Services for Entrepreneurs

The Mississippi Technology Alliance (MTA) is committed to assisting technology entrepreneurs and emerging companies in our state.  Whether you are developing your business plan or seeking early stage investment capital, our staff of experienced business and economic development professionals wants to help you find the resources you need to grow your enterprise and create jobs in Mississippi.  Follow the process outlined below to see how MTA can assist you.

MTA uses a rigorous entrepreneurial assessment tool.  It contains evaluations to measure a project’s entrepreneurial, risk, venture, and business plan “readiness.” Used in conjunction with the Mississippi Angel Network, Mississippi Executive Talent Exchange, and the Entrepreneurial Service Providers Database, our assessment tool helps MTA guide Mississippi entrepreneurs as they follow the path to growing successful businesses.

The Mississippi Technology Alliance focuses on innovation-based companies with innovative products, processes, materials or business models.  We generally do not work with companies in retail services, oil and gas exploration and production franchisees, real estate development, management and investment companies.  However; firms will not be disqualified because their customers are in such industries.  The Small Business Development Centers and the Mississippi Development Authority have resources to assist entrepreneurs in areas outside the scope of MTA.

The Entrepreneurial Development Process:

  1. Complete Intake Survey
  2. Contact Us to schedule a meeting
  3. Initial Meeting (1 hour):  At the Initial Meeting, we will want to discuss your answers to our Intake survey.  There is no need to prepare materials, but please feel free to bring any PowerPoint presentation or Business Plan that you have already compiled.
  4. During our meeting we will discuss your business or concept, introduce you to our development tools and discuss next steps.
  5. Entrepreneur uses Venture Capital Tools under MTA direction.
  6. Depending on the required next steps, we will help the entrepreneur by connecting them to the ESP, MXTX, Seed Fund and Angel Network or other resources.

Resources:

Click here for a sample investor presentation.

Click here for investor presentation guidelines.

Click here for business plan guidelines.

Click here for a sample business plan.

Featured Links:

The Kauffman Foundation for Entrepreneurship and Education

The National Association of Seed and Venture Funds

The National Venture Capital Association

Inc. Magazine

Entrepreneur Magazine

Wall Street Journal Small Business

U.S. Small Business Administration

Business Owner's Toolkit

VC Experts

Business Plans Website

Federal Trade Commission Facts for Consumers Regarding Invention Promotion Companies

Mississippi Technology Transfer and Commercialization Entities

Jackson State University

Office of Research Development and Support and Federal Programs

Mississippi State University

Office of Research
Intellectual Property and Technology Licensing

The University of Mississippi

Office of Research and Sponsored Programs
Division of Technology Management

The University of Southern Mississippi

Office of Research and Economic Development
Noetic Technologies, Inc.
Open Source Software Institute