Along with our annual themes, each year the NOEW team strives to curate content that represents current trends and relevant topics to our community of local entrepreneurs and innovators. We recognize that some topics regarding technology, innovation, and national or global markets may be complex or controversial; while we know we won’t please everyone, our goal is to foster meaningful conversations that challenge perspectives and drive progress.

To address a specific area of current controversy: beginning at last year’s NOEW 2024 event, targeted public questions were raised regarding New Orleans Entrepreneur Week’s relationship to the Port of New Orleans and its presumed ties to the Port of Ashdod in Israel. 

Here are the facts:  

• In 2022, a group of multi-sector business leaders participated in a trade mission to Israel. Facilitated by the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans, the goal was to foster economic and entrepreneurial connections, presenting participants with new potential business relationships in a new global market. 

• These types of trips are not uncommon; Louisiana’s business leaders have also engaged in trade missions to countries such as Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, targeting sectors like energy, aerospace, and life sciences. These efforts have attracted foreign direct investment, strengthening New Orleans’ position as a competitive business hub. (Source: https://www.opportunitylouisiana.gov/why-louisiana/foreign-direct-investment) 

• Based on this trip, representatives from Israel’s Port of Ashdod and leaders from five Greater New Orleans business organizations signed a letter of intent in February 2023 to explore potential opportunities for innovation and collaboration.

• Both the trade mission and letter of intent were completed before the October 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attack.

• Since the letter was signed, no actions have been taken to implement or uphold the letter of intent.

• No money has been invested in this proposed project, and none of the organizations that signed the letter of intent have pursued any initiatives related to the letter of intent.

Our Focus: Supporting New Orleans Entrepreneurs

At New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW), our mission remains steadfast: to bring together our community’s entrepreneurs, innovators, and changemakers to drive economic progress. NOEW is, and always has been, a platform for local founders, investors, and business leaders to build a more inclusive, dynamic, and forward-thinking economy. 

The results of this work are undeniable:

• Over the past three years, NOEW has welcomed nearly 12,000 registrants, serving as a vital gathering point for the region’s entrepreneurial community 

• Last year, 45% of all attendees identified as Black, Indigenous, or as a Person of Color (BIPOC), underscoring NOEW’s commitment to accessibility and representation in the innovation economy 

• In 2024 alone, over $745,000 in funding was distributed to empower local entrepreneurs, providing them with the capital and resources needed to take their ventures to the next level

More than just an event, NOEW is a platform designed in service of the Gulf South’s entrepreneurs, built to reflect the needs of the community it supports. The spirit of this event and the platform it represents is steeped in creating economic opportunities for all. 

We encourage everyone to get involved in the core spirit of NOEW—whether by applying to be a speaker next year, participating in programming across the city, or engaging with the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem year-round.

Thank you for being part of NOEW 2025. We look forward to another year of impact, innovation, and progress.