Innovate Mississippi

Startup Weekend Starkville
2014-11-14 18:00 - 2014-11-16 21:00 (America/Chicago)
Startup Weekend is a global grassroots movement of active and empowered entrepreneurs who are learning the basics of founding startups and launching successful ventures. It is the largest community of passionate entrepreneurs with more than 1,800 events in 120 countries around the world in 2014.
All Startup Weekend events follow the same basic model: anyone is welcome to pitch their startup idea and receive feedback from their peers. Teams organically form around the top ideas (as determined by popular vote) and then it’s a 54 hour frenzy of business model creation, coding, designing, and market validation. The weekends culminate with presentations in front of local entrepreneurial leaders with another opportunity for critical feedback.
Whether entrepreneurs found companies, find a cofounder, meet someone new or learn a skill far outside their usual 9-to-5, everyone is guaranteed to leave the event better prepared to navigate the chaotic, but fun world of startups.
More information on the Starkville event will be available soon.
All Startup Weekend Mississippi events are organized by Innovate Mississippi.
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Oxford Mississippi Angel Network Meeting
2014-11-13 17:30 - 19:00 | Unnamed Venue, Oxford, MS, United States
The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. with networking, light food and drinks. Company pitches will begin at 6 p.m. with two investment opportunities. Each company will give a 20 minute presentation with a 10 minute Q&A after.
More information will be available soon.
Contact Lynlee Honea at lhonea@innovate.ms or 601-960-3610 for more information.

School of Polymers and High Performance Materials High School Competition
2014-11-13 08:30 - 14:00 | Thames Polymer Science Research Center, 118 College Drive, Hattiesburg, 39406
More than 50 students from seven high schools in the state will participate in School of Polymers and High Performance Materials High School Competition, which is designed to encourage interest in science, including academic and career opportunities, among high school students and provide the opportunity for high school students to interact with polymer science faculty and students.
Activities include polymer materials experiments and demonstrations, problem solving activities, tours of the university’s internationally renowned polymer science research facilities and the popular Quiz Bowl.
Participating high schools include Hancock County, Hattiesburg, Marion County, Pascagoula, Petal and Simpson County.
Contact Kathy Lee at kathy.lee@usm.edu for more information.

13th Annual Southern BioProducts and Renewable Energy Conference
2014-11-13 08:00 - 17:00 | Trent Lott Center, 118 College Drive, Hattiesburg, MS, 39406, United States
The Mississippi Biomass and Renewable Energy Council (MBREC) will hold the 13th Annual Southern BioProducts and Renewable Energy Conference with the theme, “Innovations in Clean Energy,” in an effort to show how this sector can lead to economic development and job growth.
Interest in generating energy from no or low carbon emitting sources is at an all-time high. The push to do more with each unit of energy consumed is resulting in significant savings in nearly every sector of the economy – ranging from manufacturing and automotive to agriculture, health care and education.
The full-day event draws 150 attendees and offers excellent networking opportunities. Session topics will include innovative technologies in energy efficiency, biomass, solar energy, combined heat and power, and will cover creative solutions to financing such projects by bringing in funding from a variety of sources.
Sponsorship opportunities are now available. Contact Sumesh Arora at sarora@innovate.ms or 601-960-3659 for more information.
Click here to register.
More details will be available soon at www.ms-biomass.org.

MDA Small Business Fall Webinar Series
2014-11-12 12:00 - 12:50
Designed for small business, this webinar series will cover what you need to know to make your business more profitable.
Session 4: Get Your Head in the Cloud(s)
“Explore the benefits of cloud services”
Broadcasted from MSU Campus, Starkville
Watch the webinar(s) from your personal computer.

Jackson Mississippi Angel Network Meeting
2014-11-11 17:30 - 19:00 | Unnamed Venue, Ridgeland, MS, United States

TEDx Jackson
2014-11-06 13:00 - 17:00 | The Capri Theater, 3023 North State Street, Jackson, MS, 39206, United States
Mississippi is joining the global TED community with our state’s first TEDx event. TEDxJackson will be a day of amazing speakers from inside and outside Mississippi, sharing ideas that are relevant to our city, our state and the world. The theme of the event is “fertile ground,” a reflection of the great promise and untapped potential that exists in Jackson and throughout our state.

3rd Annual Louisiana/Gulf Coast IT Symposium
2014-11-06 07:30 - 17:00 | Doubletree by Hilton Hotel, 300 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA, 70130, United States
The 3rd Annual Louisiana IT Symposium is designed specifically for CIO’s and their executive management teams. This event will provide an opportunity for the region’s IT leadership to gather and explore new ways to maintain a competitive advantage in a global economy, and allow collaboration across the region’s Information Technology population.
The symposium will feature interactive breakout sessions with regional executives and industry leaders addressing the convergence of IT with other business imperatives. Keynote speakers and a CIO panel will discuss the latest IT trends. Throughout the day attendees will have ample networking opportunities with their peers from throughout the region.
Contact Mark Lewis at 504-905-4646 or mlewis@simmonswhite.com for more information.

Vicksburg Digital Summit
2014-11-05 09:00 - 16:00 | Vicksburg Convention Center, 1600 Mulberry Street, Vicksburg, MS, 39180, United States
Vicksburg is hosting a free digital summit presented by Alabama Media Group, Vicksburg CVB, Vicksburg Convention Center, Vicksburg Main Street and the Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber of Commerce.
This event will feature experts in the field of digital marketing, speaking on topics such as online advertising, search engine optimization, responsive rich media and social media marketing.
Contact Ashley Nevels at dos@portofinohotelvicksburg.com or 601-629-9000 for more information.

Make It In America Reshoring Workshop
2014-10-30 10:30 - 13:00 | Mississippi Delta Community College Capps Center, 920 US Highway 82 West , Indianola, MS, 38751, United States
Current trends are making manufacturing in the United States more attractive, which is leading to more companies to reshore or make the decision to not offshore. If you are considering offshoring or have offshored in the past, the Make It In America Reshoring Workshop will explain how best to determine for your business if reshoring or establishing your operations in the United States is economically viable.
Companies that are interested in pursuing reshoring are encouraged to schedule either a morning or an afternoon breakout session. These sessions will provide an opportunity for OEM and supplier companies to work with the Mississippi Make It In America team to identify opportunities to strengthen their collective supply chains.
Contact Jill Sellers at jsellers@cavse.msstate.edu or 601-407-2746 for more information and to register for the Make It In America Reshoring Workshop and lunch and/or schedule a breakout session.

Hobnob Mississippi 2014
2014-10-29 08:30 - 13:30 | Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum, 1150 Lakeland Drive, Jackson, MS, 39216, United States
Hobnob Mississippi is a political rally-styled event that features Mississippi’s statewide elected officials and candidates for statewide office.
U.S. Senator Thad Cochran, the Republican nominee, and his Democratic challenger Travis Childers will speak during Hobnob, which takes place less than one week before the general election.
Governor Phil Bryant, Lt. Governor Tate Reeves, and Speaker of the House Philip Gunn will provide the latest on what’s happening at the State Capitol. Other statewide elected officials set to speak are Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann, Attorney General Jim Hood, State Auditor Stacey Pickering, State Treasurer Lynn Fitch, Agriculture Commissioner Cindy Hyde-Smith and Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney.
The event, which draws more than 1,700 business and community leaders, features a morning of stump-styled political speaking and entertainment. Hobnob concludes with a buffet lunch featuring fried catfish and bar-b-que chicken.

2014 Gulf Coast SBIR/STTR Program Symposium and GCIPA Intellectual Property Forum
2014-10-28 08:00 - 2014-10-30 17:00 | BioInnovation Center, 1441 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA, 70112, United States
The 2014 Gulf Coast Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program Symposium is a three day event featuring nationally known SBIR consultant Jim Greenwood in an SBIR proposal writing workshop. The forum will also include professional presentations and one-on-one meetings with federal SBIR program managers. An additional forum on intellectual property protection will be hosted by the Gulf Coast Intellectual Property Association October 30.
The SBIR/STTR Program Symposium is sponsored by the Mississippi FAST Program in conjunction with the Gulf Coast Intellectual Property Association and the Louisiana Technology Transfer Office, Louisiana Business & Technology Center and Louisiana State University.

MSET Lunch & Learn
2014-10-16 11:30 - 13:00 | Infinity Science Center, John C. Stennis Space Center, MS, 39529, United States
The October MSET Lunch & Learn will feature Ingall’s Shipbuilding. Hal Todd, supply chain integration manager, and Joan Branson, socio-economic business program manager, will serve as the featured speakers.
The meeting will take place in Conference Room D.
Contact Belinda Gill at belinda.n.gill@nasa.gov or 228-688-3144 for more information.

Venture Technologies Annual Technology Fair
2014-10-16 08:00 - 17:00
Save the Date
Join Venture Technologies for their Annual Technology Fair in Jackson, Mississippi, October 16. Last year, nearly 300 attendees attended the successful event.
More information will be available soon.

Seminar: "Practical Lessons for Doing Global Business"
2014-10-15 09:00 - 16:00 | Mississippi World Trade Center, 200 South Lamar Street, Jackson, MS, 39201, United States
Wondering what type of intellectual property protection your business needs, where to find funding sources and insurance, or how to increase your logistics chain efficiency, globalize your website or determine what foreign market to enter?
The Mississippi World Trade Center has brought together experts and trade specialists from the international business community for a one day seminar covering key considerations for doing business globally, sharing tips of the trade and providing practical lessons that work for your business.
Whether you are interested in going global or already doing business on the international scale, this seminar will supply you with the resources and tools to enhance your international experience.

Applied Lean Leadership Conference
2014-10-09 08:00 - 2014-10-10 17:00 | University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, 38152, United States
This two day event includes presentations from internationally known Lean leaders, CEO of LEI, author and former Toyota executive, John Shook, and former Toyota executive, Isao Yoshino, as well as area NIST/MEP organizations. Sponsoring organizations will have staffed informational booths with a theme of both professional development and career opportunity during the networking breaks.
A FREE pre-conference Manufacturing Day Celebration and Career Fair sponsored by the SME University of Memphis student chapter will take place Wednesday, October 8.

Mississippi Manufacturers Association's Annual Environmental & Safety Conference and Expo
2014-10-09 08:00 - 2014-10-10 17:00 | Pearl River Resort, Highway 16W, Choctaw, MS, 39350, United States
Dr. Sumesh Arora, vice president of Innovate Mississippi, is speaking at the Mississippi Manufacturers Association’s Annual Environmental & Safety Conference and Expo on the topic of “combined heat and power” (CHP), which is also known as co-generation since it encompasses the generation of electricity along with using waste heat to produce steam or hot water. The overall efficiency of systems goes from approximately 40 percent for making electricity only to about 80 percent for producing both power and steam. Installing an on-site CHP system can represent a significant savings for industrial and commercial facilities that need both power and steam. Sumesh’s co-presenter is Rob Shepard, principal engineer with The Energy Group of Madison, who will discuss projects utilizing CHP technologies.
Contact Dr. Sumesh Arora at sarora@innovate.ms or 601-960-3659 for more information or click here to register for the conference.

MDA Small Business Fall Webinar Series
2014-10-08 12:00 - 12:50
Designed for small business, this webinar series will cover what you need to know to make your business more profitable.
Session 3: Wish Your Customers Would Shop ‘Til They Drop?
“Enhancing marketplace venues”

Broadcasted from MSU Campus, Starkville
Watch the webinar(s) from your personal computer.

BABC Lunch & Learn
2014-10-08 11:30 - 13:15 | Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP, 188 E. Capitol Street, Jackson, MS, 39201, United States
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP presents, “Who’s Got Your Back? Indemnity and Insurance Provisions in Commercial Contracts,” a 90-minute Lunch & Learn presentation on on the types of insurance coverage frequently required in commercial contracts, contractual requirements evidencing insurance, and the importance of coordinating indemnity and insurance contractual provisions with a company’s insurance coverage. The seminar will also provide a broad overview of critical contractual indemnity provisions, and will address the general limits to enforceability of contract indemnity, drafting indemnity provisions to allocate responsibility for third-party claims arising out of contract performance, the interrelationship between indemnity provisions, and other contract terms involving procurement of insurance and limitations on recoverable damages.
Speakers include, Stewart M. Cox, BABC partner; Katherine J. Henry, BABC partner; and A. Kate Margolis, BABC counsel.
Seating is limited and by invitation only. RSVP by October 3. Contact Pam Wiener at pwiener@babc.com or 202-252-3515 for more information.

Governor's Energy Summit
2014-10-08 09:00 - 13:00 | Jackson Convention Complex, 105 E. Pascagoula Street, Jackson, MS, 39201, United States
The Governor’s Energy Summit will feature a panel discussion and speakers that include a special keynote address by Governor Rick Perry during the complimentary luncheon. This event serves as a comprehensive overview of energy and the economy in both the United States and Mississippi.
Registration is free, but spots are limited.

Mississippi Gulf Coast Tech Group Meetup
2014-09-30 18:00 - 19:00 | The Innovation Center, 1636 Popps Ferry Road, Biloxi, MS, 39532, United States
Share, learn and network with techies and startups on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Where To Go411 Major League All-star Entrepreneurs Series
2014-09-30 17:30 - 20:00 | Jackson Medical Mall, 350 W. Woodrow Wilson Avenue , Jackson, MS, 39201, United States
WhereToGo411 presents the Major League All-Star Entrepreneurs Series as a place where some of Mississippi’s leading business owners can discuss how they overcame obstacles to build multimillion dollar businesses. This event will feature Major League All-Star Entrepreneur Jeff Good, owner of Mangia Bene Restaurant Management, on the topic, “Good” Customer Service: Surviving and Thriving in the Line of Fire. The featured Major League All-Star Trainer is financial adviser and former professional football player, Rod Reed, owner of CrowdProject, speaking on crowdfunding.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to pitch their businesses to buyers on-site, participate in speed networking and connect with other business owners.

Mississippi Angel Network's Fall Roadshow: Tupelo
2014-09-30 17:30 - 19:30
The Mississippi Angel Network is kicking off the Fall Roadshow with meetings in Gulfport, Jackson, Oxford and Tupelo. Eat Here USA Inc. and ER-ITN, LLC will pitch their investment opportunities to Angels statewide with the hopes of securing the necessary capital to grow their companies.
The Mississippi Angel Network will meet in Tupelo Tuesday, September 30.
Brandon-based Eat Here USA Inc. offers a mobile website and app, Eat Shop Play Live, which allows businesses to promote themselves and customers to connect with local restaurants and events.

ER-ITN, LLC, a cloud-based access platform of Cleveland-based ID Trust Network, enables the safe, secure and expedited re-entry of emergency response, commercial recovery and business personnel during disaster events.

If you are an accredited or institutional investor interested in reviewing these opportunities or attending a meeting nearest you, contact Lynlee Honea at lhonea@innovate.ms or 601-960-3617.

The Credit Junction Town Hall Discussion
2014-09-30 17:00 - 20:00 | Meadowbrook Office Park, 4268 I-55 North , Jackson, MS, 39211, United States
The Credit Junction Town Hall Discussions are geared toward industrial and manufacturing-oriented small business in the aerospace and defense, oil and gas, automotive or transportation fields interested in learning more about available financing and capital options and increasing market visibility in the government procurement sector.
Hosted by Baker Donelson, contact Sergio Rodriguera at sergio@thecreditjunction.com for more information.

E3 for Sustainable Manufacturing Workshop
2014-09-30 08:30 - 15:00 | Toyota Motor Manufacturing, 1200 Magnolia Way, Blue Springs, MS, 38828, United States
Learn how Toyota manages operations through their Environmental Management System and tour plant waste management areas to view operational controls. Participate in a Kaizen event (Improvement Activity) and learn about energy savings opportunities through lighting and energy auditing.
Who should attend?

Plant managers
Environmental managers
Production supervisors
Energy managers
Maintenance professionals

First General Body Meeting of the National Society of Black Engineers Jr.
2014-09-27 09:00 - 22:00 | Jackson State University, 1400 Lynch Street, Jackson, MS, 39217, United States
The mission of the National Society of Black Engineers Jr. (NSBE Jr.) is to “increase the number of culturally responsible black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community.”
NSBE Jr. programs include math and science tutoring; design project activities in engineering, robotics and more; quiz bowls and engineering competitions; college entrance exam prep; parent-student advisory workshops; and more!
NSBE Jr. will meet monthly on Saturdays. Specific dates will be available soon.
Contact Dominick Sanders at 618-520-1158 or jsunsbejr@jsums.edu for more information.
History of NSBE:
In 1971, two Purdue undergraduate students, approached the dean of engineering at Purdue University with the concept of starting the Black Society of Engineers (BSE) student organization to help improve the recruitment and retention of black engineering students. In the late 1960s, a devastating 80 percent of the black freshmen entering the engineering program dropped out. The dean agreed to the idea and assigned the only black faculty member on staff, Arthur J. Bond, as advisor.
NSBE has since grown from six to more than 35,500 members and the annual meeting has blossomed into the Annual National Convention, hosting more than 8,000 attendees. Headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, NSBE offers academic excellence programs, scholarships, leadership training, professional development and access to career opportunities for thousands of members annually. With a multitude of elected leadership positions, 12 regional conferences and an annual convention, NSBE provides opportunities for success that remain unmatched by any other organization.
JSU and NSBE Jr.
JSU’s NSBE Jr. program is open to anyone grades 6-12 in Jackson and the surrounding area. This program is designed to:

Help students have a positive attitude toward academic excellence
Stimulate enthusiasm about science, technology, engineering and mathematics
Encourage 6–12th graders to pursue degrees in engineering and other technical fields
Increase the number of African Americans attending and graduating from college
Encourage and support parental commitment to children’s education
Raise cultural awareness among students

Jackson Tech Entrepreneurs Meetup
2014-09-25 18:00 - 19:00 | Millsaps College, 1701 North State Street, Jackson, MS, 39210, United States
Join entrepreneurs interested in starting, growing, working for, investing in or providing valuable services to technology companies in the Jackson area.

Mississippi Angel Network's Fall Roadshow: Oxford
2014-09-25 17:30 - 19:30
The Mississippi Angel Network is kicking off the Fall Roadshow with meetings in Gulfport, Jackson, Oxford and Tupelo. Eat Here USA Inc. and ER-ITN, LLC will pitch their investment opportunities to Angels statewide with the hopes of securing the necessary capital to grow their companies.
The Mississippi Angel Network will meet in Oxford Wednesday, September 25.
Brandon-based Eat Here USA Inc. offers a mobile website and app, Eat Shop Play Live, which allows businesses to promote themselves and customers to connect with local restaurants and events.

ER-ITN, LLC, a cloud-based access platform of Cleveland-based ID Trust Network, enables the safe, secure and expedited re-entry of emergency response, commercial recovery and business personnel during disaster events.

If you are an accredited or institutional investor interested in reviewing these opportunities or attending a meeting nearest you, contact Lynlee Honea at lhonea@innovate.ms or 601-960-3617.

National Reshoring Summit
2014-09-24 08:00 - 15:00 | Franklin Furniture Center at Mississippi State University, 201 Locksley Way, Starkville, MS, 39762, United States
The 2014 Reshoring Summit is part of the Mississippi Make It In America effort to encourage Mississippi Manufacturers to reshore jobs back to Mississippi. Reshoring is achieved when firms move production that had previously been offshored back to the United States by selecting domestic suppliers or bringing production in house. A group of four federal agencies has awarded Mississippi a total of $2.2 million in grant funding as part of the 2013 Make It In America Challenge. This is one of 10 such grants awarded nationally.
Harry Moser, founder and president of the Reshoring Initative based in Chicago, will serve as the featured speaker of the Reshoring Summit. He will address his proven “Total Cost of Ownership” method, which he developed to help businesses compare the costs associated with manufacturing overseas versus manufacturing in the United States.
In addition, the summit will feature several Listening Sessions, an OEM panel discussion and will include other Make It In America grant winners to discuss best practices and lessons learned.
Contact Amy Garrard at agarrard@cfr.msstate.edu or 662-325-8453 for more information.
Click here to register. Click here to view the event flyer.
A block of rooms has been reserved at the Hilton Garden Inn in Starkville.
The National Reshoring Summit is hosted by Mississippi State University’s (MSU) Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems Extension, the MSU Franklin Furniture Institute, InnovateMEP Mississippi and the Reshoring Initiative.

Mississippi Angel Network's Fall Roadshow: Jackson
2014-09-23 17:30 - 19:30
The Mississippi Angel Network is kicking off the Fall Roadshow with meetings in Gulfport, Jackson, Oxford and Tupelo. Eat Here USA Inc. and ER-ITN, LLC will pitch their investment opportunities to Angels statewide with the hopes of securing the necessary capital to grow their companies.
The Mississippi Angel Network will meet in Jackson Tuesday, September 23.
Brandon-based Eat Here USA Inc. offers a mobile website and app, Eat Shop Play Live, which allows businesses to promote themselves and customers to connect with local restaurants and events.

ER-ITN, LLC, a cloud-based access platform of Cleveland-based ID Trust Network, enables the safe, secure and expedited re-entry of emergency response, commercial recovery and business personnel during disaster events.

If you are an accredited or institutional investor interested in reviewing these opportunities or attending a meeting nearest you, contact Lynlee Honea at lhonea@innovate.ms or 601-960-3617.
