Mississippi State University’s Center for Entrepreneurship & Outreach (eCenter) is where many MUS students and East Mississippi founders first begin turning an idea into something workable. Based in Starkville on MSU’s campus (with other resources around town), the program works with students and community entrepreneurs across northeast Mississippi, helping them…
Mississippi’s startup ecosystem is growing in part because of the synergy and connections within the ecosystem—and Mississippi State University’s presence at MCity in Vicksburg is a good example of how that works. The space brings together university programs, federal research partners, and local organizations, creating a place where ideas can…
In November, we were proud to gather some of Mississippi’s best and brightest at the 26th annual Accelerate Conference—powered by mTrade and produced by Innovate Mississippi in partnership with the Mississippi Small Business Development Center Network. Over the course of two dynamic days (Nov. 11–12), founders, investors, ecosystem partners, and…
Innovate Mississippi is proud to welcome Jewel Burks Solomon, managing partner at Collab Capital, as the keynote speaker for this year's Accelerate Conference. Solomon's path from tech founder to venture capital leader embodies determination and community-minded innovation. Her story is one of focus, purpose, and a commitment to creating opportunities…
On Tuesday, August 12, you could feel the buzz of excitement in the 19th-floor Capitol Club overlooking downtown Jackson. Innovate Mississippi staff, statewide partners, and mentors gathered to welcome the new cohort of Mississippi's premier high-growth accelerator program. Innovate Mississippi welcomed seven of the state's most promising startups to the…
On June 26, the Mississippi Center for Innovation & Technology (MCITy), in partnership with Mississippi State University and Innovate Mississippi, welcomed entrepreneurs and community builders to the Dawg Tank Startup Pitch Event in Vicksburg—a showcase of homegrown innovation aimed at transforming lives and industries. In the Technology category, Vertical TakeOff won first place with…
Innovate Mississippi was thrilled to join the Mississippi Gulf Coast Business Council and Mississippi SBDC for the inaugural StartUp Gulf Coast Pitch Competition, which took place on June 10 at MGCCC's Hospitality Resort Management Center in Biloxi. This high-energy event brought together nine innovative startups drawn from across the Gulf Coast,…
Innovate Mississippi was delighted to partner again with the Oxford‑Lafayette County Economic Development Foundation, the University of Mississippi, and the Mississippi Small Business Development Center Network for the fifth annual Oxford Pitch Competition, held Thursday, June 12, at the Oxford Conference Center. And we thank the Oxford Eagle for once again…
Innovate Mississippi is pleased to have supported the 2025 MSU Spring Startup Summit—a dynamic showcase of innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration. Held on April 24th and 25th, this year's summit welcomed over 75 startups nationwide and awarded nearly $100,000 in prizes to emerging businesses. We also thank the MSU communications team and Emma McRae…
Mississippi State University at MCITy is calling on aspiring entrepreneurs and early-stage startups to step into the spotlight at Dawg Tank, a regional pitch competition and official qualifier for the CoBuilders statewide accelerator program. The event will take place on Thursday, June 26 at 12 p.m., on the second floor of MCITy…