The Vicksburg Post reports: MSU e-Center hosts pitch competition at MCITy

The Thad Cochran Mississippi Center for Information and Technology (MCITy) recently held its inaugural pitch competition, hosted by the Mississippi State University Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach, in conjunction with Innovate Mississippi. This competition is part of the statewide CoBuilders accelerator, designed to encourage more startup companies in the state.

The event, which attracted seven diverse startups, marked a successful launch of MCITy’s entrepreneurial programs. Anirudh Aditya, the creator of the Tempo app, won the competition and the $3,500 grand prize. Tempo is a Learning Management System that focuses on short-form videos and allows creators to sell curated guides to audiences. Second and third place went to MEGHA R&D LLC and ppxTEC LLC, which received $2,500 and $1,500, respectively.

MCITy director, Dr. Jeffery P. Holland, commended the competition and its organizers for effectively introducing a new outreach program. Tasha Bibb, Senior Program Manager for MSU, and her colleague Ryan Gilbrech expressed optimism for future collaborations and competitions, noting their focus on enhancing the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Vicksburg.

Beyond hosting pitch competitions, MSU’s presence at MCITy also involves a venture capitalist program adapted from Starkville’s model. Gilbrech emphasized MSU’s role as a proponent for technological advances in the startup landscape, particularly in relation to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ presence in Vicksburg.

Innovate Mississippi is proud to call MCITy a partner in CoBuilders, and we thank the Vicksburg Post and writer Anna Guizerix for their great coverage. Read the full story here.