Have you noticed Louisiana casually muscling its way up the high-tech food chain? I wouldn‘t be surprised if it‘s flown under your radar. But with technology driving rapid transformation across the global economy, this Southern state‘s deliberate cultivation of a thriving tech sector warrants your attention.
Since 2006, Louisiana has firmly established technology industry growth as a top economic priority – and the results speak for themselves. Over the last decade, Louisiana has outpaced all other states for tech workforce expansion while average tech salaries here exceed the median U.S. wage.
Homegrown startups are flourishing thanks to an increasingly supportive business climate. And major technology players like IBM, Accenture, and CGI have been opening new digital transformation centers across Louisiana and recruiting top talent out of local universities.
This article will highlight key drivers fueling Louisiana‘s technology sector ascent and profile some of the leading tech employers and innovators choosing to call this vibrant ecosystem home. Let‘s explore the Tech Coast of the Gulf Coast more closely!
Steady Growth Powering Louisiana‘s Technology Industry Expansion
Ongoing economic development incentives and promotions have succeeded in transforming Louisiana into a fast emerging IT hub. Here are some statistics that quantify the technology industry‘s formidable growth within the state over the last 15 years:
| Metric | Growth |
|---|---|
| Tech sector GDP growth | +106% since 2006 |
| Tech workforce size | 70,000+ jobs added since 2010 |
| Avg. tech worker salaries | $92k/year – above national median wage |
| VC invested in LA startups | $1.54 billion over the last 5 years |
The makeup of Louisiana‘s technology sector maps closely to global IT spending trends with specialties in cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, digital transformations, AI/Automation, and software development.
Let‘s profile some of the most impactful tech employers choosing to invest in and shape Louisiana‘s future looking economy.
Homegrown Tech Startups Put Louisiana on the Map
While Silicon Valley is known for big tech startups, Louisiana‘s economic developers have focused on nurturing local tech entrepreneurs to build global businesses:
Turbosquid
Founded in 2000 right in New Orleans, Turbosquid has grown into a leading online 3D model marketplace hosting over 2 million digital artists and designers selling 3D assets to clients in industries like gaming, VR, and architecture. After bootstrapping profitably for years, Turbosquid was acquired for $75 million last year by stock image giant Shutterstock.
Advano
There‘s exciting battery tech innovation happening in Louisiana thanks to Advano, a New Orleans based startup developing silicon-based components that promise to enhance lithium-ion battery efficiency as the world transitions to EVs and cleaner energy sources. Advano has already secured over $18.5 million in seed funding to continue enhancing battery storage capacity.
Geocent
While it has changed ownership after being acquired by an IT management firm, Geocent pioneered technology consulting services tailored to local Louisiana businesses when founded way back in 1992. Their early success supporting regional companies laid the foundation for a thriving tech ecosystem.
Multinational Tech Leaders Choose Louisiana for Expansion
In addition to promising local startups, many global technology providers are investing locally by opening major tech centers to deliver services across North America:
Lumen Technologies
Cloud infrastructure giant Lumen Technologies operates the largest tech company in Louisiana with an advanced center in Monroe delivering managed IT and security services to their expansive enterprise customer base. Lumen generates over $3.7 billion in annual revenue.
IBM
The venerable tech company continues to innovate, recently unveiling an IBM Skills Academy in Baton Rouge to strengthen future workforce talent across data science, cybersecurity, and other tech disciplines that leverage AI and Cloud.
CGI
Global IT consultancy CGI selected Lafayette for a new digital transformation center that will employ 400 consultants and developers to modernize critical systems and processes for commercial clients and government entities.
Key Drivers Attracting Technology Sector Investment
As you can see, Louisiana punches above its weight in talent, innovation, and technology leadership. So what‘s fueling this impressive tech expansion?
**Financial Incentives
From tax breaks to grants and recruitment funding, Louisiana makes it very compelling for tech firms to setup IT centers here through competitive incentives.
**University Partnerships
Top engineering and computer science talent pipelines from LSU and other Louisiana universities feed tech skills into the growing job market. Schools actively work with employers to match curriculums with real-world tech needs.
**Accelerators & Incubators
Louisiana offers mentoring, facilities, seed funding and development support to startup founders through accelerators like New Orleans Entrepreneur Week. These crucial programs increase the prospects of young tech firms taking off.
I hope this analysis has helped capture why more CTOs and technology leaders are taking notice of Louisiana as an advantageous location to base IT operations. Expect impressive tech industry growth here for years to come!
Let me know if you have any other questions about Louisiana‘s rising innovation economy. I‘m happy to chat trends across cybersecurity, mobility, AI, battery technologies or other tech domains thriving in the state.
