When Corridor Ventures opened its doors in New Orleans in 2022, the firm had a clear mission: to bridge the startup funding gap that had long hindered Southern entrepreneurs, according to this interview feature from Nola.com. Founded by Kwamena Aidoo and Kelli Saulny, both natives of New Orleans, the firm quickly became a champion for early-stage founders in fields ranging from health and climate solutions to technology and hospitality startups.

Aidoo, who had built a career in finance and private equity, brought extensive expertise to the table. Before returning home, he co-founded Cannon Capital, a $100 million fund, and worked at leading investment firms in New York. Saulny, meanwhile, had developed a strong background in business growth and nonprofit support. She played a role in expanding Carol’s Daughter, the beauty brand later acquired by L’Oréal, and contributed her skills at Camelback Ventures, an organization dedicated to supporting women and minority founders. Together, the pair created a firm that would provide not only financial backing — typically up to $500,000 — but also mentorship, networking opportunities, and strategic guidance.

The decision to base Corridor Ventures in New Orleans was a deliberate one. Along with their partners Jarrett Cohen and Adrian Mendez, both Aidoo and Saulny wanted to invest in the region they called home. They recognized that while cities such as Atlanta, Raleigh-Durham, Birmingham, and Tampa showed an abundance of entrepreneurial talent, founders in these areas often lacked access to the financial resources available in hubs like Silicon Valley. By centering operations in Louisiana, Corridor positioned itself to support startups that might otherwise remain unseen.

Saulny emphasized that her return to New Orleans revealed both opportunities and challenges. She noted that Southern founders were often tackling issues rooted in their own communities, such as water management, cultural innovation, and health systems. These entrepreneurs demonstrated unique insight and urgency, yet too often their ideas stalled due to insufficient capital or limited networks. Corridor Ventures sought to provide the missing piece, offering both investment and practical guidance to help promising companies grow.

Among their early portfolio successes were Ingest, a restaurant technology company that expanded from under $300,000 in annual revenue to over $2.5 million, and Obatala Sciences, a biotechnology firm developing alternatives to animal testing. These examples underscored the growth possibilities that emerge when local talent gains access to meaningful funding. In 2025, the firm began raising a flagship $30 million fund and had already secured $3.5 million in commitments, including institutional support.

Corridor Ventures has also positioned itself as a leader in fostering diversity within entrepreneurship. Saulny explained that diversity in their portfolio was not the result of formal mandates but rather the natural outcome of their broad networks and Southern roots. Because the firm works closely with founders across varied communities, their investments reflect the region’s full range of talent. Aidoo added that avoiding the trap of backing the same types of entrepreneurs repeatedly was not only an obligation but also a competitive advantage.

Looking ahead, both founders highlighted the need for stronger collaboration within Louisiana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and startups. Organizations such as Idea Village, Momentum Fund, and Nexus Louisiana have started coordinating efforts, but additional local investment remains necessary. Aidoo stressed that too much of the state’s wealth continues to bypass startups in favor of private deals, limiting the flow of capital into innovative ventures. Shifting even a fraction of those resources toward early-stage businesses could transform the regional funding pipeline.

The story of Corridor Ventures highlights the evolving landscape of Southern innovation. By investing in overlooked founders and anchoring their work in New Orleans, Aidoo and Saulny have shown that transformative companies can thrive outside the coasts. Their efforts demonstrate that when capital meets local talent, the South has the potential to become a formidable force in the national startup economy.

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