Opportunity Machine
Opportunity Machine is a Lafayette, Louisiana-based nonprofit business incubator and accelerator that provides early-stage technology and research-driven startups with workspace, mentorship, a 9-week cohort accelerator, pitch competitions, and access to a Gulf South investor and partner network, supported primarily by LEDA funding.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersLafayette, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Opportunity Machine does
Opportunity Machine (OM) is a nonprofit business incubator and accelerator headquartered in a 22,000 square foot facility at 314 Jefferson Street in Downtown Lafayette, Louisiana. Founded in 2009–2010 through a coalition of the Lafayette Economic Development Authority (LEDA), Louisiana Immersive Technologies Enterprise (LITE), the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce (now One Acadiana), OM operates as a 501(c)(6) organization funded principally by LEDA and serves early-stage technology, research-driven, and innovative startups across the Acadiana and Gulf South regions. The organization has hosted more than 80 startups and businesses and serves hundreds of entrepreneurs annually through accelerator cohorts, workshops, pitch competitions, and the annual Innovate South conference.
OM's service portfolio centers on three interlocking offerings: a Builder Program (a 9-week cohort accelerator covering value proposition design, customer discovery, business model design, and pitch training), a tiered membership program providing 24/7 workspace access and 1-on-1 coaching at $100 per month per person, and mentorship tracks (Incubator Mentor Program and Accelerator Mentor Program) that draw on local executives and Global Accelerator Network (GAN) resources. Programs are supported by events, pitch competitions (Tech Tank, Elevate Entrepreneurship, Get Started Medical), entrepreneur round tables, and educational workshops, with members also receiving access to over $1 million in partner perks from AWS, HubSpot, and Agora. OM has expanded its footprint through 2025 partnerships with Louisiana Innovation (LA.IO) and the Louisiana Technology Transfer Office (LTTO), strengthening commercialization pathways and non-dilutive federal funding access for member companies.
The organization employs a small team of seven full-time staff led by Executive Director Destin Ortego, with governance provided by a Board of Directors that includes LEDA's President/CEO, UL Lafayette's Innovation Managing Director, and operators from portfolio companies such as FlyGuys and Tides Medical. OM has not raised private equity or venture funding; its capital structure is nonprofit, with operating revenue derived from membership fees, LEDA appropriations, partner contributions, and programming sponsorships. Notable alumni include Waitr, Rader Solutions, FlyGuys, and XRMedix (a 2024 TechConnect Innovation Award recipient), and the organization cites over $164 million in cumulative regional economic impact.
Opportunity Machine firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Opportunity Machine
- Legal name
- Opportunity Machine
- Website
- https://opportunitymachine.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Opportunity Machine is a Lafayette, Louisiana-based nonprofit business incubator and accelerator that provides early-stage technology and research-driven startups with workspace, mentorship, a 9-week cohort accelerator, pitch competitions, and access to a Gulf South investor and partner network, supported primarily by LEDA funding.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Opportunity Machine industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Business Incubation Services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (61171), Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Entrepreneurship, Startup Incubation & Pitch Programs (EDAMAKAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Business Planning, Pitching & Competitions (Pitch Decks, Demo Days) (EDAMAHAB), Marketing, Branding & Sales Skills (EDAMAHAG)
Keywords
Where Opportunity Machine is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lafayette
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Opportunity Machine business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Fees: Standard memberships begin at $100 per month per person, providing access to mentorship, workspace, business education programming, coaching, and resource libraries.
- Partner Perks & Discounts: Access to over $1 million worth of free and discounted business services from partners including AWS, HubSpot, Agora, and GAN. These perks provide value to members but are not direct revenue.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Standard Membership - $100/month per person |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Opportunity Machine product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Opportunity Machine operates a membership-based business incubator and accelerator in downtown Lafayette, Louisiana, providing early-stage technology startups with mentorship, business education programming, 24/7 workspace access, pitch competitions, and connections to investors and partners. Core offerings include the 9-week Builder Program accelerator, monthly memberships ($100/month), Incubator and Accelerator Mentor Programs, the Innovate South conference, and educational workshops covering value proposition design, customer discovery, business model design, and pitch training.
Product overview
Opportunity Machine is an incubator and accelerator organization for early-stage technology, research-driven, and innovative startups based in Lafayette, Louisiana. The organization operates as a membership-based service offering a portfolio of interconnected programs including the Builder Program (a 9-week accelerator), membership with workspace access, Incubator Mentor Program, Accelerator Mentor Program, educational workshops (Idea Generator, The Builder, D.I.Y. Marketing), pitch competitions, networking events, and the annual Innovate South conference. The programs work together to provide startups with mentorship, business education, workspace, and networking resources from idea stage through Series A investment.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Membership Program Monthly subscription membership providing early-stage startup founders with 24/7 flexible workspace access, conference and training rooms, mentorship from subject matter experts, business education programming, and certified business coaching. Pricing starts at $100 per person per month.
- Builder Program A 9-week cohort-based accelerator program focused on value proposition design, customer discovery, business model design, testing business ideas, revenue models, and pitch training for idea-stage to seed-stage technology startups.
- Incubator Mentor Program Connects entrepreneurs, small businesses, and startups with subject matter experts to explore ways to grow their business. Available to all membership levels of Opportunity Machine.
- Accelerator Mentor Program Provides startups in accelerator programs with access to additional local and global business mentors with expertise geared towards startups with potential to scale rapidly.
- Innovate South Conference A two-day cross-industry conference open to creatives, visionaries, and entrepreneurs featuring workshops, networking events, panel discussions, and keynote presentations hosted by Opportunity Machine.
- Pitch Competitions Yearly pitch competition events including Tech Tank, Elevate Entrepreneurship Pitch Competition, Get Started Medical, and the LAGCOE Energy Pitch Competition, where startups pitch in front of judges and potential investors.
- Workspace Access Provides 24/7 key card access to flexible workspace, bookable conference and training rooms, private office spaces (100 to 900 square feet), high-speed fiber internet, whiteboards, and AV equipment at the 22,000 square foot facility in Downtown Lafayette.
- Entrepreneur Round Tables Limited-capacity networking sessions (5-10 spots) exclusively available to OM members featuring Opportunity Machine mentors speaking on key topics relevant to startup growth.
- Educational Workshops Educational workshop series including the Idea Generator Workshop (idea generation and vetting), The Builder Workshop (customer discovery and business model design), and D.I.Y. Marketing Series (branding, content creation, website optimization, media buying, and marketing implementation).
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $164 million total economic impact
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Opportunity Machine
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Opportunity Machine technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability6 records
Opportunity Machine partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.
- Louisiana Innovation (LA.IO)coreLA.IO is a new division of Louisiana Economic Development dedicated to making Louisiana a leader in high-growth, technology-enabled startups. OM partners with LA.IO to expand startup opportunities across Acadiana, leveraging LA.IO's open-source platform and connecting founders to investors, grant funding, talent, and customers.
- Louisiana Technology Transfer Office (LTTO)corePartnership with LTTO enables OM to leverage expertise in navigating and unlocking non-dilutive funding under federal programs for small businesses, strengthening OM's role as a catalyst for entrepreneurship.
- Global Accelerator Network (GAN)coreGAN membership provides OM accelerator program participants access to global mentors and subject matter experts. GAN is a network of the most respected accelerators worldwide, having supported over 17,000 startups with collective valuation of $8.5B.
- University of Louisiana at LafayettecoreUL Lafayette partnership includes collaboration with Office of Innovation Management, Informatics Research Institute, and National Science Foundation I-Corps program. UL faculty and staff work directly with startups. Matthew Delcambre serves as Secretary/Treasurer on OM Board.
- One AcadianasecondaryOne Acadiana (formerly Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce) co-founded OM in 2009 and continues partnership through events and ecosystem collaboration.
- AWS (Amazon Web Services)secondaryAWS provides over $1 million worth of free and discounted business services to OM members through startup programs.
- HubSpotsecondaryHubSpot provides startup resources and software to OM members as part of their startup program offerings.
- AgorasecondaryAgora participates in the Opportunity Machine perks program providing services to startup members.
- Lafayette Regional Technology Council (LRTC)secondaryLRTC is a key player in Lafayette's tech ecosystem alongside OM, helping position Lafayette as a leading tech hub in the South.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Opportunity Machine competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Opportunity Machine social profiles
Digital presenceOpportunity Machine financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Opportunity Machine leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Opportunity Machine funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Opportunity Machine M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Opportunity Machine
What does Opportunity Machine do?
Opportunity Machine operates a membership-based business incubator and accelerator in downtown Lafayette, Louisiana, providing early-stage technology startups with mentorship, business education programming, 24/7 workspace access, pitch competitions, and connections to investors and partners. Core offerings include the 9-week Builder Program accelerator, monthly memberships ($100/month), Incubator and Accelerator Mentor Programs, the Innovate South conference, and educational workshops covering value proposition design, customer discovery, business model design, and pitch training.
Is Opportunity Machine a public or private company?
Opportunity Machine is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Opportunity Machine founded?
Opportunity Machine was founded in 2010. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Opportunity Machine based?
Opportunity Machine is headquartered in Lafayette, United States, in the North America region.
How does Opportunity Machine make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are partner Perks & Discounts.
Does Opportunity Machine have an API?
No public API is recorded for Opportunity Machine.
What industry is Opportunity Machine in?
Opportunity Machine's product category is Business Incubation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMAKAK, Entrepreneurship, Startup Incubation & Pitch Programs, with a secondary code of EDAMAHAB, Business Planning, Pitching & Competitions (Pitch Decks, Demo Days). Its NAICS code is 61171 and its SIC code is 8200.