With its streamlined regulatory environment, and a robust, integrated research and development ecosystem that includes four major public research universities, military laboratories, and private sector firms, Mississippi has hung up the welcome sign for business. The state’s technology sectors focus on the development and commercialization of emerging technology-intensive projects, and dedicated workforce development programs aggressively support these initiatives.

 A 2021 Tax Foundation study calculated the total effective state and local tax rate for eight types of business facilities and found that the tax rate on new businesses in Mississippi would be lower than in Florida and Texas for all eight business types. 

CoBuilders, Mississippi’s first statewide accelerator and pitch competition, kicked off in March 2022. The Women and Minority Entrepreneur Development Program focuses on supporting companies led by women and minority founders, which is particularly relevant here as Mississippi has one of the highest minority populations in the U.S. Jackson State University opened its Women’s Business Center in February 2022. 

Over the last two decades, Innovate Mississippi has connected more than 1,500 startups to over $181 million in seed and venture capital. Launched in August 2021, the South Mississippi Angel Fund gathered investors to create a $1 million fund for early-stage companies in South Mississippi. 

The ACCELERATE Conference on Technology Innovation is an annual gathering for stakeholders in the Mississippi ecosystem. REDe Entrepreneurship Summit is an annual event designed to inspire students to become entrepreneurs. The MSU Startup Summit is one of the Southeast’s top student startup competitions.