Earlier this year, we challenged Mississippi's most innovative minds to push the boundaries of advanced manufacturing—and they delivered. Entrepreneurs from across the state submitted groundbreaking technologies designed to optimize processes, enhance efficiency, and redefine the future of manufacturing. The judging is complete, and the SmartTech MS Advanced Manufacturing Prize Competition has reached…
Mississippi-based entrepreneur Rahul Gopal, the visionary behind CampusKnot, has been selected as one of just eight companies to join The Idea Village’s prestigious 2025 VILLAGEx accelerator! This highly competitive program brings together a diverse group of high-growth startups, each driven by bold ideas, strong teams, and a commitment to making a lasting…
Innovate Mississippi was thrilled to sponsor and support Techstars Startup Weekend DeepTech Mississippi in Vicksburg at MCITy this January. The event, organized by Mississippi State University and powered by Techstars, provided an excellent opportunity to bring together bright minds from across the state to collaborate, innovate, and build new ventures. This approach…
Magnolia Tribune has published a fantastic story about Nate Venarske and his startup, Automatic Mosquito Ovitrap, a participant in Innovate Mississippi's CoBuilders accelerator program. Huge thanks to writer Lynne Jeter for covering Nate's journey! While studying biosystems engineering at Mississippi State University, Nate developed the Automatic Mosquito Ovitrap, designed to combat pesticide-resistant mosquitoes.…
Innovate Mississippi was thrilled to participate in the first ConnectMS (ConnectMS.org) convening at Community Bank headquarters in Flowood, where representatives from the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA), the Mississippi Small Business Development Center Network (SBDC) and Innovate Mississippi launched their ambitious collaborative program. Through the ConnectMS.org website, startups and small businesses…
Innovate Mississippi's investment director, Lindsey Benefield has written a piece for #WEBuildInSE, an online collaborative guide showcasing entrepreneurship in the Southeastern United States. In her article, Lindsey promotes Oxford, Miss., known for its charming town square and literary history—and now for making waves as a center of gravity for startups. The University…
Once again, the Accelerate 2024 conference highlighted the power of innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration in Mississippi. It was a vibrant gathering of industry leaders, ambitious startups, savvy investors, and dedicated stakeholders from all corners of our beautiful state, showcasing Mississippi's entrepreneurial spirit. For a quarter of a century, Innovate Mississippi…
Innovate Mississippi celebrates three years of partnership with Microsoft in supporting CoBuilders, a statewide startup accelerator that has become a launching pad for innovative Mississippi companies. This milestone reflects not only Microsoft's commitment as a sponsor but also the enduring impact of the CoBuilders program on Mississippi's economy. CoBuilders, managed by…
[Jackson, Miss.] Innovate Mississippi is pleased to announce the Accelerate 2024 Conference, celebrating 25 years of dedicated service to building a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem in Mississippi. The Accelerate conference takes place November 19-20, 2024, bringing together startup founders, investors, and business leaders from across the state to explore innovative solutions and…
John Fair's professional journey began in high school when he worked summers at his father's gasoline and propane business in Louisville, Miss., as a "grease monkey," earning $20 a week. Initially employed at a lumber company, his father started a small distributorship called The Fair Oil Company near the mill in 1934,…