Accelerate 2024 Schedule
Celebrating 25 Years of Innovation.
Tuesday November 19
Location: Mississippi Museum of Art
Attendees can valet park at the Westin for Pitch Day Activities and we will have volunteers on hand to walk people over to the museum.
1:00pm - 5:00pm • CoBuilders Pitch Day (Mississippi Museum of Art)
Join us for a showcase of Mississippi startup companies from the CoBuilders in a special "Pitch Day" presentation at the Mississippi Museum of Art in downtown Jackson.
Companies are selected and supported by Regional Partners as listed below
1:59pm • Networking Break
4:30pm • Awards and Wrap-up
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5:00pm - 6:30pm • Speaker & Sponsor Reception
Location: The Westin Jackson
Wednesday November 20
Location: The Westin Jackson
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7:30am • Registration Opens
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8:00am - 9:15am • Breakfast General Session (Jackson Ballroom)
Tony Jeff, President & CEO, Innovate Mississippi
Dan Schmisseur, Venture Capital Consultant for SSBCI to the U.S. Department of Treasury
Lindsey Benefield, Investment Director, Innovate Mississippi
8:30am • Morning Keynote Session
> 8:30am: Welcome Remarks, Tony Jeff, President & CEO of Innovate Mississippi
> 8:35am: Message from Governor Tate Reeves
> 8:38am - Introduction of Breakfast Keynote Speakers
Dr. William Rayburn, co-founder and CEO of mTrade
> 8:40am: Fireside Chat: "Building Thriving Clusters and Ecosystems for Young, Entrepreneurial High-Growth Firms"
Ross DeVol, president and CEO of Heartland forward and Jon Maynard, president and CEO of Oxford-Lafayette County Economic Development Foundation
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9:15am - 9:30am • Coffee and Contacts Break
All Day • Café Copilot
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9:30am - 11:45am • Breakout Sessions
2-Concurrent Tracks Happening in the Natchez and Oxford Rooms
BIG IDEAS TRACK (Natchez)
The Big Ideas track explores Mississippi's entrepreneurial changes and trends, including AI's impact on industries and local companies' growth strategies.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping the business landscape across diverse industries. This panel discussion will delve into the pivotal role of AI in driving innovation, enhancing efficiency, and fostering growth across sectors. Experts will explore real-world applications, challenges, and future trends, shedding light on how businesses can harness the power of AI to gain a competitive edge, optimize operations, and deliver unparalleled value to customers.
Moderator: Gerad Hardy Leadership Consultant and Faculty, Else School of Management, Millsaps College
Panelists:
J.J. Townsend, Microsoft
Dr. Craig Orgeron, Information Technology Expert, Millsaps College
Dr. Nashlie Sephus, Amazon
Greg Hall, UMMC Telehealth
10:30 am - 10:45 am • Coffee and Contacts Break
Join us for an enlightening panel discussion featuring trailblazing companies that have not only thrived but also significantly contributed to Mississippi’s vibrant entrepreneurial landscape. These visionary entrepreneurs will share their inspiring journeys of starting, growing, and scaling their business within the heart of Mississippi and harnessed the abundant resources that Mississippi offers to support startups.
Moderator: Rina Thomas White, Twain Capital
Panelists:
Gary Watts, Fuse.Cloud
Michael Grasso, Anduril Industries
Joe Stradinger, Edgetheory
BLOCK & TACKLE TRACK (Oxford)
Practical Tips to Help Entrepreneurs Navigate Their Business
The Block and Tackle track covers those moments when the rubber meets the road for entrepreneurs in the Mississippi entrepreneurial ecosystem. Hear from professional marketers, sales professionals, tacticians, mentors and investors on the next steps your startup should take toward success and growth.
The 2023 Investor panel discussion will feature regional seed fund, early-stage, and angel fund investors. The panel will focus on preparing for investment rounds. Panelists will share their regional experiences and expertise and will discuss preparing for and going through due diligence and investor expectations.
Moderator: Hal Callais, Callais Capital
Panelists:
Chris Haley, Nashville’s FINTOP Capital
Anna deTiege Harris, New Orleans Startup Fund
Jeremy Turner, Appalachian Investors Alliance
10:30 am - 10:45 am • Coffee and Contacts Break
Join industry experts as they unravel the complexities of aligning your groundbreaking ideas with market demands, ensuring your product not only fits seamlessly but also attracts and retains customers, ultimately guiding you from the initial concept to sustainable profitability. Gain valuable insights, actionable strategies, and real-world examples that will empower you to transform your vision into a thriving, revenue-generating venture.
Bryan Carter, CEO, Think Webstore
Tim Mask, President MWB
Darryl Pieroni, Keller Williams Realty
VIP Investor Lounge, by appointment only
Mentor Lounge, by appointment only
12:00pm • Luncheon General Session (Jackson Ballroom)
In her engaging keynote presentation, “Driving Entrepreneurial Growth through an Ecosystem Strategy”, Wendy Lea, the accomplished CEO of Energize Colorado, will share proven strategies and real-world examples to empower Mississippi stakeholders with actionable methods to create thriving innovation ecosystems within the state. Her talk will serve as a transformative guide to provide knowledge and tools necessary to bolster local economies, nurture startups, and drive sustainable entrepreneurial growth, ensuring a brighter and more innovative future for the state.