Young Entrepreneurs’ Forum Kicks Off New Orleans Entrepreneur Week
Junior Achievement of Greater New Orleans helped launch New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW) on March 9 with the Young Entrepreneurs’ Forum, part of the Trust Your Crazy Ideas Challenge. Hosted at Loyola University New Orleans’ Center for Entrepreneurship and Community Development, the forum brought together students, founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders to explore what it takes to build a business and why entrepreneurship matters for the future of the region.
The event featured a dynamic panel representing multiple stages of the entrepreneurial journey—from student founders and early-stage innovators to investors and ecosystem builders. Panelists included Arielle Hobdy, founder of Bea’s Bayou Skincare; Jailah Walker, founder of Scented Flames by Jai and a JA StartUP alum; John Roberts, managing partner of Boot64 Ventures; Damian Clark of Propeller; Jumana Suleiman, co-founder of the fashion tech startup Cosmic Closet; and Eric Walters, Director of Impact, Post-Secondary Experiences at Junior Achievement of Greater New Orleans. Eric leads JA StartUP, the organization’s entrepreneurship program for micropreneurs ages 18–25, and is also a real estate entrepreneur, bringing both program leadership and firsthand business experience to the conversation.
Throughout the conversation, panelists shared candid insights about launching businesses, navigating the startup ecosystem, and learning through experimentation and failure. Hobdy discussed how her personal journey managing eczema inspired the creation of Bea’s Bayou Skincare, blending traditional bayou herbal knowledge with modern probiotic science to address sensitive skin conditions. Walker reflected on starting her candle company at just sixteen years old and how programs like JA StartUP helped her develop the confidence and practical knowledge to turn a creative passion into a growing brand.
The forum also highlighted the role of New Orleans’ entrepreneurship ecosystem in helping founders succeed. Roberts described how angel investors and startup networks help early-stage companies access capital and mentorship, while Clark explained how Propeller supports small businesses through training, funding programs, and community partnerships. Suleiman shared her experience building Cosmic Closet, a social fashion app that allows users to catalog, style, and resell clothing, and encouraged students with technology ideas to take advantage of local programs such as StartupUNO and university-based incubators.
Students in attendance were highly engaged throughout the conversation, asking thoughtful questions about how to get started, where to find mentors, and how to turn ideas into viable businesses. Participants included students from across Orleans Parish who had the opportunity to interact directly with founders and ecosystem leaders shaping entrepreneurship in the region.