Gulf Blue Navigator Sets Sail with Cohort Year One Announcement

The Mississippi Gulf Coast is a hub for innovation in ocean conservation, with Gulf Blue Navigator leading the charge. Under the University of Southern Mississippi Research Foundation, this program aims to accelerate late-stage startups toward revenue generation. Over four months, Gulf Blue Navigator provides expertise, collaboration opportunities, research facilities, testing…

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America’s Seed Fund Road Tour Connects Jackson’s Innovators with Federal Funding

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…

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SBIR/STTR Road Tour Stopping in Jackson: Connecting Innovators with Federal Funding

The America's Seed Fund Road Tour is a nationwide initiative to link innovators and entrepreneurs with non-dilutive funding opportunities in technology offered through the SBIR/STTR programs. Running from February 7 to July 19, the in-person tour spans 16 states and territories, facilitating connections between innovators, entrepreneurs, and federal agencies before…

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Reimagining Plastic Waste: How RebornC is Pioneering a Sustainable Future

Dr. Zhe Qiang and Mark Robertson launched their startup, RebornC, in 2022 after their academic research showed promise for a new way to transform plastic waste into an essential, energy-efficient heating resource for manufacturing. Qiang, an assistant professor of Polymer Science and Engineering at the University of Southern Mississippi, says…

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Victor Robinson: Fueling Mississippi Startups with Innovate Mississippi’s SSBCI Funds

Victor Robinson, investment manager at Innovate Mississippi, is making significant strides in empowering Mississippi startups. Robinson's diverse background, including healthcare administration and independent business brokering, uniquely positions him to navigate the complex entrepreneurial landscape. As a proud University of Mississippi MBA graduate, Robinson transitioned from a prominent healthcare administration role…

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FoundersPlus Accelerator Cohort for Women- and Minority-Led Startups

Too often in Mississippi and nationwide, women and minority founders are not just underrepresented—they are underestimated. Seeing successful female and minority entrepreneurs empowers others to pursue their ventures and creates a chain reaction of community success. The success of businesses led by women and people of color has a powerful impact…

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Rumie Closes $450k Seed Round, Sets Sights on Wide Adoption Via College Campuses

In early 2023, Rumie App LLC, an Oxford-based technology startup founded by University of Mississippi students, earned a $100,000 Mississippi Seed Fund award to help them realize the potential in their campus-based marketplace for students. The only thing holding CEO Tanner McCraney back—even a little—was his final semester of study.…

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