Louisiana has its second AI-related technology industry win in the last two weeks, and this time it’s closer to home. Copado, which creates AI-powered DevOps software for business applications and works with major brands such as Coca-Cola, T-Mobile and Volkswagen, has announced an innovation office in New Orleans. The Chicago-based company will have office space at The Shop at CAC (900 Camp St.), a coworking space in downtown New Orleans. Copado has already begun commercial operations and plans to continue hiring with an emphasis on technical roles. The office opening is expected to result in 20 direct new jobs, 11 of which have already been hired, with average salaries around $80,000 per year. Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will result in an additional 23 indirect new jobs, for a total of 43 potential new jobs in the Southeast Region. “As we open our doors in the heart of New Orleans, we’re not just setting up an office — we’re planting a seed of progress,” said Copado CEO Ted Elliott. “This city, rich in culture and resilience, is now poised to become a beacon of tech innovation. Our vision is simple: bring opportunity, foster ingenuity and put New Orleans on the map as a driving force in the digital age. Together, we’re building more than just a business; we’re building the future.” LED offered Copado a competitive incentives package that includes the comprehensive workforce development solutions of LED FastStart. The company is also expected to participate in the state’s Quality Jobs program. “Louisiana is rapidly emerging as a national hub for growth and innovation in the tech sector, especially in the evolving AI space,” said LED Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois. “Thank you, Copado, for recognizing the opportunities, advantages and forward-thinking business environment that is making our state a prime location for locating, expanding or starting up tech ventures.” Copado was established in 2013 by the two product engineers who built the first end-to-end native DevOps platform for Salesforce. Today, Copado is backed by Insight Partners, Softbank IBM, Capgemini, and Salesforce Ventures, and the company has operations worldwide working with over 1,700 customers. “Copado’s decision to establish a tech innovation hub in New Orleans enhances our region’s critical mass as a center for technology,” said Greater New Orleans, Inc. President and CEO Michael Hecht. “Their investment in high-wage, high-skill jobs underscores the opportunities available for companies looking to scale in a city that blends innovation with an unmatched quality of life. GNO, Inc. is proud to have supported Copado so far and look forward to helping them grow here in New Orleans.” This is the second announcement in as many weeks of Louisiana winning an AI economic development project. Last week, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced a $10 billion AI Data Center in Richland Parish that will support more than 500 direct new jobs.