Opportunity Machine

We’re thrilled to introduce Vanessa Graham, owner of VGraham, LLC and a powerhouse mentor at OM! With 25+ years of experience as a CFO and Controller, Vanessa has helped countless businesses navigate growth, financial strategy, and challenges through every stage. From her early career at KPMG to leading the turnaround and sale of APPRO Systems, Inc. to Equifax, Vanessa brings deep expertise in financial management, private equity, and business strategy. She has served as CFO for multiple companies and now dedicates her time to guiding business owners toward success. Beyond her professional achievements, Vanessa is deeply involved in the Baton Rouge business community, serving on boards for Louisiana Business & Industry Association, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, Thrive Charter School, and more. She is a CPA, an LSU alumna, and an active member of AICPA & LCPA. ?? Looking for insights on financial strategy, business growth, or navigating investment decisions? Vanessa is here to help! #MeetOurMentors #OMMentors #BusinessGrowth #FinancialStrategy #Leadership #Entrepreneurship

?? Women Leading Change: A Must-Read for Women’s History Month ?? In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re spotlighting an inspiring resource for entrepreneurs, changemakers, and leaders looking to do more with less! Nancy Lublin, CEO of Do Something, transformed the organization from a struggling nonprofit into a powerhouse for youth activism—engaging millions and funding young people with big ideas. In her book, she shares invaluable lessons on: ? Motivating people beyond financial incentives ? Mastering grassroots marketing on a budget ? Leading with impact in challenging times With insights from leaders like Wendy Kopp (Teach for America) and Adam Sterling (Save Darfur), this book is a must-read for those ready to drive meaningful change. ?? Tag a fellow trailblazer who needs this book in their hands! #WomensHistoryMonth #Leadership #FemaleChangemakers #NonprofitInnovation

Exciting news! The #InnovateSouth2025 schedule is LIVE on our website now!?? ?? This year's lineup is stacked up with insightful keynote presentations, inspiring panels, networking opportunities, and a live shark-tank style pitch competition. Check it out now at innovatesouth.org and start planning your conference experience! Register at https://loom.ly/lgXlXzc

It was a pleasure hosting Senator Bill Cassidy and the Lafayette Regional Technology Council for conversations around innovation and technology within the?region! #StartupCommunity #Lafayette #Acadiana

?? Announcing the Speaker Lineup for Innovate South 2025! ?? We are thrilled to unveil the incredible lineup of speakers who will be sharing their expertise at Innovate South 2025! This year, we’ve gathered thought leaders from across various industries to help inspire, educate, and empower tech startups, tech professionals, and entrepreneurs. Don’t miss the chance to hear from and network with these incredible speakers! View more info at innovatesouth.org/speakers or register now at ?? https://lnkd.in/g-mCaieW #InnovateSouth #IS2025 #TechInnovation #Entrepreneurship #Networking #StartupSuccess #TechLeadership #Fundraising #AI

?? The countdown to Innovate South is on, and we’ve got something BIG in store! Our speaker lineup is coming together and trust us—you won’t want to miss the innovators, disruptors, and industry leaders taking the stage this year. ??? Stay tuned—speaker announcements are dropping TOMORROW! ??Tag a friend who NEEDS to be at Innovate South 2025! ?? Learn more or register at https://lnkd.in/g-mCaieW #InnovateSouth #IS2025 #Innovation #TechLeaders #ComingSoon

We live in a time of endless innovation, yet most products fail—not because they aren’t built, but because they’re the wrong products. So how do we avoid this costly mistake? In Running Lean, Ash Maurya lays out a systematic process for quickly testing and validating product ideas to improve your chances of success. Drawing from methodologies like Lean Startup, Customer Development, and bootstrapping, this book is a must-read for entrepreneurs looking to achieve true product/market fit. If you're serious about building a product that people actually want, this is the playbook for you! #OpportunityMachine #ResourceRecommendation #RunningLean #StartupSuccess ??

We are excited to announce?the formation of the Lafayette Regional Technology Council (LRTC), a new organization dedicated to strengthening and growing the region's technology ecosystem. The Lafayette Regional Technology Council will focus on four key priorities: developing and retaining talent in the technology sector, facilitating connections and knowledge sharing across the technology community, promoting Lafayette’s technology capabilities outside of the region to support business growth, and advocating for policies that advance Lafayette's technology sector. We're excited to bring together leaders from across our technology landscape including representatives from Techneaux Technology Services (Ben Johnson), CGI (William LaBar), Digital Twin Studios (Marcus Lyle Brown), VieMed Healthcare (John M Collier), LHC Group (Bruce D. Greenstein), Skylight (Alexander Lanclos), SchoolMint (Bryan MacDonald), University of Louisiana at Lafayette (Martin Margala), Opportunity Machine (Destin Ortego, MS), QCerris (Jared Quoyeser), Noble Plastics (Missy Rogers), LUS Fiber (Michael D. Soileau), S1 Technology? (??Hunter Thevis), One Acadiana (André Breaux), & Lafayette Economic Development Authority (LEDA) (Mandi Mitchell, CEcD). Read more at ?? https://lnkd.in/gtkXnCit #technology #tech #techcouncil

Exciting news for Lafayette's tech ecosystem! ?? Opportunity Machine is proud to play a supporting role in the launch of the Lafayette Regional Technology Council (LRTC), a new organization dedicated to accelerating our region's technology sector. Opportunity Machine's mission to support and elevate early-stage tech startups perfectly aligns with LRTC's vision & mission. We're excited to support LRTC in their mission to develop local tech talent, facilitate community connections, and promote Lafayette as a growing tech hub. We're thrilled to see this initiative bringing together leaders from across our technology landscape including representatives from Techneaux Technology Services (Ben Johnson), CGI (William LaBar), Digital Twin Studios (Marcus Lyle Brown), VieMed Healthcare (John M Collier), LHC Group (Bruce D. Greenstein), Skylight (Alexander Lanclos), SchoolMint (Bryan MacDonald), University of Louisiana at Lafayette (Martin Margala), Opportunity Machine (Destin Ortego, MS), QCerris (Jared Quoyeser), Noble Plastics (Missy Rogers), LUS Fiber (Michael D. Soileau), S1 Technology? (??Hunter Thevis), One Acadiana (André Breaux), & Lafayette Economic Development Authority (LEDA) (Mandi Mitchell, CEcD). Read more ?? https://loom.ly/BC7VdGI #tech #techcouncil #technology #techecosystem

It’s time! Early Bird Registration for Innovate South 2025 is officially OPEN NOW! ?? Snag your ticket before April 1 secure your spot at 20% off regular ticket prices using code EARLYBIRD.?? Register now at ?? https://lnkd.in/g-mCaieW #InnovateSouth #Networking #StartupCommunity #TechCommunity