Oxford / Lafayette Economic Development Foundation – Oxford, MS
The Oxford/Lafayette Economic Development Foundation seeks to increase the economic development activity of the region through providing a vibrant business environment in which companies can grow and thrive. As close partners with the University of Mississippi, the EDF also works to assist technology transfer businesses to grow and thrive in the area. As a partner in the CoBuilders Accelerator, the EDF is working with other partners in North Mississippi to assist companies from the region.
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 10th, 2024.
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 on April 8th-12th, 2024.
For further information please contact Garrison Walker at gwalker@ecenter.msstate.edu.
The Community Development Foundation
Startup Focus: Early-stage companies in Jackson, Mississippi, and the surrounding areas
Application Process: The pitch competition will be held on June 17th, 2024.
For further information please contact Judd Wilson at jwilson@cdfms.org or at 662-842-4521.
JSU / 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 6th, 2024.
For further information please contact Tamika Jenkins via email at tamika@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 22nd, 2024.
For further information please contact Ryan Gilbrech rgilbrech@ecenter.msstate.edu or call the MSU E-Center Vicksburg office at 757-784-5947.
Mississippi Polymer Institute
The Mississippi Polymer Institute cultivates business growth and participation in advanced materials markets. As the industrial outreach component of the University of Southern Mississippi’s 500-acre Innovation and Commercialization Park, we collectively provide capabilities and resources relevant to businesses at all stages of maturity. As a partner in the CoBuilders Accelerator and the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MMA-MEP), MPI works with other partners around Mississippi to assist early-stage companies.
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 17th, 2024.
The Meeting Place
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 May 31st, 2024.
For further information please contact Geneva Dummer at info@tmp-ms.com or 228-207-0663.
