–>Who: Robbie Vitrano, co-founder of…
–> What: …Trumpet, Idea Village, and Naked Pizza, talks about the bustling New Orleans entrepreneurial ecosystem that has grown out of a blend of the city’s post-Katrina needs and its cultural legacy of creativity.
–> How: Listen to this interview, learn more about Vitrano’s ventures (Trumpet, Idea Village, and Naked Pizza), and follow him on Twitter (@RobbieVitrano).
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In his quest to seek out the people and ideas shifting how the world works to make it better, Scott Henderson speaks with Robbie Vitrano, a New Orleans native, and co-founder of Trumpet, Idea Village, and Naked Pizza.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans was faced with the daunting task of rebuilding its community and economy from the ground up. However, within the chaos was a hidden silver lining. As Vitrano explains, because New Orleans was suddenly faced with this need for economic regeneration, it became a hotbed of resilient and collaborative startups. The nationwide trend of entrepreneurship that has been precipitated by the recession was already firmly planted in New Orleans two years prior.
From this creative environment, Vitrano’s own Naked Pizza was born. In addition, he co-founded Idea Village, which promotes and accelerates entrepreneurship in the New Orleans community. Their primary program runs from July to March, where they facilitate the growth of local businesses by connecting entrepreneurs to mentors from corporations (like Google and Salesforce.com), think tanks (like the Aspen Institute and Kaufmann Foundation), and business schools (like Kellogg and HBS).
Learn more about Vitrano’s ventures (Trumpet, Idea Village, and Naked Pizza), and follow him on Twitter (@RobbieVitrano).
