On June 26, the Mississippi Center for Innovation & Technology (MCITy), in partnership with Mississippi State University and Innovate Mississippi, welcomed entrepreneurs and community builders to the Dawg Tank Startup Pitch Event in Vicksburg—a showcase of homegrown innovation aimed at transforming lives and industries. In the Technology category, Vertical TakeOff won first place with…
With roots in academic research and real-world problem-solving, Onteko is advancing a breakthrough technology that could reshape how farmers deliver agrochemicals to plants. Co-founded by Luis Ponce, a physicist and laser specialist, and Matt Rosenberg, business development lead, Onteko's signature product—Laser Foliar Boost—uses a targeted laser treatment to gently remove…
We're excited to celebrate the winners of the Mississippi Polymer Institute's (MPI) fourth annual Business Pitch Event, which took place on May 15, 2025, at The University of Southern Mississippi's Innovation and Commercialization Park. This year's competition drew 41 applications with 18 startup founders selected to pitch in one of two perfectly named…
Innovate Mississippi was proud to partner with Higher Purpose Hub for an unforgettable pitch competition in the heart of the Mississippi Delta. Held at the Club Ebony in Indianola, the event was a fun mash-up of entrepreneurship, innovation—and Mississippi cookin'! With blues music on the speakers and a spread of…
Jackson, Miss. (July 15, 2025)—Innovate Mississippi is proud to announce the addition of four distinguished leaders to its board of directors. Joining the board are Jamie Miller, Rebekah Staples, Ryan Miller, and Dr. Tim Lampkin. Each brings a unique blend of experience in economic development, public policy, regional know-how and…
On July 16th, area Mississippi founders took the stage in Tupelo to compete in the 2025 edition of The Pitch, an annual business competition hosted by the Community Development Foundation. Each finalist delivered their best pitch to a panel of judges, but Brandi Brown and her company, Gulf Spore, rose…
JACKSON, Miss. — [7/15/25] — Mississippi is opening the door to national and regional venture capital funds with the launch of the InvestMS Funds Program, a key component of the state’s $86 million SSBCI strategy to expand access to early-stage capital for Mississippi-based startups. Managed by Innovate Mississippi, the InvestMS program is…
Innovate Mississippi was thrilled to join the Mississippi Gulf Coast Business Council and Mississippi SBDC for the inaugural StartUp Gulf Coast Pitch Competition, which took place on June 10 at MGCCC's Hospitality Resort Management Center in Biloxi. This high-energy event brought together nine innovative startups drawn from across the Gulf Coast,…
Innovate Mississippi was delighted to partner again with the Oxford‑Lafayette County Economic Development Foundation, the University of Mississippi, and the Mississippi Small Business Development Center Network for the fifth annual Oxford Pitch Competition, held Thursday, June 12, at the Oxford Conference Center. And we thank the Oxford Eagle for once again…
Maranda Joiner wears many hats—entrepreneur, speaker, author, and now lead facilitator for the Founders Plus program at Innovate Mississippi. A native of Jackson and co-founder of Succeed and Elevate, a non-profit dedicated to helping entrepreneurs, Maranda brings her professional expertise and personal commitment to helping women and minority entrepreneurs thrive in the startup…