Live “Shark Tank” Style Pitch Competition
What is Startup St. Bernard?
Startup St. Bernard, presented by the St. Bernard Economic Development Foundation, is an annual startup business challenge. Entrepreneurs are invited to apply for a chance to pitch their business to a panel of judges in St. Bernard Parish for over $100,000 in prizes.
The competition serves to not only equip a local business to expand their operations in St. Bernard, but also improves the entrepreneur ecosystem and markets the parish as the place to start a business in Greater New Orleans. SBEDF serves in several roles pertaining to the planning and execution of the program including raising funds, marketing and organizing the event, and mentoring/promoting finalists prior to and after the competition.
See you all for Startup St. Bernard 2024!
Past Winners & Finalists
2023 Winner
The Safety Pouch
The Safety Pouch is a removable pouch that stores and presents essential driving credentials needed for traffic stops and to prevent active reaching. Created by founder, David Price, The Safety Pouch was created to help facilitate safer interactions for both law enforcement and drivers during traffic stops. Price hopes to establish a warehouse and fulfillment center in St. Bernard that would create jobs and bring positive media attention to the St. Bernard community as a place of budding entrepreneurship and change.
Runner-Ups: All Tails Wagging, Utopian Gaming
2022 Winner
Ceres Plant Protein Cereal
Ceres Plant Protein Cereal was founded to provide a filling breakfast cereal for people who subscribe to plan-based lifestyles. The cereal boasts 20g of plant protein with 0g of sugar using naturally grown ingredients free of herbicides and chemicals. The co-founders of Ceres plan to enter stores in late 2023/early 2024 and are striving to grow the market through social media campaigns. St. Bernard Parish could be one of the first two parishes to experience their Sustainabowl Initiative. With a focus on expanding awareness and access to more sustainable, nutrient-rich plant-based foods they will seek partnerships to make the cereal available to the population.
Runner-Ups: Crescent City Ninja Academy, Top Right Corner
2021 Winner
Glass Half Full
Glass Half Full is a New Orleans-based glass recycling initiative located in Gentilly with the mission to “collect NOLA’s glass and convert it into beach-like sand and glass cullet that’s used for disaster relief, eco-construction, new glass products, and so much more.” Started by 2 Tulane students in the Spring of 2020, the company recycles almost 50,000 pounds of glass a week through both free drop-offs and paid pick-ups from residences and businesses. Glass Half Full’s founders also operate Glassroots, a nonprofit that “expands the accessibility of recycling through education, outreach, and the creative reuse of traditional waste.”
Runner-Ups: Nice Plants Good Pots, St. Bernard EcoTourism
2020 Winner
CORE: Louisiana Counseling & Recovery Center
CORE is a substance abuse and mental health practice in St. Bernard Parish. CORE offers specialized preventative, diagnostic, rehabilitative, and recovery-oriented services including counseling, assessments, anger management groups, domestic violence intervention programs, and psycho-educational classes. CORE’s licensed clinicians work diligently to provide accessible, reliable, and effective services, while promoting a shift towards the normalization of mental health and recovery services in the St. Bernard Parish community.
2020 Runner-ups: Jessie and Green Street, A Division of Austin Construction LLC
2019 Winner
Schmelly’s Dirt Farm
Congratulations to this year’s winner, Schmelly’s Dirt Farm! Schmelly’s is a compost and collection startup that shows the capacity for scalability all while serving a public interest of reducing pollution.
2019 Runner-ups: Breathing Waters and Da Parish Kayaks
2018 Winner
Clean Course Meals
Clean Course Meals is a new business based in St. Bernard Parish that offers affordable gourmet meals made with fresh ingredients. According to their pitch, “We make it healthy. We make it simple. We make it convenient.” The company’s website is:
2018 Finalists: Neutral Ground, Full Count Athletic Facility, Pontchartrain Mushrooms, Neptune's Garden
2017 Winner
Reactive Digital Systems, LLC
Reactive Digital Systems, LLC is at the forefront of augmented reality education. Augmented reality reacts to user input, engaging learners of all ages in a wide field of studies, and it is the new frontier of interactive education. The company produces TopoBox, a cutting-edge educational instrument that projects an augmented micro-reality on a “sandbox” that users can manipulate. Videos and more information are available on the company’s website at:
2017 Finalists: Da Parish Kayaks, Crescent City Seafood Connection, Leduc Entertainment, Functional Health and Wellness LLC
2016 Winner
Christie’s Dreams Seafood
Christie's Dreams Seafood is an existing local business that entered Startup St. Bernard to help launch a new product line — St. Bernard Parish branded seafood. The company plans to freeze and package fresh shrimp and soft shell crabs locally caught in St. Bernard Parish waters using a flash freezing method that guarantees premium quality.
2016 Finalists: Kayak-iti-Yak, Girls Gone Vegan, The Coffee House, Atlas Mechanical Design
2015 Winner
40 Arpent Brewing Company
40 Arpent Brewing Company is a micro-brewery located along the Mississippi River in Old Arabi. Owner, Michael Naquin utilized the funds to build a taproom approximately 1,000 square feet, including a bar, additional seating and a stage. He said he expects the brewery will hold monthly events with live music.
2015 Finalists: St. Bernard Syrups (Coast Roast LLC), The Creole Tomato Project, Ruff Stuff LLC and Christie's Dreams Seafood