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It’s vitally important to support local businesses when times are tough. In Lafayette, not only are we facing the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, we are facing a new oil crunch just as the region is emerging from the 2014 downturn. We all have a role to play in supporting our local businesses and their employees—who are our friends, families and neighbors. I encourage you to support your favorite local retailer, service provider, or other business over the coming weeks and months.
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2019 was a remarkable year for the Opportunity Machine. We experienced strident growth in many areas – including a 33% jump in membership – and kicked off the inaugural Innovate South conference, a three-day event that welcomed entrepreneurs from across the country.

The OM, with the support of our parent organization, the Lafayette Economic Development Authority, laid plans for 2020 and beyond for an innovation center in downtown Lafayette. The OM’s future home will provide more space and state-of-the-art technology

Knoxville, Tennessee medical device startup Winter Innovations placed first in the Get Started Medical pitch, a Shark Tank-style pitch to a panel of healthcare judges. Winter Innovations bested seven other competitive startups, chosen from a very long list of applicants, and was awarded $20,000 for first place.

Winter Innovations' mission is to create simple orthopedic solutions to improve patient outcomes. Co-Founder, Lia Winter, won the Get Started Medical Pitch Competition during Innovate South for their patent-pending surgical needle, EasyWhip. This surgical suturing needle will be

Observations from those who were there:

Were you able to make it to Innovate South in Downtown Lafayette this month?

by Lucy Reed
Owner/Blogger/Developer
Gigmine.co

Starting a business used to mean raising capital or obtaining a loan to open a brick-and-mortar store and purchase inventory. Today, with the internet connecting businesses with customers and clients, starting a business can take as little as a wifi connection. For some

Plans to bring over 80 businesses to Downtown Lafayette

Officials from the Lafayette Economic Development Authority (LEDA) and Opportunity Machine (OM) announced their plans for 314 Jefferson Street in Downtown Lafayette. The historic Knight’s/Lee’s Furniture Store is to be renamed the Opportunity Machine, where OM operations will be relocated and expanded.

The Opportunity Machine will house OM’s members, bringing over 80 new businesses

Aerobotics Celebrates Company Success with Open House and Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
Partnership with Opportunity Machine Accelerates Growth

Lafayette, LA— Officials from the Aerobotics Drone Division of Grand Isle Shipyard celebrated the company’s expansion and acceleration through the Opportunity Machine (the OM) with a ribbon cutting and open house.

Aerobotics, co-founded by Eric Langlinais, CEO, and DaCoda Bartels, President, UAV Chief Pilot/Division Manager, was acquired by Grand Isle Shipyard in September 2018 for use of their industrial inspection and survey services in the energy industries. Aerobotics was the first Louisiana company to use drone technology for offshore platform inspection as

by Patrick Young
Founder of ableusa.info

Here’s a fact that you may not know: A higher percentage of people with disabilities are business owners than those without disabilities. If you’re a parent with disabilities, starting your own business may sound overwhelming. But the truth is there are so many opportunities out there that choosing which one to pursue could be your biggest problem. If you want to get your business up and running while raising your

The 2018 business accelerator program, Accelerate South, hosted 10 innovative healthcare startups from across the US in Lafayette, La. The companies included:

• Fairway Biomed, from St. Louis, MO, conducts bleeding control in resection surgeries done in the liver, kidney, and lungs.
• NeuroRescue, from Columbus, OH, produces a prehospital medical device to begin induced hypothermia protocol.
• Birya Biotech, from Baltimore, MD, is improving the quality of life for those battling severe allergies.
• F3 Healthcare, from Carrboro,
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