November 8-9, 2023
at The Westin Jackson.
For details and sponsorship opportunities contact
Janet Parker at jparker@innovate.ms.
23rd Annual Accelerate Conference
2022 Theme: "CoBuilding Mississippi's Future"
This year at Accelerate 2022 we explore a critical component in the success of Mississippi's entrepreneurial ecosystem: collaboration. Today, we're seeing the fruits of a major focus on collaboration in recent years—investors, private industry, government agencies, universities and the nonprofit sector are all working together to lift up entrepreneurs and turn them into major contributors to the Mississippi economy.
Join us at this year's conference as we explore how to deepen those collaborations, find efficiencies in these partnerships and further expand opportunity for entrepreneurs in our great state.
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 8th
COMPANY & INVESTOR SPOTLIGHT
Networking opportunities are built in to allow for further discussion. We invite investors, service providers, mentors, economic developers and other entrepreneurs to this session. The Spotlight offers an opportunity for Mississippi entrepreneurs to gain some exposure for their venture while making valuable connections with mentors, potential investors and others in the innovation ecosystem.
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 8th
Company & Investor Spotlight
1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Join us for a showcase of Mississippi startup companies in various stages of funding as they make their pitch. Special sessions featuring investors and mentors will discuss the finance landscape in the state.
Speaker and Sponsor Reception
5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Speakers and sponsors are invited to mingle and network as we welcome people to the Westin Jackson and look forward to the conference day on Wednesday.
360 Photo Booth during the reception
Innovation alley
Join us in the Pre-Function Space all morning Wednesday, November 9th, for quality time with vendors offering innovative services and/or support for entrepreneurs in Mississippi.
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 9th
REGISTRATION OPENS
7:30 a.m.
BREAKFAST KEYNOTE SESSION
8:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.
'Big ideas' and 'block and tackle' SESSIONS
9:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
LUNCH KEYNOTE
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Luncheon Chat: How 'Love of Place' Helps Build Your Startup Community
Mississippi cartoonist and commentator Marshall Ramsey hosts a discussion with Matt Adamczyk of Microsoft and Jon Atkinson of the Idea Village on their experience building and nurturing entrepreneurship communities in "non-tech" places like Green Bay, Wisconsin, and New Orleans, Louisiana. Learn about the roles that events, corporate sponsors, local expertise, and a strong sense of place can have in improving outcomes for high-growth startups.
speakers
We’re assembling an exciting group of speakers for Accelerate: the Conference on Technology Innovation this year. From startup veterans to educators to industry leaders, this group offers a deep look at the challenges facing Mississippi—and how we can turn those challenges into opportunities for innovation and growth.
Matt Adamczyk
Microsoft TechSpark
Matt is the Technical Advisor for Microsoft TechSpark and Technologist in Residence at TitletownTech. In this dual role, Matt engages with startups and entrepreneurs at TitletownTech to provide advisement and connection into deeper Microsoft expertise, and Matt extends to support entrepreneurship and ecosystem development across Microsoft TechSpark.
Jon Atkinson
Idea Village
Jon is an expert in startups, customer development methodologies, and entrepreneurial finance. His past experience combines a diverse knowledge as a professional investor and ‘recovering’ banker with skills gained as a professor, CEO, CFO, business advisor, board member, and strategic consultant to deliver unique business insights in guiding and financing growth oriented companies.
Steven Bailey
The Idea Shop
Steven Bailey is a Graduate Student at Mississippi State University and the manager of the MSU Idea Shop, connecting University resources to the Starkville community. Entrepreneurial pursuits and "making" have been a large portion of his life from the age of 12, when he developed his own ironworking business, selling handcrafted ironworking projects to his friends and family. In this current role he enjoys sharing this passion with others.
Anna Barker
Glo
Anna Barker is the Co-Founder and VP of Business Development of Glo® – a student project turned company that was founded through MSU’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach, where she met fellow MSU alumnus and aspiring entrepreneur, Hagan Walker. She teamed up with Hagan to develop the idea behind the Glo Pals® – a line of light-up sensory toys inspired by a child with Autism.
Allyson Best
University of Mississippi
Allyson Best is the director of technology commercialization at the University of Mississippi. She has a bachelors from Clemson University in marketing and an MBA with a focus on pharmaceutical science from the University of Mississippi. She has served in numerous positions including the chair of the board of directors of the Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce, but also internationally within the Association of University Technology Managers.
Almesha Campbell
Jackson State University
Almesha L. Campbell, Ph.D. is the Assistant Vice President for Research and Economic Development at Jackson State University (JSU). She designs and manages programs around innovation, technology transfer, and commercialization in an effort to broaden the participation of underrepresented minorities in these areas.
Jeremy Clay
Mississippi State University
Jeremy Clay is director of MSU’s Office of Technology Management, the unit charged with efficiently capturing, protecting, managing and accelerating the commercialization of university-owned and -generated intellectual property.
Amber Coeur
Lobaki
As CEO of Lobaki, Amber is a hands-on leader who values every client and every team member for what they bring to the ongoing process of learning what virtual reality can become as the industry rapidly matures and grows across the country.
Matt Adamczyk
Microsoft TechSpark
Matt is the Technical Advisor for Microsoft TechSpark and Technologist in Residence at TitletownTech. In this dual role, Matt engages with startups and entrepreneurs at TitletownTech to provide advisement and connection into deeper Microsoft expertise, and Matt extends to support entrepreneurship and ecosystem development across Microsoft TechSpark.
Jon Atkinson
Idea Village
Jon is an expert in startups, customer development methodologies, and entrepreneurial finance. His past experience combines a diverse knowledge as a professional investor and ‘recovering’ banker with skills gained as a professor, CEO, CFO, business advisor, board member, and strategic consultant to deliver unique business insights in guiding and financing growth oriented companies.
Steven Bailey
The Idea Shop
Steven Bailey is a Graduate Student at Mississippi State University and the manager of the MSU Idea Shop, connecting University resources to the Starkville community. Entrepreneurial pursuits and "making" have been a large portion of his life from the age of 12, when he developed his own ironworking business, selling handcrafted ironworking projects to his friends and family. In this current role he enjoys sharing this passion with others.
Anna Barker
Glo
Anna Barker is the Co-Founder and VP of Business Development of Glo® – a student project turned company that was founded through MSU’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach, where she met fellow MSU alumnus and aspiring entrepreneur, Hagan Walker. She teamed up with Hagan to develop the idea behind the Glo Pals® – a line of light-up sensory toys inspired by a child with Autism.
Allyson Best
University of Mississippi
Allyson Best is the director of technology commercialization at the University of Mississippi. She has a bachelors from Clemson University in marketing and an MBA with a focus on pharmaceutical science from the University of Mississippi. She has served in numerous positions including the chair of the board of directors of the Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce, but also internationally within the Association of University Technology Managers.
Almesha Campbell
Jackson State University
Almesha L. Campbell, Ph.D. is the Assistant Vice President for Research and Economic Development at Jackson State University (JSU). She designs and manages programs around innovation, technology transfer, and commercialization in an effort to broaden the participation of underrepresented minorities in these areas.
Jeremy Clay
Mississippi State University
Jeremy Clay is director of MSU’s Office of Technology Management, the unit charged with efficiently capturing, protecting, managing and accelerating the commercialization of university-owned and -generated intellectual property.
Amber Coeur
Lobaki
As CEO of Lobaki, Amber is a hands-on leader who values every client and every team member for what they bring to the ongoing process of learning what virtual reality can become as the industry rapidly matures and grows across the country.
Collaboration = CoBuilders
Join us during both our breakfast and luncheon sessions where we'll discuss CoBuilders.ms, a statewide partnership to accelerate startup businesses throughout Mississippi. Meet our entrepreneurs and learn more about their journey from idea to successful business.
Lauren Dendy
FORVIS
Lauren is the Human Resources Coordinator and Campus Recruiter at the FORVIS Jackson, MS office. She works closely with the HR teams in the Southwest FORVIS region which includes Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Arizona. In addition to HR, Lauren actively recruits accounting students at Ole Miss, Mississippi State, University of Southern Mississippi, Millsaps and Mississippi College.
Bruce Deer
Innovate Mississippi
Bruce Deer is a long-time technology executive, member of the Bulldog Angel Network and Innovate Mississippi's Entrepreneur in Residence.
Joe Donovan
Mississippi Development Authority
Mr. Donovan currently is the Director of The Office of Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship @ Mississippi Development Authority. Donovan primary responsible for focusing Mississippi on growing the knowledge based economic development through developing an eco-system focusing on emerging technologies.
Ryan Gilbrech
Mississippi State University
From studying biomedical engineering to founding a video game development studio to leading MSU’s first attempt at a satellite entrepreneurship center in Vicksburg, MS – it’s hard to predict Ryan Gilbrech’s career trajectory. With a penchant for chasing interesting, difficult, and visionary pursuits, he’s now working toward making Vicksburg the next big tech startup hub of the south.
Joe Graben
University of Southern Mississippi
Joe Graben is the Innovation Ecosystem Manager for the Office of Technology Development at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) and has over twenty-five years of experience in supporting tech-based small businesses and innovation based economic development.
Adam Horlock
Office Evolution
Adam Horlock is the BCM for Mississippi’s first Office Evolution. Office Evolution is the nation’s largest locally owned and operated coworking network, with over 80 locations in 25 states.
Delbert Hosemann
Lieutenant Governor
Elected in November 2019 with more than 60 percent of the vote, the Honorable Delbert Hosemann is serving as Mississippi’s 33rd Lieutenant Governor. He previously served as Secretary of State. Lt. Governor Hosemann is committed to serving the public with open and fair government.
Ben Hubbard
Serial Entrepreneur
A native Mississippian, Ben has co-founded and launched several software-driven start-ups to market. Ben was part of a two-man team that built a multinational software solutions provider from scratch starting from an incubator in Jackson, MS.
Eric Hughes
The Hive Branding Agency
Eric works as Founding Partner of Mississippi’s first truly virtual ad agency, The Hive. With The Hive, his unique blend of experience and creativity in Brand Strategy, Marketing Campaign Development, Product Development, and Content Strategy gives business owners and leadership teams the focus, vision, unity, and momentum they need to get beyond surviving and start thriving.
Laura Johns
The Business Growers
Laura Johns is the founder and CEO of The Business Growers, a marketing firm serving the B2B telecom, SaaS, IT, and cloud-services industries. For 18 years, Laura managed marketing efforts for companies ranging from tech startups to global, multi-billion dollar businesses.
Laurie Jugan
MSET
Laurie Jugan is the Program Director at the Mississippi Enterprise for Technology (MSET), responsible for creating and overseeing programs supporting technology transfer out of federal agencies and technology transition into federal agencies.
Anik Kurkjian
Marketing Strategist
A highly experienced marketing strategist with over 15 years of expertise leading events, campaigns & brand development initiatives. Specializing in long term, sustainable return on investment through community engagement, influencer management & brand stewardship.
Sarah Lee
University of Southern Mississippi
Sarah Lee is Director of the School of Computing Sciences & Computer Engineering at The University of Southern Mississippi. A fifth generation Mississippian, she entered academia in 2011 following a 19-year industry career with a passion to broaden participation in computing and cybersecurity. She co-founded and launched the Last Mile Education Fund in 2020.
Steve Mercil
Appalachian Angel Alliance
Fund Administrator for the North & South Mississippi Angel Funds, Chief Business Development Officer Appalachian Angel Alliance (AIA)
Sam Miller
mySet Music and Sports
Sam Miller is the founder of mySet Music and Sports, a technology that enables musicians, sports teams, and radio stations to engage, monetize, and learn more about their fans. Skilled in Sales, Communication, Team Building, and Management, Sam is a strong business development professional with a Bachelor's degree focused in Management Information Systems from Mississippi State University.
Abb Payne
The Payne Companies
Founder and CEO of The Payne Companies family office and Chapter Chair of the Southern 7 Chapter of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO).
Marshall Ramsey
Mississippi Today
Marshall Ramsey is the Editor-At-Large for Mississippi Today, a non-profit news website. He’s a two-time Pulitzer Finalist (2002 and 2006) and Emmy winner (2022). His cartoons are nationally syndicated by Creators Syndicate and have appeared in The New York Times, USA Today and The (Jackson, Miss.) Clarion-Ledger.
Lauren Dendy
FORVIS
Lauren is the Human Resources Coordinator and Campus Recruiter at the FORVIS Jackson, MS office. She works closely with the HR teams in the Southwest FORVIS region which includes Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Arizona. In addition to HR, Lauren actively recruits accounting students at Ole Miss, Mississippi State, University of Southern Mississippi, Millsaps and Mississippi College.
Bruce Deer
Innovate Mississippi
Bruce Deer is a long-time technology executive, member of the Bulldog Angel Network and Innovate Mississippi's Entrepreneur in Residence.
Joe Donovan
Mississippi Development Authority
Mr. Donovan currently is the Director of The Office of Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship @ Mississippi Development Authority. Donovan primary responsible for focusing Mississippi on growing the knowledge based economic development through developing an eco-system focusing on emerging technologies.
Ryan Gilbrech
Mississippi State University
From studying biomedical engineering to founding a video game development studio to leading MSU’s first attempt at a satellite entrepreneurship center in Vicksburg, MS – it’s hard to predict Ryan Gilbrech’s career trajectory. With a penchant for chasing interesting, difficult, and visionary pursuits, he’s now working toward making Vicksburg the next big tech startup hub of the south.
Joe Graben
University of Southern Mississippi
Joe Graben is the Innovation Ecosystem Manager for the Office of Technology Development at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) and has over twenty-five years of experience in supporting tech-based small businesses and innovation based economic development.
Adam Horlock
Office Evolution
Adam Horlock is the BCM for Mississippi’s first Office Evolution. Office Evolution is the nation’s largest locally owned and operated coworking network, with over 80 locations in 25 states.
Delbert Hosemann
Lieutenant Governor
Elected in November 2019 with more than 60 percent of the vote, the Honorable Delbert Hosemann is serving as Mississippi’s 33rd Lieutenant Governor. He previously served as Secretary of State. Lt. Governor Hosemann is committed to serving the public with open and fair government.
Ben Hubbard
Serial Entrepreneur
A native Mississippian, Ben has co-founded and launched several software-driven start-ups to market. Ben was part of a two-man team that built a multinational software solutions provider from scratch starting from an incubator in Jackson, MS.
Eric Hughes
The Hive Branding Agency
Eric works as Founding Partner of Mississippi’s first truly virtual ad agency, The Hive. With The Hive, his unique blend of experience and creativity in Brand Strategy, Marketing Campaign Development, Product Development, and Content Strategy gives business owners and leadership teams the focus, vision, unity, and momentum they need to get beyond surviving and start thriving.
Laura Johns
The Business Growers
Laura Johns is the founder and CEO of The Business Growers, a marketing firm serving the B2B telecom, SaaS, IT, and cloud-services industries. For 18 years, Laura managed marketing efforts for companies ranging from tech startups to global, multi-billion dollar businesses.
Laurie Jugan
MSET
Laurie Jugan is the Program Director at the Mississippi Enterprise for Technology (MSET), responsible for creating and overseeing programs supporting technology transfer out of federal agencies and technology transition into federal agencies.
Anik Kurkjian
Marketing Strategist
A highly experienced marketing strategist with over 15 years of expertise leading events, campaigns & brand development initiatives. Specializing in long term, sustainable return on investment through community engagement, influencer management & brand stewardship.
Sarah Lee
University of Southern Mississippi
Sarah Lee is Director of the School of Computing Sciences & Computer Engineering at The University of Southern Mississippi. A fifth generation Mississippian, she entered academia in 2011 following a 19-year industry career with a passion to broaden participation in computing and cybersecurity. She co-founded and launched the Last Mile Education Fund in 2020.
Steve Mercil
Appalachian Angel Alliance
Fund Administrator for the North & South Mississippi Angel Funds, Chief Business Development Officer Appalachian Angel Alliance (AIA)
Sam Miller
mySet Music and Sports
Sam Miller is the founder of mySet Music and Sports, a technology that enables musicians, sports teams, and radio stations to engage, monetize, and learn more about their fans. Skilled in Sales, Communication, Team Building, and Management, Sam is a strong business development professional with a Bachelor's degree focused in Management Information Systems from Mississippi State University.
Abb Payne
The Payne Companies
Founder and CEO of The Payne Companies family office and Chapter Chair of the Southern 7 Chapter of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO).
Marshall Ramsey
Mississippi Today
Marshall Ramsey is the Editor-At-Large for Mississippi Today, a non-profit news website. He’s a two-time Pulitzer Finalist (2002 and 2006) and Emmy winner (2022). His cartoons are nationally syndicated by Creators Syndicate and have appeared in The New York Times, USA Today and The (Jackson, Miss.) Clarion-Ledger.
Live Broadcast: SuperTalk Mississippi Mid-Day Show from Accelerate
SuperTalk Mississippi Mid-Day Show will be broadcasting live with Gerard Gibert from The Westin during Accelerate 2022 on November 9th from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
our sponsors
Presenting Sponsor
Innovation LEaderS
Coffee & Contacts
Technology ChampionS
Executive PartnerS
EntrepreneurS
#accelerate2022
Matt Adamczyk
Microsoft TechSpark
Matt is the Technical Advisor for Microsoft TechSpark and Technologist in Residence at TitletownTech. In this dual role, Matt engages with startups and entrepreneurs at TitletownTech to provide advisement and connection into deeper Microsoft expertise, and Matt extends to support entrepreneurship and ecosystem development across Microsoft TechSpark.
Jon Atkinson
Idea Village
Jon is an expert in startups, customer development methodologies, and entrepreneurial finance. His past experience combines a diverse knowledge as a professional investor and ‘recovering’ banker with skills gained as a professor, CEO, CFO, business advisor, board member, and strategic consultant to deliver unique business insights in guiding and financing growth oriented companies.
Steven Bailey
The Idea Shop
Steven Bailey is a Graduate Student at Mississippi State University and the manager of the MSU Idea Shop, connecting University resources to the Starkville community. Entrepreneurial pursuits and "making" have been a large portion of his life from the age of 12, when he developed his own ironworking business, selling handcrafted ironworking projects to his friends and family. In this current role he enjoys sharing this passion with others.
Anna Barker
Glo
Anna Barker is the Co-Founder and VP of Business Development of Glo® – a student project turned company that was founded through MSU’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach, where she met fellow MSU alumnus and aspiring entrepreneur, Hagan Walker. She teamed up with Hagan to develop the idea behind the Glo Pals® – a line of light-up sensory toys inspired by a child with Autism.
Allyson Best
University of Mississippi
Allyson Best is the director of technology commercialization at the University of Mississippi. She has a bachelors from Clemson University in marketing and an MBA with a focus on pharmaceutical science from the University of Mississippi. She has served in numerous positions including the chair of the board of directors of the Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce, but also internationally within the Association of University Technology Managers.
Almesha Campbell
Jackson State University
Almesha L. Campbell, Ph.D. is the Assistant Vice President for Research and Economic Development at Jackson State University (JSU). She designs and manages programs around innovation, technology transfer, and commercialization in an effort to broaden the participation of underrepresented minorities in these areas.
Jeremy Clay
Mississippi State University
Jeremy Clay is director of MSU’s Office of Technology Management, the unit charged with efficiently capturing, protecting, managing and accelerating the commercialization of university-owned and -generated intellectual property.
Amber Coeur
Lobaki
As CEO of Lobaki, Amber is a hands-on leader who values every client and every team member for what they bring to the ongoing process of learning what virtual reality can become as the industry rapidly matures and grows across the country.