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As we shift from crisis-mode to planning for the future, what are your strategies for extending your business’ runway and cutting your burn rate? This was the topic of discussion in last week's session of The Resiliency Series where Lafayette business owner, Ericka H. Dees, CPA shared her top three suggestions for reducing expenses:  

1. Always look at challenges as opportunities to get better. Here is a perfect opportunity to understand what types of expenses are contributing to your
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Now is the time to get creative and find cost-effective ways to improve your top line with your marketing. In last week's session of The Resiliency Series , "Cutting the Burn & Extend Your Runway," we invited hampr founder and CEO, Laurel Hess, to share her advice on how to pivot your marketing strategy to be more budget-friendly. Here is what she had to say:

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