Innovate Mississippi was thrilled to sponsor and support Techstars Startup Weekend DeepTech Mississippi in Vicksburg at MCITy this January. The event, organized by Mississippi State University and powered by Techstars, provided an excellent opportunity to bring together bright minds from across the state to collaborate, innovate, and build new ventures.
This approach to this Startup Weekend was a little different than most—instead of pitching off-the-cuff ideas and then forming teams around the popular pitches, this weekend started with pitches around cutting-edge technologies provided by research institutions in the state. The 16 participants organized themselves into teams based on technology provided by MSU, ERDC and Ole Miss.
“This event was designed to be a catalyst—connecting startup teams with cutting-edge research and centralizing resources to support their journeys,” said Tasha Bibb, program manager for MSU and lead organizer for this event. “We remain committed to strengthening our capacity to support and expand this initiative.”
The energy throughout the weekend was palpable as teams worked to refine their ideas. With mentorship and guidance from industry experts, participants delved into market research, customer discovery, and business model development. The event culminated in the big pitch competition, where the top three teams were recognized:
- Third Place: Team Bathymetry identified alternative applications for their technology, earning a $500 project voucher from the Mississippi Polymer Institute.
- Second Place: Team Rapid Hazard Modeling developed a SaaS business model and secured three months of free office space at MSU@MCITy and $1,000 in marketing assistance.
- First Place: Team HealthView, the grand prize winner, presented a health-monitoring platform for rural, underserved communities. Their prize package included a flex desk at the CoWork space in Starkville, donated by the MSU E-Center, $1,000 in legal consultations, and a fully funded victory dinner in Vicksburg.
Innovate Mississippi was honored to have our CEO, Tony Jeff, serve as a mentor. Likewise, Janet Parker, April Dixon, and David Collins from our team contributed their expertise to help guide participants throughout the weekend.
The event would not have been possible without the incredible coordination from partners around the state, including the MSU Office of Technology Management, MSU E-Center, MS-SBDC, ERDCWERX, the USM Entrepreneurship Center, and many others. The panel of judges, representing institutions such as UMMC, MSU E-Center, MCITy, ERDCWERDX and mTrade, played a crucial role in evaluating the teams’ progress and potential.
Connections made and lessons learned during Techstars Startup Weekend DeepTech Mississippi will continue to propel these entrepreneurs forward. Innovate Mississippi remains a resource for these startups navigating licensing, commercialization, and market entry. We are excited to help drive innovation and economic growth across Mississippi through continued collaboration with research institutions and entrepreneurial networks.
Events like this Startup Weekend prove Mississippi is a hub for groundbreaking ideas and entrepreneurial spirit. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for these talented innovators. Congratulations to Tasha Bibb and the team of partners for pulling off a fantastic event in Vicksburg!
