��ɫ��Ƶ awarded $100,000 Regions Foundation grant fueling high-impact entrepreneurship programs

STARKVILLE, Miss.—��ɫ��Ƶ’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach is expanding support for aspiring entrepreneurs thanks to a grant from the Regions Foundation.

The award will support two accelerator initiatives led by the MSU Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach, the MSU VentureCatalyst program in Starkville and the Million Dollar Checklist program in Vicksburg. It also will power Startup Summit, ��ɫ��Ƶ’s premier entrepreneurial pitch event.

The MSU VentureCatalyst is a comprehensive co-curricular program for ��ɫ��Ƶ students and faculty interested in launching successful, investor-backed companies. The program provides mentorship, tactical training workshops, a structured development checklist and up to $7,500 in funding to help teams move from early ideas to investment-ready ventures.

The Million Dollar Checklist Accelerator in Vicksburg brings together regional entrepreneurs for a monthly startup development gathering where founders share business progress, challenges and lessons learned while receiving feedback and support from mentors and peers.

The E-Center’s Startup Summit gathers students, innovators and entrepreneurs from across the country to pitch business ideas, connect with mentors and investors and to compete for funding. The event features multiple competitions, including the Mississippi Made competition for startups based in Mississippi, the Bulldog Business Competition—a nationwide collegiate entrepreneurship competition—and the Mississippi High School Pitch Competition, helping support the next generation of entrepreneurs. More than $100,000 in total prizes are awarded annually.

From left, ��ɫ��Ƶ College of Business Dean Scott Grawe and Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach Director Nick Pashos discuss the university's E-Center and its programs. Grants from the Regions Foundation will support the E-Center as it mentors MSU student-entrepreneurs. (Photo by Beth Wynn)

“Many students arrive on campus looking to develop the skills and knowledge to turn their ideas into new businesses,” said Scott Grawe, dean of ��ɫ��Ƶ’s College of Business. “Our Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach provides students with the opportunity to apply concepts from the classroom directly to their businesses. The Startup Summit connects these students with new investors and allows us to showcase Starkville as a leader in supporting innovation and entrepreneurship.”

As part of this year’s event, the Regions Foundation has provided the funding for two $10,000 Regions Foundation Innovation Prizes with one awarded to a team competing in the Mississippi Made Competition and another to a team participating in the Bulldog Business Competition. The Regions Foundation is a nonprofit funded primarily by Regions Bank.

“We’re excited to partner with the Regions Foundation to continue strengthening Mississippi’s entrepreneurial ecosystem,” said Nick Pashos, director of ��ɫ��Ƶ’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach. “This support allows us to expand our accelerator programs and provide entrepreneurs with the mentorship, resources and community they need to move from early ideas to investor-ready businesses.”

For the Regions Foundation, the impact of entrepreneurship extends well beyond the classroom.

“Entrepreneurship plays such an important role in helping communities grow and thrive,” said Mary Wallace Hannon, operations and strategic communications manager for the Regions Foundation. “We’re proud to support ��ɫ��Ƶ as they give students and founders hands-on tools, mentorship and encouragement to move their ideas forward—and we hope aspiring entrepreneurs across Mississippi will jump in, get involved and see what’s possible.”

Together, the initiative strengthens the state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem while creating new pathways for innovation and growth.

“Support from partners like the Regions Foundation is essential to advancing innovation and entrepreneurship at ��ɫ��Ƶ,” said Lilly Bjorkman, associate director of corporate and foundation relations for the MSU Foundation. “Their investment helps create opportunities for students and entrepreneurs to develop ideas, build businesses and contribute to economic growth across Mississippi.”

Startup Summit will take place on Friday, April 10, at The Mill at ��ɫ��Ƶ, welcoming students, founders, investors and community members.

For more information about Startup Summit or the MSU’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach, visit

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About ��ɫ��Ƶ
��ɫ��Ƶ is a doctoral degree-granting, land-grant university offering a wide range of educational experiences for learning, growth and service to a student body of more than 23,500 students. Among the Carnegie Foundation’s R1 Very High Research Activity universities, MSU provides access and opportunity to students from all 50 states and 95 countries. MSU is committed to its comprehensive research university mission, addressing complex local and global challenges with innovative ideas and solutions.

About the Regions Foundation
The Alabama‑based Regions Foundation supports community investments that positively impact communities served by Regions Bank. The Foundation engages in a grantmaking program focused on priorities including economic and community development; education and workforce readiness; and financial wellness. The Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation funded primarily through contributions from Regions Bank. To learn more about the Regions Foundation, visit .

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