Louisiana has $113 million in federal money for startups, but it isn't picking who gets it

By routing Treasury's SSBCI dollars into local venture funds, the state hopes to spark long-term cultural change in its investment scene.

By: Christopher Wink

Outlets: Technical.ly

Published: August 31, 2026

Words: 685

Last Updated: 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Louisiana had $113 million in federal money to jump-start a startup economy. It decided the state should not be the one choosing the startups.

The result? Federal money distributed by the state is seeding local investors to support a flywheel of Louisiana startup activity, and it comes with all the risks of venture-style investing.

That choice — approved by the US Treasury in December 2022 and now taking shape — is a small …

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