These events are powered by Innovate Mississippi and the Mississippi Small Business Development Center Network. Together, they offer two distinct pitch pathways—one for high-growth startups and another for traditional small businesses.
Across the state, eight regional pitch events will be hosted by eight partner organizations, creating opportunities for entrepreneurs of all kinds. Participants can apply through a single shared application and compete in two separate tracks:
- Traditional & Lifestyle Businesses (MSBDCN Track)
- High-Growth Innovation & Technology Companies (Innovate Mississippi Track)
Both tracks offer cash prizes and valuable exposure. The pitch events are also a qualifying opportunity for companies to be considered for Innovate Mississippi’s CoBuilders Accelerator—a 12-week intensive program designed to fast-track the growth of promising Mississippi startups.
To learn more about CoBuilders Accelerator, Click Here.
To explore the Mississippi Small Business Development Center Network and their services, Click Here.
If you’re a founder or entrepreneur with a great idea, this is your chance to win cash prizes and gain exposure for your business. Apply today!
2025 Events Timeline
April 24th-25th
Apply here by March 25th
Pitch Event at MSU E-Center Starkville
May 5th
Apply here by March 28th
Pitch Event at The Bean Path
May 15th
Apply here by March 31st
Pitch Event at Higher Purpose Co.
May 15th
Apply here by April 8th
Pitch Event at Mississippi Polymer Institute
June 11th
Pitch Event at Gulf Coast Business Council
June 12th
Pitch Event at Oxford / Lafayette Economic Development Foundation
June 16th
Pitch Event at CDF
June 27th
Pitch Event at MSU E-Center Vicksburg
Statewide Partners
Starkville
Oxford
Gulf Coast
Clarksdale
Hattiesburg
Vicksburg
Jackson
Tupelo
Oxford / Lafayette Economic Development Foundation – Oxford, MS
Startup Focus: Early-stage companies generally in North Mississippi
Application Process: The pitch competition will be held on June 12th.
For further information please contact Allen Kurr (allen@oxfordms.com) or call the Oxford-Lafayette County Economic Development Foundation at 662-234-4651.
Higher Purpose, Co. – Clarksdale, MS
Higher Purpose Co.’s mission is to build community wealth with Black residents in Mississippi by supporting the ownership of financial, cultural, and political power. As a valued partner in the CoBuilders Accelerator, Higher Purpose Co. will support black-owned businesses from all over the state of Mississippi. Higher Purpose Business Membership applications are now being accepted. HPC Membership is designed to offer Mississippi entrepreneurs, farmers, and artists, services and support for their existing and growing business that falls within the seven priority sectors which are beauty, food/agriculture, education, healthcare, housing, transportation, and art.
Startup Focus: Black-owned Mississippi Small Businesses
Application Process: The pitch competition will be held on May 15th. Apply here by March 31st.
For further information please contact Angela Williams at angela@higherpurposeco.org or Shakira Wyms at shakira@higherpurposeco.org or call 6o1-988-8081.
Mississippi State E-Center
The MSU Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach empowers students and Mississippi residents to plan, launch and grow successful local and global companies based on new ideas or MSU invented technology. Our companies are graded in the real world – by success or failure with actual, paying customers. We use applied learning to strengthen our pipeline of entrepreneurs from K-12 to college students to graduates and have broad involvement of alumni and friends to help mentor, coach and invest in our startups. As a partner in the CoBuilders Accelerator, we join a team that is working to propel Mississippi’s next wave of technology startups.
Startup Focus: Conceptual or early-stage companies located within Mississippi, or abroad with some connection to MSU. (Only Mississippi-based companies can be selected for CoBuilders, but MSU affiliated companies from any location can participate in the Startup Summit.)
Application Process: The pitch competition will be held April 24th-25th. Apply here by March 25th.
For further information please contact Garrison Walker at gwalker@ecenter.msstate.edu.
The Community Development Foundation
Startup Focus: Early-stage companies in Tupelo/Lee County, Mississippi and surrounding areas.
Application Process: The pitch competition will be held on June 16th.
The Bean Path
Startup Focus: Early-stage companies in Jackson, Mississippi, and the surrounding areas
Application Process: The pitch competition will be held on May 5th. Apply here by March 28th.
For further information please contact Tamika Jenkins via email at tamika@thebeanpath.org or Lena Horne at lena@thebeanpath.org
MSU E-Center Vicksburg
The Mississippi State Entrepreneurship Center in Vicksburg seeks to develop entrepreneurial ventures in the Vicksburg region and to draw particularly from the technology partners and connections associated with ERDC and ERDCWerx. Located in the beautiful MCITy Building in downtown Vicksburg, the MSE E-Center Vicksburg brings all of the resources and experience of MSU’s E-Center to the River City and surrounding areas. As a partner in the CoBuilders Accelerator, the MSU E-Center Vicksburg is working with other partners to assist companies from the region.
Startup Focus: Early-stage companies generally in the Vicksburg region
Application Process: The pitch competition will be held on May 27th.
For further information please contact Tasha Bibb tasha.bibb@msstate.edu or call the MSU E-Center Vicksburg office at 757-784-5947.
Mississippi Polymer Institute
Startup Focus: Early-stage companies generally focused on material-based products (preferably), but all area startups are encouraged to sign up.
Application Process: The pitch competition will be held on May 15th. Apply here by April 8th.
Gulf Coast Business Council / The Meeting Place
The Gulf Coast Business Council is a private 501(c)(6), member-based organization primarily focused on community and economic development. Our general membership consists of the lead decision-makers of companies doing business in Coastal Mississippi (Hancock, Harrison, Jackson). The council exists to inform and engage our members in order to identify, develop and advocate for solutions that enhance our competitive advantage so we can grow our economy and improve the quality of life in Coastal Mississippi.
The Meeting Place seeks to increase economic development of the Mississippi Gulf Coast region by providing a vibrant business environment in which companies can grow and thrive. Through well-established relationships with the Mississippi Small Business Development Center (MS SBDC), the Mississippi Enterprise for Technology (MSET), the Gulf Coast Business Council (GCBC) Research Foundation, Innovate Mississippi, and the local Chambers of Commerce, The Meeting Place functions as a business incubator to give both startups and experienced businesses alike the best opportunity to build a solid, stable foundation on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Startup Focus: Companies with investable products on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Application Process: The pitch competition will be held on June 11th.