August 2017
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Startup Weekend Returns to the
Mississippi Gulf Coast
September 22-24
 

Startup Weekend Gulf Coast will take place September 22-24, at the University of Southern Mississippi's Gulf Park campus in Long Beach.

Join us for this fun event, which is designed for entrepreneurs with innovative business concepts to collaborate with developers, designers, marketers and others to turn their ideas into viable business concepts ... all in just 54 hours.

Early bird tickets are on sale now, and students get 50% off ticket prices!

Click here for more information and to register.


Pitch Your Innovative Startup at the Upcoming Mississippi New Venture Challenge!
October 17
(Must Apply by August 28)

Innovate Mississippi's 10th Annual Mississippi New Venture Challenge Pitch Competition will be held October 17 in Jackson. Pitch categories include student-led, pre-revenue and post-revenue, and those companies selected to compete will have the opportunity to work with experienced mentors in preparing a winning presentation. After pitch presentations, a panel of judges will select the most viable, innovative business concept in each category. Winners will then receive valuable cash prizes and in-kind services.
  
To apply, complete an executive summary by answering this online questionnaire. Applications must be received by August 28, and those selected will be notified September 5 by email.
  
Contact Tasha Bibb at tbibb@innovate.ms for more information.

Innovate Mississippi's Tony Jeff 
Honored with "Top in Tech" Award
 
Tony Jeff
Innovate Mississippi President and CEO Tony Jeff was recently honored by the Mississippi Business Journal as one of the state's leading technology experts.
 
Tony was named to the 2017 "Top in Tech" class alongside 27 other distinguished individuals and companies that are making significant contributions to technology and innovation within Mississippi. The 2017 class was honored at an awards luncheon held June 22 in Jackson.
 
Having served at Innovate Mississippi
for 14 years, Tony advises and assists entrepreneurs in bringing their innovations successfully to market. He has coached more than 1,000 entrepreneurial ventures, helping them strategize, connect with mentors and secure funding. He has also consulted with companies that successfully raised more than $170 million in private equity financing. 
 
Click here for a list of the Mississippi Business Journal's 2017 "Top in Tech" honorees.  Click here to read the full story.


Mentor of the Month Spotlight:
 
~ Congratulations Anne Turner ~
Innovate Mississippi's August  Mentor of the Month!
 
  Anne's Business Basics:
  
Background: An attorney with Baker Donelson in Jackson, Anne's expertise lies in technology, intellectual property and asset protections.  
 
Most Frequently Given Advice : If your business is built around intellectual property, be sure the business owns the intellectual property. 
             
Beliefs: The team behind a business is one of the most important elements of whether the business will be successful. The early team or founders must be able to work together, certainly, but they also must be committed, tenacious, smart, adaptable and resilient. And, in addition to building a product or service, a business will also build a culture as it grows beyond its early team, and the culture of the business will be reflected in all the ways it does business, from how it treats its employees to how it treats its customers. Lastly, businesses that achieve success are not afraid to seek out advice and guidance. 
 
Click here to read Anne's full Q&A.  Click here to visit Innovate Mississippi's Mentor Network page to find and connect with a mentor for your business venture. 
Innovate Mississippi 
121 North State Street
Suite 500 
Jackson, MS 39201 
601-960-3610  
 





 

Contact Janet Parker

at jparker@innovate.ms 

for more information on
Code Mississippi! 

 







Make It a Great Morning with 1 Million Cups Jackson!
Wednesdays at 9 A.M.

If you're in the Jackson area or just traveling through on a Wednesday morning, start your day with coffee
 and connections! Join us at 1 Million Cups (1MC) Jackson,  the local installment of a national pr ogr am that educates, engages and connects entrepreneurs and creatives. Meetings are free and take place  at Coalesce Coworking at 9 a.m. with fresh hot coffee provided by our friends at Cups.
 
Developed by the Kauffman Foundation, 1MC is based on the notion that meaningful connections are made over a million cups of coffee. 1MC is led by more than 500 volunteer organizers in 35+ states, one U.S. territory, and six time zones -  and it is g rowing every day.
  
Want to present your startup or idea at an upcoming meeting? Apply here: 1millioncups.com/jackson.  

 Or, want to start a chapter in your area? Visit 1 Million Cups. 

Gulf Coast Regional Technology Summit
August 10-11 
 
In partnership with the LA-FAST (Louisiana - Federal and State Technology) and MS-FAST (Mississippi - Federal and State Technology) partnership programs, the MIST Cluster is pleased to sponsor a Gulf Coast Regional Technology Summit focused on the federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) programs. Additional promotional support is provided by Innovate Mississippi and the Mississippi Defense Diversification Initiative of the University of Southern Mississippi. The summit will be held August 10-11 on the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Park Campus in Long Beach.   
 
Click here for more information.   

 

EVENTS!

Aug 16-17: Oceans in Action 2017 Workshop
Aug 17:
Meet the Mentors Event
Aug 21-23 : UAV Training
Aug 22 : Discovery Luncheon in Ridgeland
Aug 24: GJAC Creative Impact Luncheon
Oct 18: Innovate Mississippi's Annual Conference on Technology Innovation in Jackson
 

Did You Know There are Grants for Small Business Research?
  
While grants are not typically available for small high-tech firms, there is one exception: World-class researchers can access millions of dollars in grants through federal SBIR/STTR grants. As a matter of fact,
11 federal agencies are required to set aside funding to provide to SBIR/STTR awards!
  
MS-FAST (The Mississippi - Federal and State Technology Partnership), which is led by Innovate Mississippi and The University of Southern Mississippi Business and Innovation Assistance Center, is in place to help Mississippi small businesses better compete for
these grants. MS-FAST provides expertise, assistance and funding and to encourage commercialization of technologies that can be developed because of these programs.
Plus, Mississippi companies making applications for SBIR and STTR grants may be eligible for up to $2,000 to cover grant application preparation and research.
  
MS-FAST is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Contact  Joe Graben for more information. Click here to learn more about MS-FAST.


Innovate Mississippi would   a follow!  

 

            

Innovate Mississippi Partners 
 

The mission of Innovate Mississippi is to drive innovation and technology-based economic development for the State of Mississippi. 
 
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