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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Innovate Mississippi
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240510T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240510T210000
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UID:928339-1715360400-1715374800@www.innovate.ms
SUMMARY:Higher Purpose\, Co. – Pitch Competition
DESCRIPTION:Higher Purpose Co.’s mission is to build community wealth with Black residents in Mississippi by supporting the ownership of financial\, cultural\, and political power. As a valued partner in the CoBuilders Accelerator\, Higher Purpose Co. will support black-owned businesses from all over the state of Mississippi. Higher Purpose Business Membership applications are now being accepted. HPC Membership is designed to offer Mississippi entrepreneurs\, farmers\, and artists\, services and support for their existing and growing business that falls within the seven priority sectors which are beauty\, food/agriculture\, education\, healthcare\, housing\, transportation\, and art. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRegister Here \nJackson Medical Mall\n350 W. Woodrow Wilson Ave. Ste. #480\nJackson\, MS. 39213\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFor further information please contact Oni Omoregie at oni@higherpurposeco.org or call 6o1-988-8081.
URL:https://www.innovate.ms/event/higher-purpose-co-clarksdale-ms-application-process-2024/
LOCATION:Jackson Medical Mall\, 350 W. Woodrow Wilson Avenue \, Jackson\, MS\, 39201\, United States
CATEGORIES:Launch/Startup Challenges
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.innovate.ms/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Higher-Purpose-Co.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240517T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240517T130000
DTSTAMP:20260522T182112
CREATED:20240222T174229Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240507T163116Z
UID:928352-1715950800-1715950800@www.innovate.ms
SUMMARY:Mississippi Polymer Institute - Pitch Event
DESCRIPTION:The Mississippi Polymer Institute cultivates business growth and participation in advanced materials markets.  As the industrial outreach component of the University of Southern Mississippi’s 500-acre Innovation and Commercialization Park\, we collectively provide capabilities and resources relevant to businesses at all stages of maturity. As a partner in the CoBuilders Accelerator and the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MMA-MEP)\, MPI works with other partners around Mississippi to assist early-stage companies. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nStartup Focus: Early-stage companies generally focused on material-based products (preferably)\, but all area startups are encouraged to sign up. \n\n\n\n\nThe pitch competition will be held on May 17th\, 2024\nThe Accelerator: 46 Shelby Thames Drive\, Hattiesburg\, MS 39402 \n\n\n\nFor further information\, please contact MPI at 601- 266-4094.
URL:https://www.innovate.ms/event/mississippi-polymer-institute-pitch-event-2024/
LOCATION:The Accelerator\, 46 Shelby Thames Drive\, Hattiesburg\, MS\, 39402\, United States
CATEGORIES:Launch/Startup Challenges
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.innovate.ms/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/USM-Polymer.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20240617
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20240618
DTSTAMP:20260522T182112
CREATED:20240222T175423Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240611T180634Z
UID:928360-1718582400-1718668799@www.innovate.ms
SUMMARY:Community Development Foundation - Pitch Event
DESCRIPTION:The Community Development Foundation (CDF) is a membership-based organization serving to advance the community through partnerships and growth initiatives for more than 75 years. We are the local Chamber of Commerce for Tupelo\, Mississippi and serve as the economic development organization for Tupelo/Lee County\, Mississippi. CDF’s business incubator is the Renasant Center for IDEAs\, and the mission of the incubator is to provide the physical and social infrastructure to assist in the formation and development of successful small businesses\, which will diversify our area’s economy\, create regional job opportunities\, and foster economic growth and vitality. CDF & the Renasant Center for IDEAs partnership with CoBuilders Accelerator will help us strengthen our mission with our startups and entrepreneurs in our area. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe pitch competition is scheduled for June 17\, 2024\, from 6-8pm at CDF of Tupelo\, 398 E Main St.\, Tupelo\, Mississippi. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nFor further information\, please contact Judd Wilson at jwilson@cdfms.org or at 662-842-4521.
URL:https://www.innovate.ms/event/community-development-foundation-pitch-event-2024/
CATEGORIES:Launch/Startup Challenges
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.innovate.ms/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/CDF-Renasant.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250424
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250426
DTSTAMP:20260522T182112
CREATED:20250204T224003Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250416T182655Z
UID:931965-1745452800-1745625599@www.innovate.ms
SUMMARY:Startup Summit 2025
DESCRIPTION:Join us at the MSU Center for Entrepreneurship & Outreach Startup Summit Pitch Competition for an action-packed 2-day event where bold founders will hit the stage to pitch their big ideas\, compete for cash prizes\, and connect with Mississippi’s vibrant entrepreneurial community. \nWhether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur\, a seasoned business leader\, or an investor scouting your next great prospect\, you’ll find energy\, innovation\, and inspiration in every pitch. Come for the ideas\, stay for the connections\, and be part of the movement shaping Mississippi’s future. \nEvent Details: \n-April 24th: Mississippi Made Pitch Competition at McCool Hall\, MSU Campus 10:00 am-6:30 pm \n-April 25th: Bulldog Business National Pitch Competition and Reception – The Mill Conference Center\, 3:00 pm-7:30 pm. Free networking reception open to the public to celebrate all the contestants and small businesses. \nThis event is part of Mississippi’s statewide pitch network\, powered by Innovate Mississippi and the Mississippi Small Business Development Center Network. Together\, they provide two pitch pathways—one for high-growth startups and another for traditional small businesses. If a founder’s venture shows strong high-growth potential\, they may even earn an invitation to join the CoBuilders Accelerator. \nThis project is being supported\, in whole or in part\, by federal award number SSBCI-21034-0003 awarded to Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
URL:https://www.innovate.ms/event/startup-summit-2025/
LOCATION:Starkville\, Mississippi
CATEGORIES:Launch/Startup Challenges,Pitch Competition,Starkville
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.innovate.ms/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Pitch-Day-Starkville-Wide-1.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260130
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260201
DTSTAMP:20260522T182112
CREATED:20260114T165012Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260114T165012Z
UID:937129-1769731200-1769903999@www.innovate.ms
SUMMARY:MSU Startup Expedition
DESCRIPTION:Startup Weekend is now Startup Expedition!\nMSU’s Startup Weekend is now a 3-part journey—Startup Expedition—designed to take ideas from spark to showcase.\n\nStartup Basecamp (Jan 30–31\, 2026 @ MCITy\, Vicksburg): A two-day launchpad where participants form teams\, explore technologies\, and begin the climb toward Startup Summit.\nStartup Elevate (February – mid-March): A hybrid 6-week guided program covering customer discovery\, technology development planning\, competitive research\, business model design\, financials\, and pitch prep.\nStartup Ascent (late March): Teams pitch at the local DAWG Tank pitch competition\, presenting newly developed commercial opportunities to a panel of judges. Winners advance to Startup Summit\, (April) Mississippi State University’s statewide showcase of top startups alongside student founders from across the country.\n\nRegister Here
URL:https://www.innovate.ms/event/msu-startup-expedition/
CATEGORIES:Launch/Startup Challenges
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.innovate.ms/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/start-up-exp-wide.png
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260311T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260311T190000
DTSTAMP:20260522T182112
CREATED:20260223T182806Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260224T182115Z
UID:937603-1773252000-1773255600@www.innovate.ms
SUMMARY:FoundersPlus Spring Cohort – Now Accepting Applications
DESCRIPTION:Applications Open: Monday\, February 23\nApplications Close: Friday\, March 6 at 8:00 AM\nProgram Kickoff: Wednesday\, March 11 at 6:00 PM\n\nFoundersPlus will meet each Wednesday virtually at 6:00 PM from March 11 through April 8 (five consecutive weeks). \n\n\nThis structured webinar series is designed to help early-stage founders gain clarity\, traction\, and momentum as they build and grow their ventures. \nApplication link: https://airtable.com/appA3cnVKTqDfNuMC/pagyxhbct4Xd2zuT9/form
URL:https://www.innovate.ms/event/foundersplus-spring-cohort-now-accepting-applications/
CATEGORIES:Launch/Startup Challenges
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.innovate.ms/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/founders-plus-apps-2026_3.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260325
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260326
DTSTAMP:20260522T182112
CREATED:20260205T162213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260205T162251Z
UID:937409-1774396800-1774483199@www.innovate.ms
SUMMARY:IDEA Institute
DESCRIPTION:Got a startup idea—or ready to take your business to scale? Applications are now open for the Spring 2026 IDEAinstitute cohort at The Idea Village. \nIDEAinstitute is a 12-week hybrid accelerator for early-stage entrepreneurs ready to level up. Whether you’re refining a new concept or finally bringing that idea to life\, this program gives you the structure\, support\, and startup fundamentals to launch with confidence. \nWhat you’ll get:\n✅ Weekly founder sessions & 1:1 coaching\n✅ Tools and frameworks to launch a scalable venture\n✅ Training in the Lean Startup Method\n✅ A shot at Spring Pitch Night\n✅ A community of founders\, investors\, and mentors \nAlumni have gone on to raise funding\, grow revenue\, and join later-stage accelerators—starting with the foundation they built in IDEAinstitute. \nApply by March 25\, 2026 by submitting a founder profile here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdDjiG1_lG4CElu4TD9GZQUdHaK1ALQJ-f5ZAyO-OstpmKbgg/viewform?mc_cid=2d84e3e571&mc_eid=5e1a4a661f
URL:https://www.innovate.ms/event/idea-institute/
CATEGORIES:Launch/Startup Challenges
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.innovate.ms/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/idea-institute-wide.jpg
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