This is the impact report of the 1st Annual Launch Fest: a Fun Conference for Serious Entrepreneurs in New Orleans. It was inspiring and educating, and down right fun. I was the event producer.

1. 1st annual launch fest
impact report

2. so, what is launch fest?
We decided to build on one of our city’s
premier events, Jazz Fest, to throw an
entrepreneurship conference.
Since people are coming for the music
over the weekends, let’s give them
something great to do during the
week.

3. a fun conference for
serious entrepreneurs
3 days
16 speakers
3 evening mixers
10 local startup pitches
200+ attendees
all free and open to the public

4. 3 days of entrepreneurship

5. 200+ people came out

6. we had spectacular
speakers
! 16 speakers presented at Launch Fest
! 4 out of 16 were flown in from out of town
! Presentations were mostly ranked “awesome”
by Launch Festers in our post-fest survey

7. launch fest inspired
Speakers,
Sponsors, &
Launch Festers
all left inspired

8. no one wanted to leave…

9. everything was
broadcast live worldwide
! Launch Fest was broadcast live on the internet
to an audience of over 50 viewers each day.
! The live stream was then recorded & captured
for future viewing here: http://bit.ly/lptv
! This guy watched Launch Fest from Delaware.

10. but don’t take it from us...
See that? Yeah, we killed it.

11. launch fest fast pitch
10 Local Entrepreneurs pitched to several venture
capitalists and angel investors including Steve
Schlafman from The Kraft Group & David Safaii from
Windspeed Ventures
Ben Rosen, former “I admired the enthusiasm of the speakers.
Chairman of They all have a dream, and however realistic,
Compaq Computer, are determined to see it through. The
attended Launch panelists were quite good – knowledgeable and
Fest Fast Pitch! asking the right questions of the
Rosen said: entrepreneurs.”

12. launch fest fast pitch
delivered results
! 70% of Fast Pitchers were asked to follow up
with investors after their pitches
! Launch Fest is helping entrepreneurs launch
their companies

13. lessons learned
@launchfest

14. #launchfest
twitter madness

15. t-shirts were a huge hit

16. thank you to all our
wonderful sponsors
! We could not have done it without you!

18. see ya next year!
love, launch fest

19. questions?
want to get in on 2011?
www.launchfest.net
www.launchpadnola.com
Chris Schultz
chris@voodooventures.com
Townsend Jordan
townsend.jordan@gmail.com