For entrepreneurs in Northeast Mississippi, the Community Development Foundation (CDF) serves as a hub for business development, mentorship, and entrepreneurial support. Through its management of the Renasant Center for IDEAs business incubator and its longstanding partnership with Innovate Mississippi, CDF helps founders connect with the resources and relationships needed to launch and grow their businesses.
According to Judd Wilson, senior vice president of the Chamber of Commerce at CDF, support is tailored to each entrepreneur’s stage of development. “It really depends on where that founder is, where they are in the process, where they are kind of going to get their company or business up and off the ground,” Wilson said.
Beyond the incubator, CDF hosts an annual pitch competition, which draws founders from across Mississippi and pairs finalists with mentor teams before the competition. CDF also operates the IGNITE Leadership Conference, a leadership development event that has grown into one of the region’s largest professional development gatherings, and produces IgniteCast, a podcast featuring conversations with business and community leaders. Together, these programs create opportunities for entrepreneurs to build skills, expand their networks, and learn from experienced leaders.
CDF also works for founders by leveraging its network of Northeast Mississippi entrepreneurs and business professionals who can help founders address specific challenges as they build their companies. Wilson pointed to successful entrepreneurs such as Hyperion Technology’s Geoff Carter and Carmigo founder Andrew Warmath as examples of business leaders who continue to support the next generation of founders.
A major part of CDF’s work involves connecting Northeast Mississippi entrepreneurs to the broader statewide ecosystem. Wilson noted that companies often work with partners across Mississippi, including universities, manufacturers, and entrepreneurial support organizations. Those relationships help founders access expertise and opportunities that extend well beyond their local communities.
That statewide ecosystem, of course, includes Innovate Mississippi. In fact, CDF’s partnership with Innovate Mississippi dates back over several decades to the days of the Mississippi Technology Alliance. Wilson said the relationship began years ago, noting that Innovate’s CEO, Tony Jeff, once maintained an office inside the incubator. Over the years, the organizations have worked together through investor roadshows, entrepreneurial programs, networking opportunities, and startup support initiatives designed to strengthen Mississippi’s innovation economy.
Today, that partnership remains an important asset for entrepreneurs in Northeast Mississippi. “We’ve always been there with Innovate Mississippi,” Wilson said. “It’s always good to be able to turn them over to Innovate just because it spans their network.” By combining local support through the Renasant Center for IDEAs with connections across Mississippi’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, CDF continues to help founders access the relationships and resources they need to grow.
