Raising Capital in a Pandemic: Mike Morgan
2020-05-27 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | MS
Raising capital as a start-up CEO or founder can be challenging. Distracting. Time-consuming. And that was before COVID-19 changed the economic landscape. Mike Morgan will discuss how to start and continue conversations with angel investors about raising capital during these times of uncertainty.

Optimizing Your Brand - Natalie Sharma
2020-06-10 11:00 - 12:00 | MS
Learn how to assess and consolidate your existing marketing and brand assets and turn them into an efficient visual system that scales with you, your team, and your business.

Webinar: Securing your Data without Sacrificing Convenience
2020-08-19 11:00 - 12:00 | MS
Brent Upton of Upton Technologies presents this webinar for entrepreneurs and organizations securing your data.
Securing your data and communications in this current environment is more important than ever. Join us to learn ways to ensure your business is productive while remaining safe from cyber-threats.
Register here >>

Procuring Technology for Your Business
2020-09-02 11:00 - 12:00 | MS
Carrie Goetz of StrategITcom presents a special webinar on procuring technology for the Innovate Mississippi entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Join us for a robust discussion on procurement strategies for purchasing technical solutions to support and/or run your business. Starting down the wrong path with the wrong technology can hinder your business and not provide the results that you expect. This webinar will discuss the RFI process, including authoring, evaluating, finding the best solution, benefits of using a broker or outsider, due diligence, and the iterative processes that follow. We will also discuss the buzzwords in tech right now and why they may or may not be relevant to a new business.

Register now >>

Global Oceans 2020: A Virtual Conference
2020-10-05 - 2020-10-30 | MS
Announcing: Global OCEANS 2020
A Virtual Conference combining OCEANS Gulf Coast and OCEANS Singapore
October 5-30, 2020
The Marine Technology Society and the IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society partner to present OCEANS, and this prestigious conference and exhibition draws an audience of more than 2,000 attendees. OCEANS is the bi-annual event for global marine technologists, engineers, students, government officials, scientists, and advocates. This year, amid the COVID19 pandemic, the two conferences will combine and provide a comprehensive, single, virtual conference.
Join us as we highlight maritime science and technology, as well as bring you updates on the latest industrial, academic, federal, and global innovations.
Submit your abstract for the technical program by June 29!
Global OCEANS 2020 will feature:

Presentations of professionally reviewed technical papers from across the globe
Locally focused special sessions, town halls, and panels from each locale
Plenary sessions with leaders from industry, academia, the military, and government
Virtual exhibit hall and demos
A virtual student poster session and competition, with outstanding projects from around the world
The new Young Professionals Program
Tutorials and Workshops

Click here to register.

The Bowlmmercial Webinar
2021-02-10 10:30 - 23:30 | MS
Down…set….ADVERTISE!
100 million people in the United States gather around their screens for Super Sunday. While the game may be entertaining, and the halftime shows may keep getting more scandalous, the real action occurs in the breaks. Brands spend MILLIONS of dollars for a few seconds of airtime during the big game.
Join us for Bowlmmercial, where we break down the X’s and O’s of some of the most prominent big game ads, and discuss how lessons from these big spenders can be applied to entrepreneurs looking to market their own businesses.
Bowlmmercial, brought to you by Innovate Mississippi, and MWB, a Creative Company. A webinar coming to you Wednesday, February 10th.

The Frontier 2021: Industrial Innovation Conference
2021-04-12 - 2021-04-14 | MS
In 2018, over 200 innovation leaders representing 130 organizations from 20 states and 5 countries 17 major industrial disciplines attended. The next edition of The Frontier Conference 2021 is scheduled for April 12-14, 2021 in Birmingham, Ala., engaging an even wider spectrum of disciplines shaping the future of the industrial world.

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.

Connecting Women in Business Symposium by Mississippi District Export Council
2021-05-27 11:30 - 13:00 | Online Workshop
Sponsored by the Mississippi District Export Council and hosted by Connecting Mississippi Women in Business
$25
The Port of Gulfport presents
Magie Cook
Magie Cook is known for meteoric rise from an orphan in Mexico to a business mogel whose salsa brand sold to Campbell’s for over 200 million dollars.
Magie’s company has been mentioned and featured on: CNN, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, NBC, USA Today, ABC, CBS, The Washington Post, Fox News, Kiplinger, Daystar, among many others.
As an author and professional speaker, she inspires teams, organizations, and leaders to reach their full potential and break the barriers that prevent them from reaching their ultimate goals. She delivers 50+ keynotes annually on leadership, business development and professional development.
Learn More & Register!

CONNECT
2021-06-03 16:30 - 18:30, 2021-07-01 16:30 - 18:30, 2021-08-05 16:30 - 18:30, 2021-10-07 16:30 - 18:30 | Cultivation Food Hall, 1200 Eastover Dr Suite 125, Jackson, 39211, United States
Join us for CONNECT: Networking for Entrepreneurs

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 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.

Please RSVP. We hope to see you there!

For questions, contact Crystal McCann at cmccann@innovate.ms.

The Bean Path Tech Office Hours
2021-06-12 12:30 - 13:30 | Online Webinar
Creating Multiple Income Streams
This month The Bean Path is speaking to engineer, artist and writer Warn Wilson about his new book Brown Money and creating multiple income streams! If you want to start generating revenue from different sources but need guidance on how to begin, tune in to learn more.
Register Now!

Overcoming Structural Barriers for Women in Entrepreneurship: A Virtual Workshop
2021-06-21 - 2021-06-22 | Online Workshop
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will host a dynamic virtual workshop on June 21-22, 2021 to explore the current structural barriers driving the underrepresentation of women entrepreneurs across science, technology, engineering, and medical (STEMM) industries and strategies to overcome these barriers. The focus of the workshop will not be on “fixing the women”, but rather, on fixing the structural inequities contributing to the underrepresentation of women in entrepreneurship. The two-day workshop will bring together experts and leaders to identify promising practices for advancing aspiring and current women entrepreneurs and provide insights on how stakeholders in the innovation ecosystem can address various systemic barriers facing women entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds.
Register Now!

Exchange MEDC Annual Conference
2021-07-07 - 2021-07-09 | Beau Rivage Hotel and Casino, 875 Beach Blvd, Biloxi, MS, 39530, United States
Exchange 2021 will focus on how we can build resilient communities, spark community transformation, influence policy and propel job growth through networking, professional training and leadership development.
Plan to join us July 7 through July 9 at the Beau Rivage in Biloxi for a diverse line-up of speakers, topics and events. MEDC is working to ensure this is a safe and valuable experience that will contribute to the growth of Mississippi together.
Learn More!

The Mentor Lounge Sponsored By Jones Walker
2021-07-22 | Online Workshop
Innovate Mississippi hosts a quarterly Virtual Mentor Lounge, sponsored by Jones Walker. The next event will be held July 22. Entrepreneurs can schedule one-on-one, 20-minute meetings with serial entrepreneurs, experienced business leaders, and subject matter experts. Email Tasha Bibb at tbibb@innovate.ms to scheduled your one-on-one conversation.

Opportunity Machine - D.I.Y. Marketing Series: For the entrepreneur who does it all
2021-08-11 11:30 - 12:45 | Online Workshop
Join Opportunity Machine virtually on Zoom on Wednesdays from 11:30 AM – 12:45 PM CST. This event is completely FREE to attend, however, registration is required.
8/11 – Build Your Brand from the Ground Up with Jaci Russo, PCM, Brand State U
Build Your Brand from the Ground Up: Branding just happens. How people think of you – your brand, your reputation – is built based on this compilation of interactions. Each one of these interactions – which we call touchpoints – has the chance to make or break your brand. But, your brand doesn’t have to be happenstance. You can be intentional in how you build your brand, and when you do the right things, with purpose, you will build a brand that will be very successful.
Learn More and Register.

Mississippi Gulf Coast Business & Tech Expo
2021-08-13 08:00 - 16:00 | Beau Rivage Hotel and Casino, 875 Beach Blvd, Biloxi, MS, 39530, United States
The Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce Business & Tech Expo will feature educational sessions to enhance your business. This year’s Business & Tech Expo will be on Friday, August 13, at Beau Rivage Resort & Casino! Breakfast will feature the One Coast Awards presentation and lunch will feature keynote speaker Dr. Nashlie Sephus.

Dr. Nashlie H. Sephus is the Tech Evangelist for Amazon AI focusing on fairness and identifying biases at AWS AI. She formerly led the Amazon Visual Search team in Atlanta, which launched visual search for replacement parts on the Amazon Shopping app in June 2018. In 2018, Dr. Sephus became the founder and CEO of The Bean Path non-profit organization based in Jackson, MS assisting individuals and startups with technical expertise and guidance. In September of 2020, she became the owner and developer of the Jackson Tech District-14 acres of mixed-use commercial real-estate in downtown Jackson to bring tech training and workforce/economic development to the area.

To sponsor or purchase tickets, click here to complete your order form. Questions? Call 228-604-0014.

Digital Marketing Strategies for Small Businesses
2021-08-14 12:30 - 13:30 | Online Workshop
Hosted by The Bean Path
This month we’re speaking to communications strategist Theresa Kennedy about generating more awareness for your brand online.
If you’re a small business owner, freelancer or digital marketer, be sure to tune in.
See you then!
Click here to register and learn more.

Opportunity Machine - D.I.Y. Marketing Series: For the entrepreneur who does it all
2021-08-18 11:30 - 12:45 | Online Workshop
Join Opportunity Machine virtually on Zoom on Wednesdays from 11:30 AM – 12:45 PM CST. This event is completely FREE to attend, however, registration is required.
8/18 – Which Marketing Strategies Work Best For You? with Destin Ortego, Executive Director, Opportunity Machine
Which Marketing Strategies Work Best For You?: From targeting blogs to content marketing, this session will review the nineteen marketing channels small businesses can use to gain traction and grow their customer base. Join Destin as he explains how to utilize the Bullseye Method, originally defined by Gabriel Winberg and Justin Mares in Traction: How Any Startup Can Achieve Explosive Customer Growth.
Learn More and Register.

Opportunity Machine - D.I.Y. Marketing Series: For the entrepreneur who does it all
2021-08-25 11:30 - 12:45 | Online Workshop
Join Opportunity Machine virtually on Zoom on Wednesdays from 11:30 AM – 12:45 PM CST. This event is completely FREE to attend, however, registration is required.
8/25 – How to Build Content to Fit Across the Platforms with Hannah Johnson, Social Media Director, Klout 9
How to Build Content to Fit Across the Platforms: Running a business is hard work and oftentimes the last item on your to-do list is social media. But it doesn’t have to be a daunting task for you to accomplish as long as you plan your content each month with intention, purpose, and most of all, flexibility. Learn which tools and tips to use to create content that’ll easily fit across multiple social media platforms, making your brand look top-notch, no matter where you stumble across it in the digital world!
Learn More and Register.

Opportunity Machine - D.I.Y. Marketing Series: For the entrepreneur who does it all
2021-09-01 11:30 - 12:45 | Online Workshop
Join Opportunity Machine virtually on Zoom on Wednesdays from 11:30 AM – 12:45 PM CST. This event is completely FREE to attend, however, registration is required.
9/1 – Creative Copywriting that Converts with Rodney Hess, President, Rally Marketing
Creative Copywriting that Converts: Creating content can be hard. That doesn’t mean it has to be complicated. Join marketing mad man Rodney Hess as he takes you through his process of strategic planning to create content that converts.
Learn More and Register.

Opportunity Machine - D.I.Y. Marketing Series: For the entrepreneur who does it all
2021-09-08 11:30 - 12:45 | Online Workshop
Join Opportunity Machine virtually on Zoom on Wednesdays from 11:30 AM – 12:45 PM CST. This event is completely FREE to attend, however, registration is required.
9/8 – Action! Creating Quality DIY Videos for Your Company with Mark Tassin, Creative Director, Rooted Consulting
Action! Creating Quality DIY Videos for Your Company: Mark Tassin, Creative Director with Rooted Consulting, joins us to share his top suggestions for creating quality videos with little-to-no budget or equipment for your business.
Learn More and Register.

Launching a Career in Tech Pt. 2 | Hosted by The Bean Path
2021-09-11 12:30 - 13:30 | Online Workshop
This month the Bean Path is speaking to Tory Hargro, Product Design Leader at Facebook, and Dr. Amber Johnson, Software Engineer and the first Black woman to receive a PhD. in Computer Science from Purdue University.
Join us as we talk about how to find job opportunities and position yourself for success in the tech industry.
See you soon!

Financial Management Workshop by 100k Ideas
2021-09-21 17:30 | Online Workshop
Interested in learning more about Financial Management for your business? Join Huntington to discuss the concept of financial management and the practices, rules, and tools that are commonly available to small businesses, as well as how those financial management practices, rules, and tools work. This workshop will also cover financing basics for small businesses, including start up financing, financing for a growing business, financing working capital, and financing fixed assets.
Click here to register for free.

Mentor Lounge -Sponsored by Jones Walker
2021-09-22 10:00 - 13:00 | Online Workshop
Register now for our Virtual Mentor Lounge, sponsored by Jones Walker. Entrepreneurs can schedule one-on-one, 20-minute meetings with serial entrepreneurs, experienced business leaders, and subject matter experts. The next Virtual Mentor Lounge takes place on Wednesday, September 22 from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm.
Email Tasha Bibb at tbibb@innovate.ms to schedule your one-on-one conversation with one of our mentors.

TECH JXN 2021
2021-09-23 09:00 - 2021-09-25 17:00 | MS
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 >>

Venture Atlanta - Momentum 2021
2021-10-20 - 2021-10-21 | Southern Exchange Ballrooms, 200 Peachtree St. NW, Atlanta, GA, 30303, United States
For 14 years, Venture Atlanta has been selecting the most promising tech companies from across the Southeast and bringing in top investment firms from across the nation to hear them pitch. Their alumni companies have collectively achieved over $5B in funding raised and $15B in exits. Don’t miss this opportunity to get your business in front of hundreds of investors and corporate leaders at VA 2021!

There is no cost to apply and no cost if selected. This is a risk-free opportunity!
Venture Atlanta 2021 will take place 10/20/21 & 10/21/21 at the Southern Exchange Ballrooms at 200 Peachtree, but we will also have a virtual component as well. Based on preliminary feedback from our investor audiences, most investors plan to attend in person and are ready to meet and network. For that reason, we hope that all companies will choose to pitch live on stage, but we are providing the option to submit pre-recorded pitches if necessary.
Applicants will no longer have to write an executive summary. This will make the application process quicker and easier than ever!
Applications are open May 10th – August 6th. The deadline will not be extended for any reason. We encourage you not to wait until the last minute!

Learn more & Apply now!

Accelerate 2021 : Save the Date
2021-11-09 - 2021-11-10 | The Westin Jackson, 407 South Congress Street , Jackson, MS, 39201, United States
Save the date for Accelerate: The Conference on Technology Innovation November 9 & 10 at The Westin Jackson.
This annual conference is Mississippi’s premier innovation showcase, featuring a terrific line-up of speakers, breakout sessions and networking opportunities for business professionals, service providers, entrepreneurs, investors and economic developers.
More information to come!
