Veterans are an increasingly visible force in Louisiana’s startup scene, according to a new report, as the state expands resources for former service members looking to become entrepreneurs.
Military veterans accounted for 13.4% of the founders represented in the 2026 Louisiana Startup Report, released last month by Tulane University’s Albert Lepage Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and Louisiana Innovation, a division of Louisiana Economic Development.
That’s more than double veterans’ share of the state’s adult civilian population, which was around 6.1% as of last year, according to the latest US Census Bureau figures.
The new report is the first statewide edition of a survey that’s been run by Lepage in Greater New Orleans for several years. It focuses on businesses that specifically identify as or can be classified as startups — for-profit, less than 5 years old, earning less than $60 million in annual revenue.
Of the 140 respondent companies, which hail from two dozen-plus parishes spread across all eight of the state’s designated economic development regions, over 1 in 7 is veteran-founded.
Published as an interactive website with a built-in chatbot, the Startup Report holds a wealth of information about the state’s startup community.
More than half of all participating founders were between ages 30 and 44 when they started their companies, which aligns with the national average: 42 years old for all startups, and 45 years old for successful high-growth companies.
The companies these Louisiana founders started aren’t necessarily large, yet. Nearly two-thirds of survey participants reported two or fewer full-time salaried employees. But two-thirds also said they expect to grow their teams over the coming year.
A growing support network for veteran founders
Veterans hoping to grow their businesses in the state will soon get another resource to help.
The Boot, a nonprofit founded in 2024 to connect military talent with Louisiana opportunities, in September secured federal funding to establish a local Veterans Business Outreach Center. The grant provides about $175,000 annually for five years, according to the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs.
The planned center will offer free business counseling, help finding capital and guidance on government contracting to veterans and other eligible members of military families.
For Boot founder Andrew Ward, a former specialist infantryman with the Louisiana Army National Guard, business ownership is part of a broader effort to keep military talent in the state.
“Louisiana should be a place,” Ward said in the September announcement, “where our service members and their families want to build their lives after military service.”
Support also extends to people still developing a business idea. The state’s Pathway to Assist Veteran Entrepreneurs program combines business training with individual guidance from Louisiana Small Business Development Center consultants.
In Monroe, Maven Scouts supports entrepreneurs working in energy, manufacturing and technologies with both commercial and military applications. The service-disabled veteran-owned firm offers an accelerator, business coaching and help preparing for investment.
One company it has supported is NovaSpark Energy, a veteran-founded startup with operations in Louisiana and Texas. The hydrogen technology company recently won a $10,000 prize at Shreveport’s inaugural Startup Prize: Energy competition.
