Continuing Its Support of the Entrepreneur Ecosystem, 365 Connect to Participate at Annual JEDCO Challenge

New Orleans, LA, March 9, 2016 (Newswire.com) - ​365 Connect, a leading provider of award-winning marketing, leasing, and resident technology platforms for the multifamily housing industry announced today that its founder and CEO, Kerry W. Kirby, will be serving as a panel judge at the Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission (JEDCO) Entrepreneur Challenge. 365 Connect is also a key sponsor of the event. The JEDCO Challenge will be held on March 14, 2016 at Southport Hall, located in the New Orleans area of Jefferson Parish.

JEDCO created the Challenge in 2013 to identify, engage with, and assist up-and-coming innovators. The goal of the competition is to elevate opportunities for local start-up companies through direct capital, business services, increased visibility, and mentorship. The JEDCO Challenge will be held during the 8th Annual New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW), a dynamic eight-day business festival that engages New Orleans’ entrepreneurial community in discussion, debate, education, competition, and celebration. NOEW will be held at various venues throughout the New Orleans area.

"JEDCO has done an exceptional job of fostering the next generation of growing businesses, and this event highlights their efforts to expand the entrepreneurial community in Jefferson Parish."

Kerry W. Kirby, Founder & CEO, 365 Connect

The JEDCO Challenge allows each company seven minutes to present a live pitch in front of a panel of five esteemed business leaders including 365 Connect’s Kirby. Entrepreneurs will be scored based upon their presentation, business plan submitted in advance of the competition, and a crowd vote. JEDCO will give every person in the audience an opportunity to choose their favorite start-up after they all have completed their pitch. A small number of points will be awarded to the crowd favorite and added to that company’s overall score, which will be determined by the judges. The entrepreneur with the winning pitch will receive $20,000 in direct capital and additional in-kind services to help grow their company such as marketing, accounting, and legal assistance.

“The JEDCO Challenge has become a premier event for the entrepreneurial community in Jefferson Parish, and it is due, in large part, to the caliber of the companies that participate in this competition each year,” says JEDCO Executive Director, Jerry Bologna. “The entrepreneurs behind these diverse start-ups represent the talent, ingenuity, and dedication to excellence that we value in the Jefferson Parish business community. This event would not be possible without assistance from Jefferson Parish businesses and organizations such as 365 Connect. We are certainly excited to have Kerry back again for a second year as a judge. Kerry is a strong supporter of our business community, and we would like to thank him for his continuing sponsorship and support of the JEDCO Challenge.”

Kirby stated, “365 Connect is proud to participate in this celebration of entrepreneurship, which showcases the innovation taking place in our hometown. Since our founding, we have watched our city reinvent itself into one of the hottest markets for entrepreneurs. JEDCO has done an exceptional job of fostering the next generation of growing businesses, and this event highlights their efforts to expand the entrepreneurial community in Jefferson Parish. This event amplifies our message that great things are being created right here in Louisiana, and our business community stands ready to support them.”

About JEDCO: The Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission (JEDCO) is the economic development organization for the parish with the main objectives of attracting, growing, and creating new business in the area. JEDCO's mission is to proactively influence the economy through the retention and creation of quality jobs, entrepreneurship, and investment in Jefferson Parish. Located in the growing Churchill Technology & Business Park, JEDCO is home to a business incubator for early-stage ventures, and it also operates a state-of-the-art Conference Center. For more information, visit www.jedco.org

About 365 Connect, LLC:  365 Connect is a leading provider of award-winning marketing, leasing, and resident technology platforms for the multifamily housing industry. Delivering a fully-integrated solution that eliminates redundant marketing efforts, simplifies transactions, and provides services after the lease is signed, the 365 Connect Platform interfaces with a variety of third-party applications to streamline operations and enhance user experiences. Powering the resident lifecycle since 2003, 365 Connect delivers game-changing results for its clients and the residents they serve by remaining laser-focused on connecting people with where they live. Explore: www.365connect.com