Related Articles
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again. New Orleans is home to some serious entrepreneurial enthusiasm. From our burgeoning tech scene to the growing number of startups in the city, we’re not a place that gives the cold shoulder to the business savvy.
Kickstarter has been getting a lot of flak lately. Opponents say that it’s full of useless junk and worthless causes. This was best shown by the ridiculous amount of support one guy got for simply wanting to make potato salad. It just goes to show that just about anything can be put up on Kickstarter these days, and one look at the New Orleans Kickstarters proves that. With projects ranging from a guy making a wheel of cheese to someone embarking on an adventure in his F350, it gets pretty varied. But hey, I’m not one to judge. A dream’s a dream even if it does involve cheese. I’d like to highlight some of the cooler projects, though, so we’ll put the trucks and cheese on hold for now.
Mason-ry Silicone Koozie
With connections to both Oregon and New Orleans, there’s no doubt in my mind that these folks won’t have trouble finding a market for a mason jar koozie. Put bluntly, this is the perfect hipster accessory, and if you haven’t been to The Saint recently, we’re kind of full of them in New Orleans. The Mason-ry is a silicone koozie that’s engineered perfectly to fit on a standard mason jar and stay there, all while keeping your cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot. Being made of silicone, no animal or petroleum products were used in manufacturing, so rest easy. Your hipsterdom is safe. All kidding aside, I drink out of mason jars (both for moonshine and less inebriating beverages) for the convenience of re-sealability and because they’re cheap. I’ll be buying one of these.
The Mason-ry Silicone Koozie – $8
The Lot – a narrative short film
Being an amateur filmmaker myself, I can’t help but fall in love with this one. The story and passion behind the production of this film are so strong, and I’m really hoping they reach their $10,000 goal by the deadline. The story is about a lonely cafe owner befriending an outcast boy while struggling to turn an abandoned lot into a park. It’s based off a true story that transpired in Old Algiers when a local cafe owner tried to turn a lot into a neighborhood workshop and park, but was forced to shut down for not abiding by building codes. They have the whole production team, cast, and crew ready to go, and just need a little bit of financial help for the logistics. A lot of people are working on this for free because they believe in the power of the story, so if that alone doesn’t sell you, I’m not sure what will.
The Lot – a narrative short film – $25
Wheely Good Hotdogs
I love me a good wiener as much as the next guy, so I’m not hard to convince when it comes to Wheely Good Hotdogs. I’m no vegan, though. Probably the farthest from it. But that doesn’t mean I’m not down to try a homemade carrot dog (whatever that may be.) We’re slowly catching on to the national food truck trend in New Orleans, already with some great options. The hot dog game has even already been sort of won by our beloved Dat Dog, but I can definitely see some great market space for Wheely Good for those drunken bar patrons whose inhibitions are low enough to try something new and can’t drive to get their own food. Remember, ain’t no party like a sausage fest.
Whelly Good Hotdogs – $10
WrapAround – The Cord Management Solution
The three guys behind the WrapAround put it best: An uncluttered life leads to an uncluttered mind. The three guys came up with a great product that deals with the daily hassle of cable management. Fitting all types of wires, the WrapAround is an expandable device that allows you to wrap up any extra cable slack between the plug and the device, eliminating that annoying bunch of cables you have behind your desk or entertainment center. You can even clip multiple WrapArounds together to completely manage multiple cables at once. I sound like I’m on an infomercial, but it’s because it’s so simple and effective. And best of all, cheap. All around, a great product.
WrapAround – The Cord Management Solution – $5
Have any great ideas for a kickstarter? Should I have elaborated more on the cheese guy? Let me know.
