For decades, Mississippi has struggled to grow its technology startup scene and attract venture capital, a challenge that dates back to the first dot-com boom of the 1990s. Now, Innovate Mississippi believes it has found a path forward — through targeted funding, mentorship, and statewide collaboration.
The nonprofit organization is investing in seven emerging tech startups through its 12-week CoBuilders Accelerator Program, which provides entrepreneurs with both training and capital to help scale their businesses.
Empowering Local Innovators
Among the participants is SimpleScript, a startup founded by Alex Bucklew and Johnathan McAdory. Their platform helps users find the best prices on prescription drugs by collecting and comparing discounts from various sources.
“Especially for something as scalable as SimpleScript, it can be difficult to know what to do next,” Bucklew said. “Working with CoBuilders has given us the guidance we needed to move from point A to point B and prepare to raise funding.”
Mississippi’s technology ecosystem is still young. Innovate Mississippi, led by CEO Tony Jeff, has positioned itself as a central hub for connecting entrepreneurs with mentors, accountants, and investors across the state.
“With only about three million people in Mississippi, we’ve got to work hard to connect a business with the mentor who’s three hours away or the accountant who can help them,” Jeff explained. “We connect those dots.”
Without these networks, Jeff said, many founders would likely look to other states for funding and resources.
The CoBuilders Accelerator: From Concept to Capital
The CoBuilders Accelerator equips Mississippi-based startups with the tools to attract investment. Each participating company receives a $25,000 investment from Innovate Mississippi, which is funded through a mix of public and private sources.
Over the 12 weeks, startups refine their business plans, conduct user testing, and prepare to pitch to investors. The program culminates on November 11, when all seven companies will present their ventures in hopes of raising $100,000 or more from investors.
Unlike traditional small businesses, startups are designed for rapid scaling and rely heavily on early-stage investment from angel investors — individuals or groups willing to take risks on innovative ideas.
Jeff said the program emphasizes more than just presentation skills: “Founders need more than a polished pitch. They must understand their competitors, listen to user feedback, and show that their product works.”
Innovations in Education and Healthcare
One of this year’s standout startups is Vertical Take-Off Reading, co-founded by Leta Palmiter and Ben Stasa. The company’s software measures students’ oral reading fluency to help teachers track progress — a critical need for children with dyslexia.
Palmiter, a speech therapist and executive director of a nonprofit supporting dyslexic students, said she built the tool because existing solutions didn’t meet her classroom needs. “We know it’s doing a great job measuring accuracy at the sound level, and that kind of data drives instruction,” she said.
The program allows students to read aloud into a microphone-enabled device, after which the app records and analyzes performance, creating a detailed progress report for educators.
Palmiter met Stasa, a doctoral student in computer science at the University of Southern Mississippi, who was researching similar challenges. Their partnership turned an academic concept into a functional educational product.
Building a Statewide Startup Network
Mississippi’s universities have become key allies in Innovate’s mission to build a thriving startup pipeline. Institutions host pitch competitions, fund research, and help connect students and faculty innovators to the broader business community.
“There are so many resources schools and universities provide to support tech entrepreneurs,” said Ricky Romanek, founder of ClaimTra, a healthcare analytics startup that helps hospitals and clinics recover insurance claims.
Jeff said university involvement is crucial for combating Mississippi’s brain drain, where young graduates leave the state for better tech opportunities.
“There’s a group of Mississippians for whom this is the most exciting way to stay here, be gainfully employed, and even attract new people to move here,” Jeff said.
The Road Ahead for Mississippi’s Tech Scene
Finding the right companies for the accelerator remains a challenge. Innovate seeks early-stage startups that are innovative, scalable, and positioned for high growth.
“It’s clear we have more money chasing deals than we have qualified startups,” Jeff said. “That’s why we’re focused on making every Mississippi startup investor-ready.”
Romanek added that many local innovators simply don’t realize the support available to them. “There’s a huge untapped startup potential in Mississippi,” he said. “There are great ideas here — people just need to know about the resources that can help them.”
With programs like CoBuilders, Innovate Mississippi hopes to bridge that gap — turning local ideas into scalable, investment-ready businesses that keep talent and innovation thriving at home.
