Finalists

The Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission (JEDCO) and Cordina New Orleans Cocktails, in partnership with the Jefferson Chamber and the Idea Village, are pleased to introduce the five entrepreneurs who will compete in the first-ever Cordina Challenge, during New Orleans Entrepreneur Week. In an effort to identify, engage with and assist our up-and-comers, JEDCO and Cordina co-created a pitch competition for Jefferson Parish entrepreneurs. The goal of the Cordina Challenge is to elevate Cordina Challenge LOGOopportunities for innovators in the area through direct capital, business services and mentorship.

JEDCO and Cordina received a high-volume of applications from entrepreneurs who live and work in Jefferson Parish. Through a rigorous review process, a selection committee of business leaders chose four finalists to participate in the pitch event. The finalists have products that span a wide range of industries, from education and mobile technology to healthcare and nutrition. These individuals are a true testament to the exciting future in store for Jefferson.

Meet Our Entrepreneurs:

Be Well Nutrition: Billy Bosch

Be Well Nutrition has launched ICONIC, a healthy lifestyle beverage made with all natural ingredients. This unique drink provides customers with a delicious taste experience, healthy energy and increased focus. It is the only all-natural and nutritionist developed and recommended product in the beverage category. With a single daily serving of protein, vitamins, fiber and minerals, ICONIC provides consumers with what they need without having to stop for a meal. There’s nothing quite like this drink on the market right now.

Clinicate: Matt Doyle

The Clinicate™ file-sharing platform gives healthcare providers and patients a unique and easy way to access and electronically share information related to medical and pharmaceutical products, medical conditions, and treatments.  Clinicate’s web and mobile applications are designed to promote clinical education, awareness and collaboration with the common goal of improving patient care and outcomes.

Memorandom: Beau Button

Memorandom is a private communication platform that allows individuals to capture and selectively share everyday moments with close friends and family. Think about the last conversation you had with a close friend or family member. Do you remember when it was, where you were or what you talked about? Shouldn’t text messaging and other digital communication platforms reflect how we categorize, find and recall those moments? Memorandom seamlessly integrates the privacy of sharing through text messaging and chat while organizing it into a searchable format based on user created tags, location and people – all preserved for posterity.

ZingBoard: Jim Blitch and Aimee Adatto Freeman

An online, self-evaluation tool for students in 1st through 8th grades, ZingBoard measures and celebrates individual accomplishments in the school, home and community. Those measurements can then be tied with a school’s value systems. ZingBoard is a secure online software to commemorate accomplishments in soft skills. It also provides school administrators with a simple, efficient and powerful tool to analyze a school’s impact on student values. This data can be very useful differentiating the school on grant applications, refining the school culture, and individualizing classroom curriculum. ZingBoard measures the school within the child.

“These entrepreneurs are incredibly talented and we feel very fortunate to place them in front of the Jefferson Parish community,” says JEDCO Executive Director, Jerry Bologna. “I believe the companies we chose to compete are truly indicative of the bright, innovative minds present in Jefferson Parish right now.”

“I was excited to meet with all of the entrepreneurs that applied for the Cordina Challenge. The event is proving that Jefferson Parish has what it takes to grow great companies,” says Cordina CEO, Sal LaMartina. “The entrepreneurs chosen to compete represent only a small sample of the talented and innovative startup companies here in Jefferson.”

The finalists will compete on March 19th at Drago’s Empire Room in Fat City at 2:00. They’ll pitch their ventures in front of a panel of Jefferson Parish business leaders. The winning pitch will receive a prize package of in-kind services and direct capital, valued currently at more than $43,000.

Hosted by WWL morning anchor Mike Hoss, with comments from Jerry Bologna and Sal LaMartina, the Cordina Challenge will celebrate creativity and connect our entrepreneurs with the tools they need to find success in the region.

This event would not be possible without the support from our business community. We’d like to thank the following companies and organizations for their roles in the Cordina Challenge: The Jefferson Chamber, the Idea Village, the Louisiana Small Business Development Center, Launch Pad, Good Work Network, Bio District New Orleans, New Horizons, Kushner LaGraize, Gallinghouse and Associates, Michael Osborne Design, Crescent City Packaging, Entergy, Iberia Bank, MMI Culinary and Drago’s Seafood Restaurant.

Register to attend the Cordina Challenge online and visit the Cordina Challenge Information Center for continued updates on our finalists, our judge’s panel and our prize package.

Cordina Sponsors Website

Close
loading...