We're excited to celebrate the winners of the Mississippi Polymer Institute's (MPI) fourth annual Business Pitch Event, which took place on May 15, 2025, at The University of Southern Mississippi's Innovation and Commercialization Park. This year's competition drew 41 applications with 18 startup founders selected to pitch in one of two perfectly named…
Innovate Mississippi was proud to partner with Higher Purpose Hub for an unforgettable pitch competition in the heart of the Mississippi Delta. Held at the Club Ebony in Indianola, the event was a fun mash-up of entrepreneurship, innovation—and Mississippi cookin'! With blues music on the speakers and a spread of…
Jackson, Miss. (July 15, 2025)—Innovate Mississippi is proud to announce the addition of four distinguished leaders to its board of directors. Joining the board are Jamie Miller, Rebekah Staples, Ryan Miller, and Dr. Tim Lampkin. Each brings a unique blend of experience in economic development, public policy, regional know-how and…
On July 16th, area Mississippi founders took the stage in Tupelo to compete in the 2025 edition of The Pitch, an annual business competition hosted by the Community Development Foundation. Each finalist delivered their best pitch to a panel of judges, but Brandi Brown and her company, Gulf Spore, rose…
JACKSON, Miss. — [7/15/25] — Mississippi is opening the door to national and regional venture capital funds with the launch of the InvestMS Funds Program, a key component of the state’s $86 million SSBCI strategy to expand access to early-stage capital for Mississippi-based startups. Managed by Innovate Mississippi, the InvestMS program is…
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…
Maranda Joiner wears many hats—entrepreneur, speaker, author, and now lead facilitator for the Founders Plus program at Innovate Mississippi. A native of Jackson and co-founder of Succeed and Elevate, a non-profit dedicated to helping entrepreneurs, Maranda brings her professional expertise and personal commitment to helping women and minority entrepreneurs thrive in the startup…
Twenty-three Mississippi entrepreneurs reached a significant milestone in May, graduating from the inaugural Mississippi cohort of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses (10KSB) program. Held at the Old Capitol Museum, the ceremony celebrated small businesses' growing energy and impact statewide. We're especially proud to celebrate two Innovate Mississippi alums who…
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…