Loyola Hosts Second Annual New Orleans Entrepreneur Week

The university's Center for Entrepreneurship and Community Development partners with the city to bring the weeklong innovation summit to campus.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 5:40pm

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New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW), a weeklong gathering for the city's innovation and startup community, returned to Loyola University New Orleans for its second year. The event featured over 100 speakers and 50 sessions at the university's Danna Center, covering topics ranging from legal challenges to healthcare innovation. Loyola's Center for Entrepreneurship and Community Development co-produced the summit with the Idea Village, a local startup support organization.

Why it matters

By hosting NOEW, Loyola is solidifying its role as a central hub for entrepreneurship in New Orleans, providing students and the broader community access to networking, learning, and funding opportunities. The event aligns with the city's broader economic development agenda to support local businesses and encourage entrepreneurship.

The details

This year, organizers fully centralized summit operations in the Danna Center based on lessons from last year's inaugural hosting on campus. The free-to-attend summit featured panels with local figures like Andrew Campanelli of The Revivalists and Robert Mercurio of Galactic and Tipitina's. Students like junior business administration major Anna Claire Gee were able to volunteer and attend sessions on topics like healthcare innovation.

  • New Orleans Entrepreneur Week took place from March 9-14, 2026.
  • The two-day flagship summit was held at Loyola's Danna Center on March 12 and 13, 2026.

The players

Sam McCabe

Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Community Development at Loyola University New Orleans.

Helena Moreno

Mayor of New Orleans, who encouraged residents to attend the event as part of the city's broader economic development agenda.

Anna Claire Gee

A junior business administration major at Loyola University New Orleans who volunteered and attended sessions on healthcare innovation.

Idea Village

A local startup support organization that co-produced NOEW with Loyola University New Orleans.

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What they’re saying

“New Orleans Entrepreneur Week is a weeklong gathering and connection point for the intersection of innovation, community and culture here in New Orleans.”

— Sam McCabe, Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Community Development at Loyola University New Orleans (loyolamaroon.com)

“One of the things I talk about all the time and that we're working hard on is to increase economic development opportunities and support businesses here in New Orleans. And that also includes supporting and encouraging our entrepreneurs.”

— Helena Moreno, Mayor of New Orleans (Instagram)

“You can gain so many tools just by going and experiencing and just even looking at what we have to offer.”

— Anna Claire Gee, Junior business administration major at Loyola University New Orleans (loyolamaroon.com)

What’s next

The Center for Entrepreneurship and Community Development plans to continue programming after NOEW, including the annual Wolfpack LaunchU pitch competition and the Side Hustle Expo in the fall.

The takeaway

By hosting New Orleans Entrepreneur Week, Loyola University New Orleans is solidifying its role as a central hub for the city's innovation and startup community, providing students and the broader public access to networking, learning, and funding opportunities that support local entrepreneurship.