"3rd Coast" logo with purple wave design

CONNECTING THE GULF SOUTH’S
TOP FOUNDERS WITH VISIONARY CAPITAL
in new orleans

MARCH 10-12TH, 2026

sign up for PANEL PREVIEWS, 

SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENTS,

AND EXCLUSIVE CONTENT!

READY TO SECURE YOUR TICKET?

EMAIL MANAGING DIRECTOR MEGAN BALCH AT MBALCH@IDEAVILLAGE.ORG.

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The Gulf South, known as the 3rd Coast, is an emerging center of venture activity where experienced talent and global-caliber resources fuel the next generation of high-growth companies.

Encompassing Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, the 3rd Coast is establishing itself alongside the East and West coasts as a credible, investable startup region.

3rd Coast Venture Summit convenes founders, investors, and corporate partners at the center of this momentum, creating a focused environment for connection, capital, and scale.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Join us in New Orleans for this 3-day event and connect with some of the Gulf South’s most groundbreaking technologies and startups that are disrupting existing industries and are on the cutting edge of new ones.

PITCHES ACROSS INDUSTRIES

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Witness groundbreaking ideas and cutting-edge companies presenting live on stage.

INVESTor ROUNDTABLES

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Dive into the latest trends, insights, and strategies shaping the future of startups.

1:1 MEETINGS & NETWORKING

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 Connect with investors, founders, industry leaders, and new collaborators through the 3CVS app.

experience
NEW ORLEANS

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Immerse yourself in New Orleans culture through curated food, music, hotels, and more. 

“The 3rd Coast is home to a burgeoning startup ecosystem where talent and world-class resources are already coming together to tackle interesting problems and build forward-thinking ventures.

This summit places startup founders from across the Gulf South in the room with nationwide investors, business leaders and corporate partners in positions to accelerate their growth. The result will be increased deal flow for Gulf Coast startups and overall growth of the regional venture ecosystem.”

JON ATKINSON
CEO, The Idea Village

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Experience a world-class summit that creates multiple opportunities for Seed to Series A founders to meet with aligned investors.

the founder experience

At the 3rd Coast Venture Summit there will be a highly curated group of top founders who have connectivity to the Gulf South region and have already raised some amount of capital to scale their venture. These founders will be able to network, set-up 1:1 meetings with investors, and may be invited to pitch on the 3CVS stage.

Companies selected for 3rd Coast Venture Summit are: 

  • Rapidly Scaling:

    • Seed to Series A

    • Currently or has plans to
      raise follow-on capital

    • Has proven traction

  • Innovating: 

    • Serving a new or niche market in an innovative way

    • Incorporating technology to solve a problem or improve a process

    • Offering a new or unproven business model with the potential to revolutionize an industry

  • Connected to the Gulf South:

    •  Must have connectivity to Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, &/or Florida

FOUNDER APPLICATION: 3CVS 2026

the investor experience

Investor tickets unlock multiple opportunities to network, set up 1:1 meetings with founders and other investors, and see the best of the 3rd Coast pitch on the 3CVS stage.

Meet and engage with some of the most visionary Seed to Series A startups along the 3rd Coast (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida); participating founders will have already raised some capital to date.

3rd Coast Venture Summit will invite investors/funds who:

  • Invest in Seed to Series A rounds

  • Have a deep commitment to founders

  • Have investments in the middle of the country (outside of East and West coasts) as a core part of thesis