About
Opportunity Machine’s mission is to support and elevate early-stage technology, research-driven, and innovative startups. Our focus lies in nurturing tech and tech-enabled ventures through specialized business education, targeted mentorship, strategic networking opportunities, and a workspace environment designed to meet high-growth startups’ dynamic needs. We are committed to building a robust community of resources, and to fostering a network of support and collaboration that propels these startups forward.
Our Team
Board of Directors
Tom Cox
President
President & CEO of Golfballs.com
Mandi Mitchell
Vice President
President/CEO of the Lafayette Economic Development Authority
Heidi Melancon
Secretary/Treasurer
Director of Louisiana Small Business Development Center
Bob Miller
Member at Large
Chief Operating Officer of Global Data Systems
Matthew Delcambre
Member at Large
Innovation Managing Director at University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Josh Bendickson
Member at Large
Associate Professor of University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Dacoda Bartels
Member at Large
Sr. VP of Operations at FlyGuys
EJ Krampe
Member at Large
President / CEO of MacLaff, Inc.
History of Opportunity Machine
In 2009, Opportunity Machine (OM) was created by Lafayette Economic Development Authority (LEDA), Louisiana Immersive Technologies Enterprise (LITE), the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (UL) and the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce (now One Acadiana). Its original mission was to “accelerate wealth creation by immersing technology wildcatters into a fiber-powered community of innovators.” The initiative was encouraged by David Welch, former President of Stone Energy Corporation, who had confidence a technology ecosystem could flourish in Acadiana that centered on its members via education sessions, mentoring and coaching opportunities, and community events.
Officially launched in 2010, OM was led by its Executive Director, Bob Miller, now COO of Global Data Systems; Tom Cox, Founder and CEO of Golfballs.com; Clay Allen, Managing Partner of Allen & Gooch; Doug Menefee, then CIO for Schumacher Group; Joby John, Marketing Professor at UL; Mark Galyean, then Regional Director for LSBDC; and Gregg Gothreaux, President and CEO of LEDA. At the time, there were five companies at the OM: Pixel Magic, Rader Solutions, Fiber Corps, Global e Solutions, and Henry Safety Technologies, LLC. The Opportunity Machine’s original location, The Switch, was in downtown Lafayette. After OM member, CSE Icon, expanded to fill two floors of the building, the OM moved to a larger space at LITE in 2014. OM obtained 501(c)(6) nonprofit status in 2017.
Today, OM is located in a state of the art facility at 314 Jefferson St. in Downtown Lafayette, where it hosts more than 80 startups and businesses in industries such as technology, health care and more with several graduating from the incubator each year. It provides programming for hundreds of entrepreneurs from the Gulf South region each year through workshops, accelerator programs, Innovate South, and more.
