Organization · Accelerator
Innovate Mississippi
Innovate Mississippi is a nonprofit accelerator based in Jackson, Mississippi, focused on strengthening the state's innovation economy by supporting startups and connecting them with resources.
Overview
What Innovate Mississippi does
What Innovate Mississippi is
Innovate Mississippi is a nonprofit accelerator based in Jackson, Mississippi, focused on strengthening the state's innovation economy by supporting startups and connecting them with resources.
How it participates in the startup ecosystem
The current public profile supports funder and program host and community and event host capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.
Operational profile
Organization status and context
Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.
- Operational status
- Active
- Organization type
- Accelerator
- Founded
- Founded in 1998
- Approximate age
- About 28 years
- Structured capabilities
- Funder · Program host · Community · Event host
- Last reviewed
- March 27, 2026
What Accelerator means
An accelerator is a structured, short-term program designed to speed up a startup's progress toward product-market fit, traction, fundraising, or scale.
Open the glossary entryOfficial channels
Find Innovate Mississippi elsewhere
Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.
Capability profile
Innovate Mississippi as a funder
Investment thesis
Innovate Mississippi focuses on strengthening the state's innovation economy by supporting innovation-based companies with unique products, processes, materials, or business models.
Focus narrative
Innovate Mississippi invests in innovation-based companies with unique products, processes, materials, or business models. The organization primarily supports pre-revenue and post-revenue startups, helping them develop business strategies, secure funding, and grow. It does not typically work with companies in retail services, oil and gas exploration, or real estate development.
Value beyond capital
Innovate Mississippi provides funding, business strategy development, and networking opportunities to help startups grow and succeed in the innovation economy.
Terms and economics
- Typical check
- $10,000–$100,000
Focus and fit
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed · Seed+ · Accelerator
- Regions
- United States
Availability
- Currently deploying
- Yes
Portfolio and track record
- Recorded portfolio count
- 80
Portfolio context
Innovate Mississippi has supported over 80 startups through its Mississippi Seed Fund, which has provided early-stage funding ranging from $10,000 to $100,000. Notable companies include Hybrid Plastics, Celeris LLC, and U.S. Dinnerware.
Capability profile
Innovate Mississippi as a program host
Program thesis
Innovate Mississippi focuses on strengthening the state's innovation economy by providing services to entrepreneurs, investors, manufacturers, job seekers, and service providers.
Focus narrative
Innovate Mississippi invests in innovation-based companies with unique products, processes, materials, or business models. The organization primarily supports pre-revenue and post-revenue startups, helping them develop business strategies, secure funding, and grow.
Value and support
Innovate Mississippi offers funding, mentorship, networking opportunities, and resources to help startups grow and succeed in the innovation economy.
Terms and economics
- Indicative investment
- $100,000
Format and cadence
- Typical duration
- 12 weeks
- Format
- Hybrid
Availability
- Application state
- Not published
Focus and fit
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed
- Regions
- United States
Alumni and track record
Alumni context
Innovate Mississippi has supported over 80 startups through its Mississippi Seed Fund, which has provided early-stage funding ranging from $10,000 to $100,000. Notable companies include Hybrid Plastics, Celeris LLC, and U.S. Dinnerware.
Capability profile
Innovate Mississippi as a community
Community overview
Innovate Mississippi is a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1998 and based in Jackson, Mississippi. It focuses on strengthening the state's innovation economy by providing services to entrepreneurs, investors, manufacturers, job seekers, and service providers.
Community focus
Innovate Mississippi invests in innovation-based companies with unique products, processes, materials, or business models. The organization primarily supports pre-revenue and post-revenue startups, helping them develop business strategies, secure funding, and grow. It does not typically work with companies in retail services, oil and gas exploration, or real estate development.
Member value
Members benefit from access to funding through the Mississippi Seed Fund, networking opportunities, and support programs tailored for women and minority-owned startups. The organization also provides resources to help entrepreneurs develop their business strategies.
Membership
- Recorded members
- 80
- Pricing models
- free
Format and cadence
- Modality
- hybrid
- Schedule
- rolling-admissions
- Commitment
- light
Availability
- Membership state
- Accepting
Audience and fit
- Audience
- Founders · Investors · Operators
- Benefits
- network-access and mentorship
- Program types
- accelerator and community
- Selection criteria
- open
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed
- Regions
- United States
Community activity
- Annual events
- 13
Events and activity
Innovate Mississippi hosts several key events including the Accelerate Conference, an annual celebration of innovation in Mississippi, monthly CONNECT networking events for entrepreneurs, and the SBIR Pitch Night, a competition for technology companies to pitch for funding.
Notable members
Notable companies supported by Innovate Mississippi include Hybrid Plastics, Celeris LLC, and U.S. Dinnerware. Key team members include Clay Lewis (CEO), Tony Jeff (Entrepreneur in Residence), and David Collins (Director of Entrepreneurial Development).
Capability profile
Innovate Mississippi as an event host
Event focus
Innovate Mississippi invests in innovation-based companies with unique products, processes, materials, or business models. The organization primarily supports pre-revenue and post-revenue startups, helping them develop business strategies, secure funding, and grow. It does not typically work with companies in retail services, oil and gas exploration, or real estate development.
Format narrative
Innovate Mississippi offers various programs including the Mississippi Seed Fund for early-stage startups, the FoundersPlus program for women and minority-owned startups, and the IDEA Institute, a 12-week hybrid accelerator for early-stage entrepreneurs. Monthly networking events called CONNECT are also organized for entrepreneurs.
Participant value
Innovate Mississippi provides essential resources and support to entrepreneurs, helping them navigate the challenges of starting and growing their businesses. The organization fosters innovation and collaboration within the state's economy.
Format and cadence
- Event types
- conference, meetup, and pitch-night
- Recurrence
- annual
- Modality
- in-person
- Startups can present
- Yes
Availability
- Registration state
- Accepting
Audience and fit
- Selection criteria
- open
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed
- Audience
- Founders · Investors
- Regions
- United States
Speakers and past editions
Speakers
Clay Lewis, Tony Jeff, David Collins.
Past editions
Innovate Mississippi has supported over 80 startups through its Mississippi Seed Fund, which has provided early-stage funding ranging from $10,000 to $100,000. Notable companies include Hybrid Plastics, Celeris LLC, and U.S. Dinnerware.
Common questions
What to know about Innovate Mississippi
Upseed classifies Innovate Mississippi under the Accelerator organization type. Its current public profile includes funder, program host, community, and event host capabilities.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
March 27, 2026
Known limits
Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.