(WASHINGTON, D.C. — Aug. 5, 2026) The Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer (FLC) has established a strategic regional partnership with StartupNOLA, a subsidiary of Greater New Orleans, Inc. The collaboration will provide resources for entrepreneurs in the Southeastern United States.
The FLC is a nationwide network that connects federal laboratory technologies and resources to entrepreneurs and innovators across six U.S. regions — including its Southeast region, which covers New Orleans, Louisiana, and the surrounding states.
StartupNOLA shares this commitment to regional innovation, with a mission to grow the Greater New Orleans startup ecosystem by showcasing its assets, supporting founders, and producing companies that scale, create jobs, and build lasting wealth. Together, the two organizations are uniquely positioned to link local entrepreneurs directly to federal research, intellectual property, and commercialization pathways.
"The FLC is excited to formalize this partnership with StartupNOLA," says FLC Executive Director Paige George. "Our organizations share an interest in boosting economic development for the benefit of the public, especially in the innovation ecosystem. We look forward to working with StartupNOLA on regional events and initiatives."
Previously, the FLC and StartupNOLA collaborated on an exclusive networking event in New Orleans that explored the FLC's role in powering the national and regional innovation ecosystems, which assist local entrepreneurs and startups looking to partner with federal labs to move research to the marketplace.
"This partnership with the FLC connects Greater New Orleans' most promising startups directly to the federal research and technology ecosystem," said Michael Hecht, President and CEO of Greater New Orleans. "Through StartupNOLA, GNO, Inc. has supported one of the South's most dynamic entrepreneurial communities, and this partnership gives local founders a real on-ramp to the labs, intellectual property, and innovation infrastructure that can help them scale. The potential here for New Orleans entrepreneurs is significant."
The partnership is outlined in a three-year Memorandum of Understanding that details mutually constructive initiatives, including cross-promotion on each other's websites, support for each other's events, and collaboration on virtual opportunities like StartupNOLA's upcoming FLC Member Connect.
About the FLC:
The FLC is a formally chartered, nationwide network of more than 300 federal laboratories, agencies, and research centers that foster commercialization best practice strategies and opportunities for accelerating federal technologies from out of the labs and into the marketplace. To learn more, visit federallabs.org.
About StartupNOLA:
Greater New Orleans, Inc. is the regional economic development organization for the 10-parish region of Southeast Louisiana. GNO, Inc.'s mission is to create a Greater New Orleans with a thriving economy and an excellent quality of life for everyone. The organization fulfills this mission by acting as the primary catalyst for systemic economic development — recruiting, retaining, and growing businesses; and cultivating a world-class business environment. GNO, Inc. manages the StartupNOLA ecosystem-building initiative, which connects and supports entrepreneurs, investors, higher education institutions, and entrepreneur support organizations through programs, events, and shared resources. More information can be found at www.gnoinc.org and www.startupnola.com.