Innovate Mississippi

06/01/2026

🤝 CONNECT is just around the corner!

Join entrepreneurs, mentors, investors, and innovators for an evening of great conversations and meaningful connections.

Come as you are, leave inspired. 🌱
Register here → https://bit.ly/4u8KiDI

06/01/2026

AI Month 2026: A Month of Innovation, Built for Everyone

Join the The Bean Path this month for a citywide experience designed to help Metro Jackson explore how artificial intelligence is shaping everyday life, careers, and businesses.

From networking with industry leaders to hands-on learning experiences, AI Month is your chance to engage, learn, and grow in today’s digital world.

What to Expect:
AI Month Luncheon (June 3) – Connect with leaders and explore AI’s impact
Southern Spark + AI After hours (June 11–12) – Innovation, insights, and networking
OATS Scavenger Hunt (June 17) – AI made accessible for older adults
Youth Events (June 22–23) – Fun, engaging AI conversations for kids & teens
AI Digital Storytelling Camp (June 24–26) – Creativity meets technology

Register for Events here https://bit.ly/42BX4zy

05/29/2026

A faster process. A stronger material. A Mississippi startup pushing advanced manufacturing forward. In this Spotlight Story, founders Ernesto Borrego and Dennis Smith share how a discovery rooted in chemistry became a startup with the potential to impact some of the world’s most demanding technologies.

Watch the full interview on YouTube and discover how Mississippi innovation is shaping the future of advanced materials. ⬇️ https://bit.ly/3Rpu5fV

05/28/2026

Mississippi is in the clean energy conversation. 🌿

Our partner the Mississippi Polymer Institute at Southern Miss has one of the first hydrogen fueling stations in the Southeast — evaluating real commercial viability for MS manufacturers and businesses.

Nearly 30 years of ecosystem work. Still leading.

Read the full story: https://bit.ly/4dP3PmK

05/28/2026

Gulf Blue Innovation Week brought together entrepreneurs, investors and industry leaders focused on the future of the Gulf South — and right in the middle of it, Mississippi founders took the stage.
The 2026 StartUp Gulf CoastPitch Competition, hosted by Innovate MS statewide partner StartUp Gulf Coast and the Mississippi Gulf Coast Business Council on May 19 at Lynn Meadows Discovery Center in Gulfport, crowned winners across two tracks:

High-Growth Innovation & Technology
🥇 Prosentra | 🥈 Codify AI | 🥉 BVY

Main Street
🥇 Light Carriers | 🥈 Smokin' Guns Shooting Academy | 🥉 Tailor-Made Tours

Huge congratulations to every winner and thank you to the Gulf Coast Business Council and Gulf Blue Innovation for an incredible week on the Coast.

Photo credit: Derek Fountain

05/26/2026

Today at noon, join us online with GranthamPoole for a free, practical webinar designed to help entrepreneurs and small business owners better understand the differences between LLCs, S Corps, C Corps, and other entity structures. Michael Langdon, Enrolled Agent and Certified Financial Planner with GranthamPoole, will walk through the pros and cons of each option and explain how those choices can impact taxes, operations, growth, and long-term planning.

You'll also get practical guidance on:
✅ Setting up your business correctly
✅ Tax considerations and common mistakes
✅ Opening business banking accounts
✅ Establishing bookkeeping and financial systems
✅ Key considerations for startups and growing businesses

Whether you're just getting started or thinking about restructuring, this one's worth an hour of your time.

Register here: https://startupspace.app/v2/dynamic-survey/view/402/10739

05/22/2026

Hand Technologies is developing a polymer precursor that could dramatically speed up the production of graphitic carbon, a material used in aerospace, defense, hypersonic systems, and other extreme-temperature applications.

What traditionally takes months to manufacture could potentially be reduced to weeks, opening the door for faster testing, scaling, and real-world deployment in industries where performance matters most.

In this Spotlight Story, founders Ernesto Borrego and Dennis Smith share how applied chemistry, entrepreneurship, and Mississippi’s innovation ecosystem helped turn a lab discovery into a high-potential deep-tech startup.

Watch the full story and see how breakthrough materials innovation is happening right here in Mississippi. ⬇️ https://bit.ly/3Rpu5fV

05/21/2026

Mississippi’s startup entrepreneurial ecosystem is growing fast, and Innovate Mississippi is here to help founders, mentors, and supporters thrive.
Explore all our resources in one convenient location.

Check out our Linktree for:
✅ Startup funding opportunities
✅ Upcoming events & networking
✅ Blog insights & innovation news
✅ Connections to our programs and partners

👉 Click our link in bio or linktr.ee/innovatems.

Stay connected, stay inspired, and let's innovate together!

05/21/2026

New Venue for tonight’s CONNECT in Hattiesburg. We hope to see you there!

❗ Venue Change!! ❗

This week's CONNECT event will now be held at Southern Prohibition in Downtown Hattiesburg at 4:30.

📍 New location. Same time. Same event.

Join us, make connections, and be in the room.

05/20/2026

Choosing the right business structure is one of the most important early decisions a founder can make, and the wrong setup can create costly challenges down the road.

Join Innovate Mississippi and GranthamPoole for a practical webinar designed to help entrepreneurs and small business owners better understand the differences between LLCs, S Corps, C Corps, and other entity structures. Michael Langdon, Enrolled Agent and Certified Financial Planner with GranthamPoole, will walk through the pros and cons of each option and explain how those choices can impact taxes, operations, growth, and long-term planning.

This session will also cover foundational startup topics including:
• Setting up your business correctly
• Tax considerations and common mistakes
• Opening business banking accounts
• Establishing bookkeeping and financial systems
• Key considerations for startups and growing businesses
Whether you are launching a new company or reevaluating your current structure, this webinar will provide practical guidance to help you build a stronger financial foundation.

Register for this free webinar: https://bit.ly/4v1pejr