JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI — April 8, 2024 — The America’s Seed Fund Road Tour stopped in Jackson on April 3, 2024, as part of a nationwide initiative organized by the Small Business Administration. The event aimed to connect Mississippi innovators and entrepreneurs with non-dilutive federal funding opportunities.
Innovate Mississippi and the University of Southern Mississippi organized Wednesday’s event and hosted it at the Jackson State University Student Center. In attendance were innovators from USM, MSU Starkville, and Vicksburg, alongside tech founders from across the state.
America’s Seed Fund Road Tour is a national outreach effort to connect innovators and entrepreneurs to non-dilutive, technology funding opportunities provided through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, known as “America’s Seed Fund.”
Federal agency representatives representing the 11 SBIR and STTR funding agencies and agencies that provide resources to entrepreneurs and small businesses travel to each stop along the tour in a meeting of local and national innovation ecosystems.
Each Road Tour stop facilitates programming and 1:1 meetings between innovators and federal agencies to help attendees navigate over $4 billion in early-stage funding opportunities through America’s Seed Fund.
Attendees participated in panel sessions covering various aspects of the SBIR/STTR programs, alongside discussions on Mississippi-specific resources and the MS-FAST Program, aimed at increasing SBIR/STTR awards for Mississippi businesses.
“As the leading organization dedicated to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in Mississippi, Innovate Mississippi is thrilled to have this opportunity to educate local innovators on the $4 Billion of federal funding through these programs,” said Tony Jeff, president and CEO of Innovate Mississippi. “Our mission is to support innovators and entrepreneurs throughout the state by providing access to resources and opportunities for growth.
For more information, please visit:
- Innovate Mississippi’s SBIR page: https://www.innovate.ms/mississippi-sbir-sttr-resources/
- SBIR official website: www.SBIR.gov
- SBA YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@sbagov/videos
