V-Quad Incubator Network

Home / Entrepreneurship & Innovation / V-Quad Incubator Network

Mississippi Energy Program for Innovation Clusters: Virtual-Quad

V-quad’s mission is to build an innovative, virtual incubator network to support Mississippi entrepreneurs and innovators launching businesses focused on energy- and agriculture-related technologies.

The program will help new technology companies seeking to commercialize energy and agriculture related technologies find technical assistance and financial networks with specific focus in these areas. V-Quad’s goal is to form public-private partnerships that connect Mississippi’s research universities, industry, government and non-profits into a cohesive, tech-based network.

The precept of V-Quad is inclusive innovation, and rural areas and a historically Black university are part of the Mississippi V-Quad.

Our diverse V-Quad core team is highly experienced and prepared to bring emerging companies to the next level.

Quick Links

Department of Energy Press Release Newsletter (Needs Form Built)

A map of the vquad incubator in Mississippi

Mississippi V-Quad

V-Quad is mobilizing the combined resources of several public and private entities into the future to support emerging technology companies and university spinouts through mentoring, market analysis, prototyping and funding.

See All Videos

A first-of-its-kind initiative

V-Quad is designed to encourage entrepreneurship among minorities and in rural areas.

All team members and partners have significant experience with supporting technology-based entrepreneurial activities to continue creating a supportive ecosystem for emerging technology companies.

The Mississippi V-Quad will monitor and track the following activities to measure its success. MDA’s Energy & Natural Resources Division and The Entrepreneurship Center will be the clearinghouse for collecting and disseminating data.

Number of companies with emerging technologies
Number of Mississippi Seed Fund Awards
Connections to SBIR-STTR
Ecosystem density
Number of supporting partners
Physical spaces for emerging companies to work
Access to maker spaces, university research, mentor networks and funding networks
Cumulative hours of services provided to startups

A look at our work

From fall 2020 to where we stand now

Fall 2020
Launch Mississippi V-Quad
Outreach to public and private sector partners and early stage companies

Winter 2020
Solicit V-Quad entries from interested teams

Spring 2021
Award Stage I Venture Development Grants to selected teams

Summer 2021
Conduct 10 week V-Quad accelerator
Provide mentoring, market analysis and venture development support
First “Pitch in the V-Quad” competition with Stage II Venture Development Grants
Teams may be eligible for the Mississippi Seed Fund

Tools, resources and knowledge at play

By leveraging existing resources and tools, V-Quad seeks to mitigate five types of risks

Market
Technology
Finance
Management
Execution

Existing tools and resources include:
Centers of excellence and research parks at universities
Market intelligence
Robust venture development and commercialization models
Mississippi Seed Fund – Proof of Concept Fund managed by Innovate Mississippi
Entrepreneurial mentor networks at universities, as well as Innovate Mississippi
Angel Investor Networks
Over 250 years of collective mentoring experience through partners and organizations