Building a strong startup ecosystem takes more than great founders. It requires access, opportunity, and the right support systems to help those founders succeed. This week, we’re excited to spotlight Camelback Ventures, an organization helping redefine what entrepreneurship looks like in New Orleans and beyond.
Camelback is focused on building a new blueprint for entrepreneurship by expanding access for founders who traditional funding systems have historically overlooked. Through capital, coaching, and community, the organization helps entrepreneurs build ventures designed to create long-term impact
At the core of their work is a simple idea: talent is everywhere, but access is not. Camelback is working to close that gap.
We focus on increasing access to opportunity for entrepreneurs from under-resourced communities by investing in their ventures and leadership while advocating for fairness in their funding.
Since its founding in 2015, Camelback has supported more than 220 founders and deployed over $10 million in capital to early-stage ventures across education and social impact. Through the Camelback Fellowship, a 16-week accelerator, founders gain access to funding, mentorship, and a strong network to help them grow and scale.
But the mission goes beyond supporting individual companies. It is about expanding who has the opportunity to build and where those solutions come from.
We seek solutions in the genius of entrepreneurs to create thriving communities and wealth for future generations to inherit.
That vision is rooted in New Orleans, where Camelback was founded and continues to grow its impact. As the city’s startup ecosystem evolves, organizations like Camelback play a key role in expanding access and strengthening connections across the community.
Looking ahead, the team is especially excited about Guardian Summit 2026, a three-day gathering in New Orleans that will bring together entrepreneurs, investors, and community leaders to explore new ways to build opportunity and reimagine prosperity.
Beyond their work in the community, the organization’s focus on connection extends into where Camelback builds day to day, including its presence at The Shop Workspace.
For years, The Shop has served as a home for Camelback’s Fellowship programming and team collaboration. It provides a space where ideas develop, relationships grow, and founders build alongside one another.
The Shop has been home to the Camelback Fellowship over the years… it has long felt like a home away from home for our team.
As a largely remote team, that space offers something especially valuable: intentional time together and connection to a broader community of builders.
Being at The Shop has helped strengthen our team’s collaboration and productivity… while also expanding our network and creating opportunities for new relationships and partnerships.
Today, The Shop continues to bring together the people and organizations shaping the future of New Orleans.
For Camelback Ventures, that impact comes down to one word:
Connection.
We’re proud to have Camelback Ventures as part of The Shop community and excited to see how they continue to expand access, invest in founders, and build a more inclusive future for entrepreneurship.
Learn more about Camelback Ventures here.
Interested in building alongside organizations like Camelback? Join The Shop Workspace and become part of New Orleans’ growing entrepreneurial ecosystem here.