When social distancing requirements hit in 2020, one of the casualties at Innovate Mississippi was the Mentor Lounge, a regular in-person event series that started in 2018, occurring throughout the year and at each annual Accelerate conference. Sponsored by Jones Walker LLP, the Mentor Lounge enables Mississippi entrepreneurs to meet with professionals and seasoned industry leaders to get advice about their startup’s business plan, marketing, accounting or other decision-making.
When Whit Rayner, a partner at Jones Walker, discussed continuing a pandemic-era version of the Mentor Lounge with Innovate’s team, they decided the show much go on.
“Last year, the Mentor Lounge started virtually. We had four events, and that first one had seven mentors who each met with 2-3 entrepreneurs,” said Tasha Bibb, director on entrepreneurial development at Innovate Mississippi. “This year continued that event; we’ve had two events so far in 2021.”
The most recent Mentor Lounge was an exciting departure from months of COVID-19 related virtual events—it took place in person. Bibb and the Innovate Mississippi team set aside tables at their August 2021 CONNECT networking event in Jackson. Entrepreneurs were able to meet face-to-face with helpful professionals and executives. Innovate Mississippi hosts CONNECT every first Thursday at Cultivation Food Hall in Jackson’s District at Eastover development.
“Jones Walker is proud to support Innovate Mississippi and the Mentor Lounge. We all have a mission to cultivate our local entrepreneur ecosystem and promote ingenuity and innovation,” said Rayner. “Entrepreneurs receive a no-cost consultation from top intellectual property attorneys with the firm. It’s a pleasure to work with these individuals in building their products and businesses.”
The entrepreneurs often get invaluable experience from the mentors who participate in Innovate Mississippi’s Mentor Lounge. The mentors range from legal, accounting and marketing professionals to business generalists and C-level executives who have decided to give back to Mississippi’s entrepreneurship community.
“I had a chance to meet and chat with [former Bomgar Corporation President] Mike Morgan,” said John Welch, managing partner at Connect Software. “Mike’s experiences gave some good insight for the experiences we’re going through as we push our application out to market. It’s always so helpful to get a different perspective.”
Mentor Lounges are ongoing. Join the Innovate Mississippi e-mail newsletter for monthly updates and register here for upcoming CONNECT networking events.
