StartupNOLA Now: August

🚀 Gulf Coast Defense Catalyst: Meet the Navy Commands Powering Innovation in New Orleans

StartupNOLA is teaming up with Gulf Coast Defense Catalyst (GCDC) to celebrate a major milestone: a new partnership bringing four U.S. Navy Commands to the Greater New Orleans innovation ecosystem:

• NIWC (Naval Information Warfare Center)
• CNMOC (Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command)
• NRL (Naval Research Laboratory)
• NSWC-Panama City (Naval Surface Warfare Center)

This is your chance to meet the people and programs who will be driving cutting-edge C5I (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Combat Systems, and Intelligence) innovation right here on Lake Pontchartrain, and learn how entrepreneurs, industry, and academia can plug in now.

What to Expect:

• Face time with representatives from all four Naval Commands
• The inside scoop on upcoming programming and events for startup founders
• Light bites and drinks while you network
• A front-row seat to what’s next for defense innovation on the Gulf Coast

Whether you’re building tech, running a shipyard, teaching the next generation of engineers, or just curious what the Navy’s doing in our backyard, this one’s for you.

📅 Tuesday, August 4, 2026
🕔 5:00 – 7:00 pm
📍 Tchoup Yard  | 405 Third St, New Orleans, LA 70130
🎟️ Registration is free 

Come out and join us, we can’t wait to see you there!