NOLABound Day 2 Notes -- Start-Ups, Safety, Economic Development, and Education

Day 2 of the trip was really informative, as we got to tackle a lot of the difficult issues facing the city in safety (crime) and economic development. We also discussed some of the large improvements in education through charter schools and the big journey still ahead to get NOLA education where it needs to be. We also got to start the day by visiting another really successful tech company and learning straight from the CEO, which was awesome. (I also got to try alligator soup, which I was not particularly fond of.)

Before I dive into my notes on each event, I wanted to say that I've been really impressed with the amazing group of people I've met. Everyone is cool, interesting, positive, and super talented. The group is very diverse, including people with roots in Louisiana and some there for the first time, like me. Among the awesome people I've met are a full time traveler and author, film producer,  fashion designer, interior designer, 2 doctors, video engineer, sustainable product designer, and several tech entrepreneurs. It's awesome to see a mix of people interested in digital media, arts, biosciences, and sustainability, and everyone's really dedicated to finding ways to help NOLA out.

My notes on the day's events are below.

TurboSquid

• Matt Wisdom
  
• Started in 1999
  
• 80 people now, 15 engineers
• Most in NOLA but some in China
  
• 3D model marketplace
• Seeded and begged suppliers to put in models
  
• Recruiting through personal referrals
  
• Not many language issues with international marketplace and offshore staff. 300 million non-native English speakers in world (more non-native than native)
  
• Only 5% of traffic from AdWords
  
• Most is organic search traffic
• Use Yammer internally
• Partnered with AutoCAD to help promote TurboSquid
  
• Most customers use 3D Studio Max and Blender
  
• Some issues with cross formats
  
• Working on VoteIt app also
• Fun: ordered a MakerBot for the office

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Industry Panel at New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA)

• NOCCA: Best high school conservatory, jazz, classical
  
• Public school by admission

• Starting culinary arts program
  
• Sally Perry, NOCCA
• Chief of Police Ronald Serpas
• Safety
• Public education
  
• Economic development
• Mardi Gras is biggest free show and annual natural disaster (gives chance to practice all procedures)
  
• Aimee Quirk: advisor to mayor in economic development
  
• People taking the day off to celebrate Entrepreneur Week (like Mardi Gras)
• Michael Stone, New Schools for New Orleans
• Decentralized system of charter schools
  
• 80% of public students go there
  
• Deploy philanthropic funds to improve schools
  
• Data driven instruction
  
• Narrowing gap between NOLA and LA school performance
• Charter schools outperforming traditional
  

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The Big Idea Pitch Event