Arts Incubator
The Arts Incubator is a program that includes a variety of workshops, peer learning sessions, and networking events to help you grow local artists' and entrepreneurs' arts business.
The Yoknapatawpha Arts Council and The Oxford-Lafayette County Economic Development Foundation (EDF)'s BIG BAD BUSINESS SERIES is a free entrepreneur and mentoring program that gives North Mississippi artists, business owners, inventors, and startup enthusiasts an opportunity to develop an idea into their own sustainable small business.
Through monthly workshops and breakout sessions, participants will learn from some of the region's most successful business executives, innovate with local artists, and receive business coaching from local development experts. Whether manufacturing a prototype, developing a creative arts business, or starting a tech business, this program will connect you with the resources to turn your idea into an industry!
For more resources on growing your business, contact us!
Meghan Gallagher
662-236-6429
outreachyac@gmail.com
Allen Kurr
Chamber of Commerce
662-234-4651
allen@oxfordms.com
Upcoming Events
4th Annual Oxford Pitch Competition
The Oxford-Lafayette County Economic Development Foundation in partnership with the University of Mississippi and the Mississippi Small Business Development Center Network, announced the return of Innovate Mississippi’s CoBuilders Program to Oxford in Summer 2025.
CoBuilders, a Partnership-Driven Accelerator, first launched by Innovate Mississippi in 2022, is a 12-week intensive and structured program designed to accelerate the growth of qualifying startup companies primarily in technology and innovation. Companies selected for the program will be identified through their participation in one of 8 regional pitch competitions to be held in Clarksdale, Starkville, Jackson,Vicksburg, Hattiesburg, Biloxi, Tupelo, and Oxford.
New to the 2025 business pitch competition, powered by Innovate Mississippi and the Mississippi Small Business Development Center Network, is the offering of two district pathways – one for high-growth startups and another for traditional small businesses.
Participants can apply through a single shared application with both tracks offering cash prizes, valuable exposure, and 1-1 business coaching. Only a limited number of finalists will be selected from the applicant pool and invited to pitch, however all applicants will be connected with small business development resources and invited to join the entrepreneurial community cheering on our finalists on pitch day.
The Oxford Pitch Competition will be held on Thursday June 12, 2025, 1pm – 6pm at the Oxford Conference Center with the deadline to apply set for COB on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Applications, found here, are now open to entrepreneurs in North Mississippi.
This pitch event, joining seven other regional competitions around the state, serves as a qualifying opportunity for companies to be considered for Innovate Mississippi’s CoBuilders Accelerator—a 12-week intensive program designed to fast-track the growth of promising Mississippi startups. To learn more about the CoBuilders Accelerator, visit www.cobuilders.ms.
For more information on this program, contact Allen Kurr (662)234-4651, allen@oxfordms.com or visit www.cobuilders.ms.
The Oxford Pitch Competition is presented as part of the Big Bad Business series.