Statewide Pitch Events (Traditional & Main Street Businesses Track)

Statewide Pitch Events (Traditional & Main Street Businesses Track) is sponsored by Innovate Mississippi and the Mississippi Small Business Development Center Network. This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

Statewide Pitch Events • Innovate Mississippi These events are powered by Innovate Mississippi and the Mississippi Small Business Development Center Network. Together, they offer two distinct pitch pathways—one for high-growth startups and another for traditional small businesses. Across the state, seven regional pitch events will be hosted by seven partner organizations, creating opportunities for entrepreneurs of all kinds.

Participants can apply through a single shared application and compete in two separate tracks: Traditional & Main Street Businesses (MSBDCN Track) High-Growth Innovation & Technology Companies (Innovate Mississippi Track) Both tracks offer cash prizes and valuable exposure.

The pitch events are also a qualifying opportunity for companies to be considered for Innovate Mississippi’s CoBuilders Accelerator—a 12-week intensive program designed to fast-track the growth of promising Mississippi startups. To learn more about CoBuilders Accelerator, Click Here . To explore the Mississippi Small Business Development Center Network and their services, Click Here .

If you’re a founder or entrepreneur with a great idea, this is your chance to win cash prizes and gain exposure for your business. Founders can apply for a maximum of two pitch events which take place at least one month apart. Applications for the 2026 pitch events are now closed.

Investor Scorecards for Each Track ▶ Understanding the Scorecard for High-Growth Pitches ▶ The Pitch: Telling your Story ▶ Practicing using the Scorecard ▶ SBDC-Track Pitch Competition Training Video Oxford Lafayette Incorporated – Oxford, MS Oxford Lafayette Incorporated seeks to increase the economic development activity of the region through providing a vibrant business environment in which companies can grow and thrive.

As close partners with the University of Mississippi , Olinc also works to assist technology transfer businesses to grow and thrive in the area. As a partner in the CoBuilders Accelerator, the EDF is working with other partners in North Mississippi to assist companies from the region. Startup Focus: Early-stage companies generally in North Mississippi For further information please contact Allen Kurr allen@oxfordms.

com Mississippi State E-Center The MSU Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach empowers students and Mississippi residents to plan, launch and grow successful local and global companies based on new ideas or MSU invented technology. Our companies are graded in the real world – by success or failure with actual, paying customers.

We use applied learning to strengthen our pipeline of entrepreneurs from K-12 to college students to graduates and have broad involvement of alumni and friends to help mentor, coach and invest in our startups. As a partner in the CoBuilders Accelerator, we join a team that is working to propel Mississippi’s next wave of technology startups.

Startup Focus: Conceptual or early-stage companies located within Mississippi, or abroad with some connection to MSU. (Only Mississippi-based companies can be selected for CoBuilders, but MSU affiliated companies from any location can participate in the Startup Summit.) For further information please contact Aiden McClain at amclain@ecenter.

msstate. edu The Community Development Foundation The Community Development Foundation (CDF) is a membership-based organization serving to advance the community through partnerships and growth initiatives for more than 75 years. We are the local Chamber of Commerce for Tupelo, Mississippi and serve as the economic development organization for Tupelo/Lee County, Mississippi.

CDF’s business incubator is the Renasant Center for IDEAs , and the mission of the incubator is to provide the physical and social infrastructure to assist in the formation and development of successful small businesses, which will diversify our area’s economy, create regional job opportunities, and foster economic growth and vitality.

CDF & the Renasant Center for IDEAs partnership with CoBuilders Accelerator will help us strengthen our mission with our startups and entrepreneurs in our area. Startup Focus: Early-stage companies in Tupelo/Lee County, Mississippi and surrounding areas. For further information please contact Judd Wilson at jwilson@cdfms.

org or at 662-842-4521 . The Bean Path is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded by Dr. Nashlie Sephus that provides assistance to companies in Jackson and the surrounding areas. Additionally, they extend support through scholarships, grants, and awards to empower students and recognize the contributions of community organizations.

Startup Focus: Early-stage companies in Jackson, Mississippi, and the surrounding areas For further information please contact Tamika Jenkins via email at tamika@thebeanpath. org or Lena Horne at lena@thebeanpath.

org The Mississippi State Entrepreneurship Center in Vicksburg seeks to develop entrepreneurial ventures in the Vicksburg region and to draw particularly from the technology partners and connections associated with ERDC and ERDCWerx. Located in the beautiful MCITy Building in downtown Vicksburg, the MSE E-Center Vicksburg brings all of the resources and experience of MSU’s E-Center to the River City and surrounding areas.

As a partner in the CoBuilders Accelerator, the MSU E-Center Vicksburg is working with other partners to assist companies from the region. Startup Focus: Early-stage companies generally in the Vicksburg region For further information please contact Tasha Bibb tasha. bibb@msstate.

edu or Trevor Acy at tacy@ecenter. msstate . edu Mississippi Polymer Institute The Mississippi Polymer Institute cultivates business growth and participation in advanced materials markets.

As the industrial outreach component of the University of Southern Mississippi’s 500-acre Innovation and Commercialization Park, we collectively provide capabilities and resources relevant to businesses at all stages of maturity. As a partner in the CoBuilders Accelerator and the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MMA-MEP), MPI works with other partners around Mississippi to assist early-stage companies.

For further information please contact MPI at 601- 266-4094 . Gulf Coast Business Council The Gulf Coast Business Council is a private 501(c)(6), member-based organization primarily focused on community and economic development. Our general membership consists of the lead decision-makers of companies doing business in Coastal Mississippi (Hancock, Harrison, Jackson).

The council exists to inform and engage our members in order to identify, develop and advocate for solutions that enhance our competitive advantage so we can grow our economy and improve the quality of life in Coastal Mississippi. Startup Focus: Companies with investable products on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. For further information please contact Alexa Cutrer at alexa.

cutrer@msgcbc. org or 781-733-7916