The Louisiana Seed Capital Program (LSCP) provides financing to start-up businesses and early-stage small businesses through approved Louisiana based program participants such as venture capital funds, early-stage investment funds and nonprofit organizations. The approved program participants provide private financing through seed stage investments to start-ups and early-stage small businesses in order to create jobs and improve the state’s economy.

LSCP will emphasize small businesses defined as Very Small Businesses (VSBs) and Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Individuals (SEDIs) as defined by the U.S. Department of Treasury. Read more here.

*Please note: SSBCI has been authorized for seven years and this site will be continuously updated as necessary. To receive email updates about the latest SSBCI news and information, along with updates on other programs and services offered by LED for small businesses, click here. If you have a question for the Louisiana SSBCI team, email LEDSSBCI2@la.gov.

  • Eligibility Caret Down
    • Authorized to conduct business in Louisiana and maintains an office in Louisiana
    • Small businesses with 500 employees or less
    • Eligible business purposes include, but are not limited to, start-up costs, working capital, business procurement, franchise fees, equipment, inventory, as well as the purchase, construction, renovation or tenant improvements of an eligible place of business that is not for passive real estate investment purposes. The definition of business purpose excludes activities that relate to acquiring or holding passive investments such as commercial real estate ownership, the purchase of securities; and lobbying activities as defined in Section 3(7) of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, P.L. 104-65, as amended.
  • Ineligible Businesses and Purposes Caret Down
    • Gaming or gambling
    • Pyramid sales
    • Financial services
    • Speculative real estate
    • Owner to owner buyouts
    • Refinancing
    • Recreational park, theme park, amusement park or camping facility
    • A business engaged in activities that are prohibited by federal law to include direct and indirect marijuana businesses.
  • Program Rules Caret Down

    All incentive program rules are in the Louisiana Administrative Code maintained by the Office of the State Register.

    • View the Titles of the Louisiana Administrative Code
    • Rules for the SSBCI Seed Capital Program ARPA 2021 can be found in Part VII, Subpart 11, Chapter 89.
    • Rules for the SSBCI Venture Capital Program ARPA 2021 can be found in Part VII, Subpart 2, Chapter 29.
  • Application Process Caret Down

    Application process varies by fund. Contact participating equity funds directly (see list below) for details about the requirements for each participating fund.

Participating Equity Funds

Equity funds must apply for and be approved by the Louisiana Economic Development Corporation Board for participation in SSBCI’s Louisiana Seed Capital Program. To date, LEDC has approved the following funds for participation in the Seed Program: links and contact info will be posted below.

Boot64 Ventures

SSBCI Contact: John Roberts, III
Phone: 504.621.6058
Email: john@boot64.com
Website: Boot64.com

Greater New Orleans Development Foundation
Grind Capital

SSBCI Contact: Blake Upshaw
Email: blake.u@grindenterprises.com
Website: GrindEnterprises.com

Innovation Catalyst Inc. / Greaux Innovative Ventures

SSBCI Contact: William Ellison
Website: InnovationCatalyst.us

LSU Health Foundation

SSBCI Contact: Denise Delany
Phone: 504.568.3712
Email: ddelany@lsuhealthfoundation.org
Website: LSUHealthFoundation.org

New Orleans BioFund

SSBCI Contact: Kris Khalil
Phone: 504.593.6446
Email: biofund@neworleansbio.com
Website: NewOrleansBio.com/BioFund/

New Orleans Startup Fund

SSBCI Contact: Jimmy Roussel
Email: info@neworleansstartupfund.org
Website: NewOrleansStartupFund.org

Ochsner Ventures

SSBCI Contact: Aimee Quirk
Email: ventures@ochsner.org
Website: Ochsner.org/Ventures

Propeller

SSBCI Contact: Patrick Hernandez
Phone: 318.450.2388
Email: phernandez@gopropeller.org
Website: GoPropeller.org

The Idea Village

SSBCI Contact: Jon Atkinson
Phone: 504.291.2563
Email: ssbci@ideavillage.org
Website: IdeaVillage.org

Tulane Innovation Institute

SSBCI Contact: Kimberly Gramm
Phone: 504.314.2000
Email: innovation@tulane.edu
Website: Innnovation.Tulane.edu

The Seed Capital participating fund approval process remains open, with additional applications to be considered going forward. As new funds are accepted into the program and grant LED permission to promote their participation, their contact information and website links will be added. Funds wishing to participate in SSBCI equity programs may contact LED for more information at LEDSSBCI2@la.gov.