On Tuesday, August 12, you could feel the buzz of excitement in the 19th-floor Capitol Club overlooking downtown Jackson. Innovate Mississippi staff, statewide partners, and mentors gathered to welcome the new cohort of Mississippi’s premier high-growth accelerator program. Innovate Mississippi welcomed seven of the state’s most promising startups to the official launch of CoBuilders 2025.
Organized by Innovate Mississippi and led by Program Director April Dixon, the event marked the start of a 12-week accelerator designed to help early-stage startups become investment-ready. The accelerator culminates in a high-stakes Pitch Day at the Accelerate 2025 Conference this November.
The day began with the “Think Big” Challenge, setting the tone for founders to dream audaciously and execute fearlessly. Attendees then introduced themselves, with each founder offering a glimpse into their vision, mission, and the journey that brought them here. From AI-driven literacy tools to blockchain infrastructure and real-time sports analytics, the diversity of ideas in the room highlighted Mississippi’s ongoing entrepreneurial spirit.
A mix of practical insights and inspiration followed. Workshops on being “investor-ready,” understanding risk, and scoring an investor pitch were interspersed with founder photo sessions and a networking lunch. Later sessions focused on storytelling, helping founders refine their pitch narrative, validate documents, and navigate corporate governance with expert insights from Anne Turner.
“The kickoff sets the tone for the weeks ahead,” said Dixon. “These companies have an arduous three months ahead — filled with weekly meetings, assignments, and rigorous testing and validation. The ultimate goal is to have every team investor-ready by pitch day”.
Innovate Mississippi is deeply grateful to Microsoft, whose generous support has made CoBuilders possible for the fourth consecutive year. Their ongoing commitment to entrepreneurship and innovation in Mississippi propels this program forward.
The kickoff concluded with scheduling previews for weekly webinars, mentorship sessions, and collaborative tools like the CoBuilders Portal and CoPath—offering structure and support for every step of the accelerator.
Finally, a group rooftop photo captured both the view and the shared ambition these founders have to build something transformative.
With this launch, CoBuilders 2025 is officially underway. The weeks that follow will challenge, refine, and propel these founders forward—one pitch, one mentor meeting, and one big idea at a time.
