Innovate Mississippi

2019 Innovate Mississippi Legislative Open House
2019-03-05 16:30 - 18:30 (America/Chicago) | Innovate Mississippi’s Jackson Office, 121 North State Street, Suite 500, Jackson, MS, United States
Held at the Innovate Mississippi offices in downtown Jackson, we invite Mississippi legislators and area leaders to learn more about Innovate Mississippi and our initiatives for growing the innovation ecosystem in 2019. Hors D’oeuvres, beverages on the rooftop patio; meet our entrepreneurs; experience virtual reality.

Tech JXN 2019
2019-04-16 - 2019-04-17
Tech JXN is a two-day presentation of the value inherent in the City of Jackson and its geographic region as an attractive business hub for Tech.
Overview:
TECHNOLOGY – Highlight the region as a connected business community with high-speed
broadband and an active entrepreneurial tech-innovation ecosystem
EDUCATION – Highlight 7 local institutions of higher education as Talent Development
Pipelines producing a STEM-educated workforce prepared for a global Innovation Economy
CREATIVITY – Highlight the creative arts as an economic driver in the Innovation Economy
HEALTHCARE – Highlight the region’s strong focus on health technologies and innovation, including the Jackson Medical Mall and UM Medical Center

MagnoliaJS
2019-04-17 - 2019-04-18
MagnoliaJS is Mississippi’s inaugural JavaScript and coding conference. If you are interested in JavaScript or other topics related to web development, this conference is for you. Whether you are a seasoned professional, a bootcamp or college student, a self-taught dev, or anywhere in between, this conference is for you.

The Health Innovation and Transformation Forum (HIT Forum)
2019-05-21 08:00 - 17:00 | Norman C. Nelson Student Union, 2500 N. State Street, Jackson, MS, 39216, United States
The University of Mississippi Medical Center’s 2nd Annual Health Innovation and Transformation (HIT) Forum is an interactive event where health innovators from UMMC and across the state will share their ideas for improving the health of Mississippians. The HIT Forum will feature a startup pitch competition for innovative health care solutions from anywhere in the world.
The University of Mississippi Medical Center is looking towards home grown innovation and partnerships with leading innovators from around the globe to reach that goal. Please enter and/or attend if you are interested in learning how Mississippi is innovating in health care or if you are interested in working with us to move the needle towards a healthier Mississippi.
Schedule:
10:00am Welcome and Keynote Speakers
10:45am Break
11:00am Startup Catfish Tank
12:00pm Keynote Speaker/Lunch
1:00pm Innovation Working Session
2:30pm Innovation PITCH Competition
3:30pm Fireside Chat
4:30pm Reception

Mississippi Digital Government Summit
2019-09-17 08:00 - 17:00 | Jackson Marriott, 200 East. Amite Street, Jackson, 39201, United States
Government Technology’s passion is helping spread best practices and spurring innovation in the public sector. The Mississippi Digital Government Summit is designed to do just that. The summit has an advisory board that gathers public sector and private sector leaders to create an agenda that is relevant and actionable to the state and local government organizations attending the summit. Participants tell us they use the inspirational keynotes, leadership discussions, networking breaks, and timely topics discussed in the numerous breakout sessions to help advance the goals of their organizations and their own career paths.
Topics Include:

Navigating the Cloud
Cybersecurity Resources – You’re Not Alone
Data Revolution
A Workplace Culture for the Future
Emerging Trends and Technologies
Digital Transformation
Project Management Best Practices

Graphene Innovation & Research Conference
2019-11-19 08:00 - 2019-11-20 17:00 | The Westin Jackson, 407 South Congress Street , Jackson, MS, 39201, United States
This two-day conference will bring together leaders from academia, industry, and government funding agencies to focus on recent advances in graphene innovation and research, bridging the gap between lab and industry and enabling graphene-focused technologies.

During the event, leaders from the government, universities, national labs, and industries will convene to discuss strategies through which graphene can be leveraged to elevate already existing industries, create new high paying jobs, attract new companies and businesses and nurture and support spin off companies from the graphene academic and university network.
The conference will also incorporate a design competition with $15,000 in prizes for five companies. More info on the competition page.

Connect: Networking for Entrepreneurs
2020-01-09 16:30 - 18:30, 2020-02-06 16:30 - 18:30 | Cultivation Food Hall, 1200 Eastover Dr Suite 125, Jackson, 39211, United States
Innovate Mississippi Presents: Connect, an opportunity for entrepreneurs, mentors, and innovation ecosystem leaders to network, connect and form meaningful relationships.
Connect will be held the first Thursday of every month at the Cultivation Food Hall in The District. Cash Bar and plenty of food options will be available for you to purchase while you mingle. Due to the holidays, the first event will be January 9th (second Thursday) from 4:30 – 6:30. Please RSVP!

Magnolia JS Event
2020-04-15 - 2020-04-16 | Jackson Convention Complex, 105 E. Pascagoula Street, Jackson, MS, 39201, United States
Last year was our inaugural year for MagnoliaJS, and it was amazing. Planned in only 2 months, we still had 130+ attendees and top-tier speakers who flew in from all around the country to take part.
This year we are returning to continue our mission of growing the developer community in Mississippi and putting Mississippi “on the map” in tech.
Another novel thing about MagnoliaJS – everything is planned in public! You can always see our todos in our GitHub repo.
Speakers (more to be announced soon)

Nashlie Sephus, Amazon / The Bean Path – (@nashlie_s)
Jay Phelps – (@_jayphelps)
Tejas Kumar, G2i (@TejasKumar_)
Kayla Sween (@_KaylaSween)
Nader Dabit, AWS Mobile – (@dabit3)
Chris Ball, Echobind – (@cball_)
Tyler Clark – (@iamtylerwclark)
Michael Liendo, John Deere – (@mtliendo)
Chris DeMars, Tuft & Needle – (@saltnburnem)
Justin Samuels – (@ThugDebugger)

Additional Speakers
Additional speakers will be announced soon!

Technology Finds a Way! MSTUG 8th Annual Technology Expo - April 22, 2020 - REGISTRATION OPEN!
2020-04-22 09:00 - 15:00 | MS TradeMart, 1200 Mississippi Street, Jackson, MS, 39202, United States
On behalf of the officers and members of the Mississippi Technology User Group (MSTUG), I am pleased to announce registration is open for our annual Technology Expo for 2020. The date is Wednesday, April 22nd at the Mississippi Trade Mart in Jackson, MS from 9:00 am until 3:00 pm. This year’s theme is based on Jurassic Park/Jurassic World™ – “Technology Finds a Way.” We are encouraging vendors to decorate their booths with this dinosaur park theme in mind. This will be a competition and the attendees will vote on the best themed booth throughout the day. There will be a prize awarded!

Connect - Networking for Entrepreneurs
2021-04-26 16:30 - 2021-05-06 18:30 | Cultivation Food Hall, 1200 Eastover Dr Suite 125, Jackson, 39211, United States
CONNECT is an opportunity for entrepreneurs, mentors, investors and anyone interested in entrepreneurship and innovation to network and form meaningful relationships. Cash Bar and plenty of food options will be available for you to purchase while you mingle.

Your health and safety are very important to us and we will continue to monitor the CDC’s guidelines for safe gatherings. Cultivation Food Hall asks that customers wear a mask while entering the building, ordering food/beverages or moving throughout the venue. You will have the option to move your conversations outside and bring your food/beverages with you if you would like to spread out. We will also have disposable masks and hand sanitizer available for attendees. We understand if you are not yet comfortable with in-person gatherings, but we hope these precautions will help you feel safe and eager to gather together again.

TECH JXN 2021
2021-09-23 09:00 - 2021-09-25 17:00
TECH JXN and Visit Jackson have partnered for a three-day event highlighting the best of Jackson tech, film, music and food.
The annual event will be held from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 23 and Friday, Sept. 24 at the Jackson Convention Complex, and Saturday, Sept. 25 at the Mississippi Museum of Art.
Now in its third year, TECH JXN will focus on senior high school students as part of an overall workforce initiative to educate students and fill hundreds of jobs in Jackson and beyond. The event, which will also feature a college and career fair, is also open to the public.
Seniors will have the opportunity to attend two of eight workshops during the event that will educate them on the four pillars of “Tech”: technology, education, creativity and healthcare.
On Friday, TECH JXN will feature a college and career fair. Representatives from Mississippi universities and corporations will be in attendance, along with City of Jackson officials, to potentially fill hundreds of jobs.
The event will also offer a “film academy” to educate attendees on the growing film industry in Mississippi and possible careers in the field. Attendees will be given the opportunity to create their own one-minute films to showcase what they have learned. Those films will be viewed at the Mississippi Museum of Art on Saturday, Sept. 25.
Register here >>

Jackson Area Web and App Developers
2022-02-16 18:00
This group is for professional web and application designers and developers looking to network with others in the industry, learn about new or emerging technologies, and for anyone looking to learn web and or application development (beginner to advanced).
We talk design, share experiences with the use of different tools & languages, critique sites & apps, talk industry, business, employment news, and share motivations and inspirations. This group is intended to become a hub for all today’s technologies that make up the Internet as we know it.
We meet monthly in informal settings (usually over coffee, drink and /or food) to network and socialize with other fellow web development professionals and enthusiasts.
RSVP here >>
IMPORTANT NOTE: Please RSVP, as it will dictate which venue we can use.
Sponsors: JetBrains, J.C. Hiatt
Want to sponsor? Read our sponsorship info here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VwD0XnjPAWsTN5RwpyIkywXiMHrYB3my5zO0iB_ydz8/edit?usp=sharing

Hinds CC / SBDC Vicksburg - Pitch Event
2022-03-02 - 2022-03-18
The Hinds Community College Small Business Development Center (HCC-SBDC) seeks to increase the economic development activity of the Vicksburg region through providing a vibrant business environment in which companies can grow and thrive. As close partners with the Chamber of Commerce and the Vicksburg Warren County Partnership, Hinds Community College, the Hinds CC SBDC provides support to businesses. As a partner in the CoBuilders Accelerator, the Hinds CC SBDC is working with other partners to assist companies from the region.

Startup Focus: Early-stage companies generally in the Vicksburg region
Application Process: Companies interested in representing Vicksburg in the statewide Co-Builders cohort should submit an application by March 18. Each applicant will begin the process with a consultation session where they will be connected with local entrepreneurial development resources to help prepare them for the local pitch event scheduled for April 4th.
For further information please contact jim@mississippisbdc.org or call the Hinds CC SBDC office at 601-857-3536.

MagnoliaJS Developer Conference
2022-09-13 - 2022-09-14
MagnoliaJS creates an inclusive conference to showcase Mississippi’s thriving developer community. Each event is a success in Mississippi’s talent in technology and in being known as the Hospitality State.
This upcoming 2022 season will be held in Mississippi’s capital and will draw talent from neighboring states. We’re inviting you and your company to take part with us at the Mississippi Museum of Art in Jackson, MS on September 13-14.
https://www.magnoliajs.com/

Legislative Reception + CONNECT: Networking for Entrepreneurs
2023-02-07 16:30 - 18:30 | Cultivation Food Hall, 1200 Eastover Dr Suite 125, Jackson, 39211, United States
CONNECT is an opportunity for entrepreneurs, mentors, investors and anyone interested in entrepreneurship and innovation to network and form meaningful relationships.
CONNECT is held the first Thursday of every month from 4:30 -6:30 pm, but this month we are combining our Legislative Reception and CONNECT on the same night which will be Tuesday, February 7, 2023. In March we will be back to the First Thursday of each month for 2023.
Join us at Cultivation Food Hall and enjoy a cash bar and plenty of food options available for purchase while you mingle.
Please RSVP. We hope to see you there!

JAWAD Beer && Code
2023-02-08 17:30 - 19:00
JAWAD is hosting a Beer && Code, so come hang after work!
Beer && Code is a social event for people in the industry to get together and talk shop! There will be a $200 tab open.
**Trivia Night @ Fertile Grounds starts at 7pm for anyone who wants to stay and play!
LOCATION: Fertile Ground Beer Co. (800 Manship St Suite 101, Jackson, MS 39202)
LOCATION INSTRUCTIONS: First come first serve, with no reserved signs or holding.
SPONSORS: JetBrains, J.C. Hiatt
Want to sponsor? Read our sponsorship info here.
Check out our website: https://jacksondevs.tech/
Get updates on Twitter: @jacksondevs
Wanna speak at a future event? Get in touch!
Call 601-919-6935 if you have any issues finding us!

Appy Hour: What is Chat GPT? | hosted by Bean Path
2023-02-11 12:30 - 14:00 | Bean Path Makerspace, 451 N. Gallatin St ., Jackson, MS, 39203, United States
Why did Microsoft invest several BILLION dollars in ChatGPT? Because it’s going to change technology as we know it!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer, commonly called ChatGPT, is a chatbot launched by OpenAI in November 2022. It can very effectively answer questions, write articles, summarize information, and more.
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Artificial Intelligence expert and Bean Path founder, Dr. Nashlie Sephus, joins us at the Makerspace to discuss the implications of this disruptive new platform. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
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You don’t want to miss it! This is a hybrid event. You can attend in person at the Makerspace or tune in virtually on our website. In-person attendees are encouraged to bring a laptop for our interactive demo.
Register at getbean.info/GPT

CONNECT: Networking for Entrepreneurs
2023-03-02 16:30 - 18:30, 2023-05-04 16:30 - 18:30 | Cultivation Food Hall, 1200 Eastover Dr Suite 125, Jackson, 39211, United States
CONNECT is an opportunity for entrepreneurs, mentors, investors and anyone interested in entrepreneurship and innovation to network and form meaningful relationships.
CONNECT is held the first Thursday of every month from 4:30 -6:30 pm. This month we will be meeting at the Cultivation Food Hall in The District, Jackson, MS. Cash Bar and plenty of food options will be available for you to purchase while you mingle.
Join us at Cultivation Food Hall and enjoy a cash bar and plenty of food options available for purchase while you mingle.
Please RSVP. We hope to see you there!

HBCU Entrepreneur’s Week
2023-03-27 - 2023-03-29
HBCU Entrepreneur’s Week
The bi-annual hybrid event is designed with and for historically underrepresented entrepreneurs, business owners, and communities. The Spring Conference, March 27 – 29, 2023, will be hosted at Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi, plus live-streamed and recorded to allow optimal access for everyone.
Spring Conference Theme: Advancing Racial Equity in Government ProcurementPlease direct questions to: sharon.simmons@jsums.edu and thomas@ecosystemresource.com
Register and Login to access all HBCU Entrepreneur’s Week content, including exhibitors, presenters, sessions, and more. https://www.hbcueweek.com/login

CONNECT + 2023 Innovation Report
2023-04-06 16:30 - 18:30 | Cultivation Food Hall, 1200 Eastover Dr Suite 125, Jackson, 39211, United States
Join Innovate Mississippi for the First Thursday networking event, CONNECT, which will coincide with the highly anticipated 2023 Digital Launch of the Innovation Report.

The Innovation Report is Innovate Mississippi’s annual magazine that covers startups, events, and the innovation ecosystem in Mississippi. This year’s digital edition promises to be our best, with in-depth articles on the latest trends and insights from the state’s most successful entrepreneurs and business leaders.

CONNECT is an opportunity for entrepreneurs, mentors, investors and anyone interested in entrepreneurship and innovation to network and form meaningful relationships. CONNECT is held the first Thursday of every month from 4:30 -6:30.

Attendees at CONNECT will receive one drink ticket per person and some light bites to enjoy while networking with like-minded individuals and learning about the latest developments in Mississippi’s innovation landscape.

RSVP today! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/connect-tickets-84659421609

Water Access Hackathon!
2023-04-15 09:00 - 17:00 | Bean Path Makerspace, 451 N. Gallatin St ., Jackson, MS, 39203, United States
Bean Path, in partnership with RunItApps, is producing the first hackathon for high school students in the Jackson area. This is an excellent opportunity to learn and implement techniques used by some of the top innovators and change-makers in the world.
Students will get a taste of startup life in this fast-paced program, where they’ll walk away with lifelong mentors, a clickable prototype, and prizes. This year’s theme is Water Access. Each team will develop a tech solution that addresses access to clean water.
The hackathon is geared toward high school students, giving them the opportunity to be immersed in the world of S.T.E.A.M. through project-based exploration and learning while working with industry professionals.
Spots are limited, so register now! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/water-access-hackathon-hosted-by-bean-path-registration-590180003277
***If you’re interested in being a technical mentor or judge, please submit your information using this form.

Jackson Area Web & App Developers April 2023 Meetup
2023-04-26 17:30 - 19:30
LOCATION: TBD
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Sponsors: JetBrains & J.C. Hiatt
Want to sponsor? Read our sponsorship info here.
Check out our website: https://jacksondevs.tech/
Get updates on Twitter: @jacksondevs
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5:30 pm- 6:00 pm: Complimentary drinks, food, and socializing
6:00 pm- 6:30 pm: Intro, announcements, and general discussion
6:30 pm – 7:00 pm: TBD
7:00 pm – 7:30 pm: TBD
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Wanna speak? Get in touch! We are looking for two speakers for our upcoming meeting.
Call 601-919-6935 if you have any issues finding us!

CONNECT: Networking for Entrepreneurs
2023-06-01 16:30 - 18:30 | Fertile Ground Beer Co., 800 Manship St Suite 101, Jackson, MS, 39202
CONNECT is an opportunity for entrepreneurs, mentors, investors and anyone interested in entrepreneurship and innovation to network and form meaningful relationships.
CONNECT is held the first Thursday of every month from 4:30 -6:30 pm. This month we will be meeting at the Fertile Ground, 800 Manship St., Jackson, MS. A cash bar and plenty of food options will be available for you to purchase while you mingle.
Join us at Fertile Ground and enjoy a cash bar and plenty of food options available for purchase while you mingle.
Please RSVP. We hope to see you there!

CONNECT: Networking for Entrepreneurs
2023-09-07 16:30 - 18:30

Accelerate 2023: The Conference on Technology Innovation
2023-11-08 - 2023-11-09 | The Westin Jackson, 407 South Congress Street , Jackson, MS, 39201, United States
Now in its 24th year, Accelerate, the Conference on Technology Innovation offers Mississippi stakeholders an annual gathering to network, explore, learn, and be inspired. Convened by Innovate Mississippi, we welcome innovators in the public and private sectors from across the state and the country to join us in building Mississippi’s future economy.
This year you will experience two great events in one, with CoBuilders “Pitch Day” taking place on Wednesday, November 8, from 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm at the Mississippi Museum of Art, and the chance to hear from Mississippi’s hottest new startups! Pitch Day will be followed by an exclusive Speaker and Sponsor Reception on Innovation Alley back at the Westin including a full array of beverages, appetizers, and live music!
We will reconvene the next day, Thursday, November 9, from 8:00 am – 1:30 pm, for a day packed with fascinating keynote speakers and breakout sessions diving deep into subjects such as opportunities to bolster Innovation and Technology in Mississippi, Generative AI, Founders Panels, and why founders need to know that Mississippi has the resources to help them grow and stay in Mississippi. In addition, Innovation Alley will be lined with exhibitors, an investor and mentor lounge, a CoBuilders Company Showcase, an AI Experience Lab, and meaningful networking opportunities! You don’t want to miss this event!

Sponsorship opportunities are available now! Contact Janet Parker at jparker@innovate.ms or 601-960-3611 for more information!
For more information about Accelerate visit https://accelerate.innovate.ms/

CONNECT: Networking for Entrepreneurs
2024-02-01 16:30 - 18:30
CONNECT is an opportunity for entrepreneurs, mentors, investors and anyone interested in entrepreneurship and innovation to network and form meaningful relationships.
CONNECT is held the first Thursday of every month from 4:30 -6:30 pm. This month we will be meeting at the Fertile Ground, 800 Manship St., Jackson, MS.
Join us at Fertile Ground and enjoy a cash bar and plenty of food options available for purchase while you connect.
We hope to see you there!

Jackson Area Web & App Developers February 2024 Meetup
2024-02-28 17:30 - 19:30 | Mad Genius, 279 S Perkins St, Ridgeland, Mississippi, 39157, United States
LOCATION: Mad Genius: 279 S Perkins St Ridgeland, Mississippi 39157
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Sponsors: Mad Genius, JetBrains & J.C. Hiatt
Want to sponsor? Read our sponsorship info here.
Check out our website: https://jacksondevs.tech/
Get updates on Twitter: @jacksondevs
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5:30 pm- 6:00 pm: Complimentary drinks, food, and socializing
6:00 pm- 6:30 pm: Intro, announcements, and general discussion
6:30 pm – 7:00 pm: Sam Johnson – Create a score-keeping app in React
Sam will share a React app he created for score-keeping games of golf or mini-golf.
7:00 pm – 7:30 pm: Michael Lamb – Redis Explained
Michael will walk through the architecture of Redis.
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Wanna speak? Get in touch! We are looking for two speakers for our upcoming meeting.
Call 601-919-6935 if you have any issues finding us!

Register Here

CONNECT: Networking for Entrepreneurs
2024-03-07 16:30 - 18:30 | Fertile Ground Beer Co., 800 Manship St Suite 101, Jackson, MS, 39202
