October 1, 2026 — Opportunity Machine announced its fall 2026 Builder 1.0 cohort, bringing 13 early-stage startups and 15 founders into the Lafayette organization’s 10-week pre-accelerator program.
All 15 founders are Louisiana-based, a requirement of the program, with the cohort representing a range of industries, from manufacturing and agriculture to energy, healthcare and professional services. Only three of the 13 startups are classified as information or software companies, a shift that Opportunity Machine Executive Director Destin Ortego said reflects a broader trend among the founders entering the program.