What is Innovate South?

Innovate South is a conference for innovative startup teams, aspiring founders and entrepreneurs, and tech professionals in South Louisiana. Whether you’re a founder that has already launched your venture, just want to dip your toes into the world of tech-enabled startups, or are intrigued by the intersection of tech and entrepreneurship, Innovate South offers a collaborative environment to engage in networking events, panel discussions, keynote presentations from national speakers, and pitches from local tech startups.

Mark your calendars on April 23 – 25 for #IS2025!

Stay tuned for more details coming soon.

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“I initially attended Innovate South to reconnect with past leaders of mine, network, and simply put myself out there. I walked away with new friendships, reignited passion, and a wealth of knowledge and insight into the ever-evolving start-up industry. It felt like home again.”

– Brooke G., 2024 Attendee

"It was an absolute thrill to be part of Innovate South 2024. From the Shark Tank-style pitch competition to the invaluable networking opportunities, Innovate South 2024 was a testament to the vibrancy and potential of the startup community."

– Baba T., 2024 Attendee

"From keynote speakers to casual conversations, this event did not disappoint! Thank you to all those who contributed!"

– Jessica M., 2024 Attendee

"The education and energy were off the charts yesterday at Innovate South! Congratulations to Destin Ortego and the team at Opportunity Machine finding amazing speakers and creating such a successful program!"

– Tanya B., 2024 Attendee

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Colin Gardiner

Founding Partner at Yonder Ventures

Colin is the Founding Partner at Yonder Ventures and a seasoned operator with a rich history, having worked as an early employee at Outdoorsy, Roamly, Tripping.com, Ancestry, and JustAnswer.

Beyond his operational expertise, he is a self-proclaimed marketplace geek who writes about them extensively through his newsletter gardinercolin.com. He is the Founding GP of Yonder Ventures, which is investing in the future of marketplaces. He is also the founder of Longtail, a programmatic solution for SEO for all types of businesses, and Karta Labs, a consultancy for marketplaces and platforms looking to grow and monetize.

Colin wears many hats, also serving as the co-host of the podcast Wannabe Angels, where he covers all things angel investing.

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Autumn Manning

Founder of Faana

Autumn Manning stands out as a dynamic entrepreneur and investor, known for her leadership in transforming company cultures and driving organizational excellence through human-centered design.

As the co-founder and CEO of the innovative B2B SaaS platform YouEarnedIt, later WorkTango, her strategic acumen in market positioning and product and organizational strategy has been key to driving lasting success.

Autumn was recognized as Austin’s Best CEO in 2018, and is a dedicated mentor, mother to Marin and Miles, and an advocate for personal well-being as the foundation for strength in Leadership.

LinkedIn

Yu-Kai Chou

Founding Partner at Octalysis Group

Yu-Kai Chou is the Founding Partner at Octalysis Group, and a pioneer in gamification and behavioral design. He is renowned as a designer, author, and speaker. He is the creator of the Octalysis Framework, which has empowered over 1.5 Billion users.

LinkedIn

Gant Laborde

CIO at Infinite Red

Gant isn’t just a tech leader; he’s also a father, published author, award-winning speaker, and mentor with over 20 years of experience as both a developer and a business owner.

LinkedIn