2025 Catapult Fund
Application Deadline: December 6, 2024
The purpose of the Catapult Fund is to encourage innovation and sustainability for entrepreneurs through training and investment.
Applications are now open to seat a new Culinary class in 2025.
The 2025 Catapult Fund is a partnership between the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, Capital One Bank and the New Orleans Black Chamber of Commerce. This dynamic and interactive training is designed to assist entrepreneurs in developing and accessing growth opportunities to take their businesses to the next level of success. Topics are designed to provide the information and skillsets to survive and thrive in the evolving marketing and economic environment. The weekly sessions will be held virtually and include actionable steps to improve business performance. Each participant will be matched with a business advisor who will provide additional guidance, assistance, and encouragement during and beyond the program at no charge.
Culinary Arts Eligibility:
To be eligible, applicants must have small Louisiana-based businesses in the food industry. These may include restaurants, chefs, caterers, food trucks, food product manufacturers, cooking schools, and others filling a niche in their local markets.
- Eligible businesses are those whose main area of focus is in the culinary arts (including LLCs, sole proprietorships, and incorporated businesses). Religious organizations, government entities, and businesses with outstanding state or federal tax obligations also are not eligible to apply.
- Emerging businesses are welcome, as are seasoned businesses.
- Businesses that recognize training in best practices is needed.
- Businesses must have gross annual revenues of less than $500,000.
- Businesses at least a year old (emerging businesses) are welcome, as are seasoned businesses.
- Business owners who are working as a business but have not yet registered with the State of Louisiana, do not have occupational licenses, do not have Profit & Loss statements, or cannot provide a current tax return/schedule C are welcome to apply.
- Business owners are willing to commit to participating in a virtual 10-session culinary training program over a three-month period.
About the Sessions:
The Culinary Arts program provides 11 virtual courses:
Sessions for Culinary Arts will be held virtually every Thursday beginning January 9th and ending March 27th; the 10 courses over three months. The session will be 2.5 hours for a total of 27.5 hours.
Those who successfully complete all aspects of the Catapult Fund training program of their choice will be awarded cash grants from a pool totaling $50,000.
Courses will take place over a three-month period of business training and will be taught in:
- Utilizing business advisors
- Identifying and reaching profitable customers and business opportunities
- Product placement
- Marketing basics
- Online marketing techniques: utilizing social media, website best practices, sales techniques, online presence
- Cybersecurity: keeping customers and data secure
- Best practices for resiliency and sustainability
- Accounting, record keeping, taxes, financial management
- Strategic growth plans, goal setting
- How to access capital to grow the business
- Sustainable practices
Schedule:
The Culinary Arts Program
The Culinary Arts program will meet virtually on Thursdays at 1:30PM-3:30PM
October 28: Applications open
December 6: Application Deadline
December 9-13: Interviews
December 16-20: Notification of Acceptance
January 9, 2025: Kickoff Celebration and Orientation
January 16, 2025: Understanding Today to Build Your Tomorrow
January 23: Marketing and Selling Essentials for Your Food Business
January 30: Maximizing Your Online Presence
February 6: Building and Leading Your Winning Team
February 13: Managing for Efficiency and Profitability
February 20: Funding for Growth
February 27: Obtaining and Keeping Repeat Customers
March 13: Building a Strong, Resilient Organization
March 20: Lagniappe Special Topics TBD!
March 27: Polishing the Pitch and Refining Your Growth Plan
April 3, 2025: In-Person Pitch Contest and Graduation Ceremony
Guidelines
Our partners in the Catapult Fund are:
Questions?
If you have questions about the Catapult Fund, the guidelines or need application assistance, please send an email to programs@jazzandheritage.org
For general questions or media inquiries about the Catapult Fund, please contact the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation by calling (504) 558-6100 or sending an email here.
Links & Downloads: