Mississippi Launches SSBCI-Backed InvestMS Funds Program: New Application Cycle to Attract National Venture Capital for Local Innovation

JACKSON, Miss. — [7/15/25] — Mississippi is opening the door to national and regional venture capital funds with the launch of the InvestMS Funds Program, a key component of the state’s $86 million SSBCI strategy to expand access to early-stage capital for Mississippi-based startups. Managed by Innovate Mississippi, the InvestMS program is…

Continue ReadingMississippi Launches SSBCI-Backed InvestMS Funds Program: New Application Cycle to Attract National Venture Capital for Local Innovation
Read more about the article Celebrating Innovation in Oxford: Announcing the Winners of ‘Business Pitch 2025’
The winners featuring, from left, Dylan Adcox, Andrew Bradford, Julien Bourgeois, Dr. Josie Nicholson, and Dr. David Colby.

Celebrating Innovation in Oxford: Announcing the Winners of ‘Business Pitch 2025’

Innovate Mississippi was delighted to partner again with the Oxford‑Lafayette County Economic Development Foundation, the University of Mississippi, and the Mississippi Small Business Development Center Network for the fifth annual Oxford Pitch Competition, held Thursday, June 12, at the Oxford Conference Center. And we thank the Oxford Eagle for once again…

Continue ReadingCelebrating Innovation in Oxford: Announcing the Winners of ‘Business Pitch 2025’

Tribly’s Pivot Powers Rapid Growth with Help from Mississippi’s Startup Ecosystem

In 2020, Mississippi musician-turned-founder Seth Power launched Tribly to help musicians build direct relationships with their fans, bypassing the algorithms that dominate today's music marketing. While early iterations of the product leaned into blockchain and NFTs during the crypto boom, a market crash pushed the company to rethink its foundation.…

Continue ReadingTribly’s Pivot Powers Rapid Growth with Help from Mississippi’s Startup Ecosystem

How a Critical Pivot Made CampusKnot One of the South’s Hottest EdTech Startups

In 2021, CampusKnot was at a crossroads. The startup, founded in 2015 in Starkville, Mississippi, had already been in the market for several years, experimenting with features and business models in the higher education space. But something wasn't quite clicking, says CEO Rahul Gopal. The product had features professors liked…

Continue ReadingHow a Critical Pivot Made CampusKnot One of the South’s Hottest EdTech Startups

Home Tours Pro is Building the Future of Real Estate Media—One AI-Enabled Shoot at a Time

If you've ever booked a real estate photographer, you know the pain points: scheduling delays, inconsistent results, and long turnaround times for media delivery. Home Tours Pro, a Mississippi-based startup founded by Jeff Smith and Mark Davis, is tackling all that head-on with an ambitious vision to automate and de-skill…

Continue ReadingHome Tours Pro is Building the Future of Real Estate Media—One AI-Enabled Shoot at a Time

From Engineering Camp to Startup Success: Duett Technology Raises $1.7M and Launches Switch 1.0

For Tyler Anthony and Thomas White, the journey to launching their first product, Switch 1.0, started long before their company, Duet Technology (or DueTT), was even an idea. The two met at the "Summer Bridge" engineering camp before their freshman year at Mississippi State University and quickly became friends. While Anthony was ping…

Continue ReadingFrom Engineering Camp to Startup Success: Duett Technology Raises $1.7M and Launches Switch 1.0

Celebrate Mississippi’s Top Manufacturing Innovators: SmartTech MS Prize Winners Announced

Earlier this year, we challenged Mississippi's most innovative minds to push the boundaries of advanced manufacturing—and they delivered. Entrepreneurs from across the state submitted groundbreaking technologies designed to optimize processes, enhance efficiency, and redefine the future of manufacturing. The judging is complete, and the SmartTech MS Advanced Manufacturing Prize Competition has reached…

Continue ReadingCelebrate Mississippi’s Top Manufacturing Innovators: SmartTech MS Prize Winners Announced