Startup St. Bernard 2025

Startup St. Bernard seeks out dedicated, enthusiastic entrepreneurs who want to grow their business to the next level. Three finalists will be selected to “pitch” their business to a panel of judges on Aug. 21 at Nunez Community College. Each finalist will receive a cash prize of at least $5,000, with the grand prize winner taking home a mix of cash and in-kind services such as legal, accounting, marketing, and business consulting.

The Shark Tank-style public event is open to any business that meets the entry criteria and is passionate about joining St. Bernard Parish’s growing business community. Previous winners include 40 Arpent Brewing Company, Christie’s Dreams Seafood, Reactive Digital Systems, LLC, Clean Course Meals, Schmelly’s Dirt Farm, CORE Louisiana Counseling & Recovery Center, Glass Half Full, Ceres Plant Protein Cereal, The Safety Pouch, and Natural Wellness with Nurse April.

Judges will score entries based on the quality of the business plans and how the startups will improve St. Bernard by creating jobs, investing capital into the parish, providing needed products or services to the region, and/or contributing to the growth of the core Startup St. Bernard sectors: sustainability, creative digital media, cultural arts/cultural economy, health and wellness, advanced manufacturing/value-added manufacturing, logistics, and the seafood industry.