Frequently Asked Questions

• Innovation Catalyst is a nonprofit venture development organization, formed by community leaders to strengthen and broaden Louisiana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and to create high-growth companies with  scalable business models, by providing Louisiana based, early-stage companies with capital, coaching and connections. 

• Our organization manages The Catalyst Fund, the Red Stick Angel Network and the Greaux Innovation Ventures fund. 

• Through our funds and Angel Network,  Innovation Catalyst is seeking to create a “capital continuum” for Louisiana based companies by funding them from their idea stage, to seed stage and throughout their growth stage.

Apply online.

1. Apply and upload any documents you think will help us in reviewing your application.

2. During the initial review of your application, we will evaluate nine key areas – founder background and experience, product, market size, go-to-market strategy, competition, barriers to entry, ability to scale, use of proceeds and total cash need.

3. After reviewing the application and accompanying material, if interested, we will schedule a time and date for the Company to give us a pitch and to inform you which entity, i.e., the Catalyst Fund, the Red Stick Angel Network and/or the Greaux Innovation Fund, is interested in potentially investing in your company.  If the Red Stick Angels Network is interested, you will need to pitch to the group in Baton Rouge.

4. If we are still interested in investing in your company after the pitch, we will undergo due diligence.

5. If we are still interested after undergoing due diligence, we will formalize the investment amount and investment terms and the work to prepare and execute the necessary closing documents. 

6. At any point in the process, if an applicant is not selected to continue toward an investment, we will inform you of such and provide feedback on the areas of concern. 

Our team will mentor you through the early post-investment months. This can range from offering advice on strategy and direction, to helping you plan and acquire resources, to providing introductions to prospective investors, partners, and customers.

No, all Louisiana-based high-tech early stage companies are welcome to apply.

The Catalyst Fund is an evergreen fund that offers capital infusions in addition to the action-oriented action-oriented insights and connections Louisiana-based entrepreneurs need to bring their ideas to life. It was created to fan Louisiana’s entrepreneurial fire by investing in early stage companies and then recycling returns to fuel the entrepreneurial ecosystem. 

We’re serial entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, business and civic leaders, and philanthropists. Like you, we love the risks and challenges of bold ideas and burn with a passion to change the world. And we love Louisiana!

We know how to transform entrepreneurial ideas into sustainable businesses. And we know that with a median age of thirty and ranked as one of the “Top 10 Places for Young Adults” by Portfolio magazine — Louisiana offers the best opportunities for entrepreneurs.

The Catalyst Fund takes a hands-on approach from the very beginning, partnering with talented entrepreneurs to transform their innovative ideas into venture-fundable companies.

Absolutely. A company can significantly amend its application and submit it for reconsideration.

The Catalyst Fund is a non-profit evergreen fund that recycles its returns and is used as an economic development tool. Part of the fund’s mission is to fund women, minority, and veteran-owned companies. This is unlike a traditional venture fund who is interested in ROI for gains toward limited partners, general partners, and portfolio managers of the fund.

The Catalyst Fund receives state and federal government grants, as well as charitable contributions from foundations, corporations and civic-minded business and professional leaders.

From $10,000 to $350,000.

To donate, press here.

Did we miss something? No problem. Just visit our Contact page to send your question, and we will get right back to you.

• It is a network of Baton Rouge based Angel investors who identity, vet, and then aggregate their investment capital to fund high-growth Baton Rouge and Louisiana based companies. 

• In addition to capital, its members provide coaching and connections to support and grow its portfolio companies, thereby fostering economic development and job creation in Baton Rouge and throughout Louisiana.

• The Network is managed by Innovation Catalyst. 

• Do the Angels invest individually or as a group? 

• Each Angel investor individually decides whether to invest in a Company and in what amount.

• It is a for-profit fund that invests in Louisiana based early-stage, high-growth companies with scalable business models. 

• Innovation Catalyst is the General Partner of the Fund.