Trenton Robinson from Jackson pitched a “smart desk” that would help high school students to complete tasks, take notes and become stronger learners.
“It's going to help you streamline coursework and classroom management,” he said to the panel of judges. “It also gives students access to a helpful but restrictive artificial intelligence module, one that supports learning. It helps students by providing sources and guidance rather than giving them the answers. It challenges them to think creatively.”
After his presentation, judges asked questions about his potential price point, team members and if he had reached out to potential clients. Ultimately, Robinson's project placed third in the tech category.
Nakisha Ware is the founder of NeuroNest, an AI app she’s developing to help neurodivergent business owners better streamline their obligations. Ware, who says she herself is neurodivergent, says she was inspired to create the software after challenges she faced.
“A lot of times I would sit at my laptop with 22 tabs open, three half finished notebooks,” she said. “Just missed a Zoom meeting to close a very big deal. I'd work all day, and I hadn't completed one task. It wasn't because I was lazy or lacked drive, it was how my brain worked. So many of us who have ADHD or bipolar, we're literally figuring things out, building the plane as we fly it.”
Ware says her business idea, which was also created by other neurodivergent developers, could help other business owners facing similar challenges become more successful.
“What NeuroNest does is provide the AI automation plus the accountability without the overwhelm and burnout,” she said. “With a financial dashboard to help you manage your finances, gives you access to your cash flow, lets you send invoices without that spreadsheet anxiety or calculator, or having to have a finance degree.”
Ware did not place within the competition.
Omar Morris is a business owner from Jackson who pitched solar power that could take a home off the grid or allow a family to have a mobile generator. He says finding funding for a business can be challenging in Mississippi.
“Often, Mississippi has been neglected as a technical place where things might originate.,” he said. “There are a lot of creative people here, scientific minded entrepreneurs. Traditionally, with this being an agrarian state, it wasn't industrialized. Technology is kind of like, push past it. These competitions allow people to see that there's an outlet for their inventions. There's networks, there's help, there's funding, there's like minded people.”
Morris, who says he wants to bring factories to create his products to the Mississippi Delta, ultimately placed first in the tech division of the competition.
The judges for the competition came from a range of backgrounds, including academia and tech. Trevor Acy, who is the founder of the Delta Product Group, helped judge the competition.
“I think there is a large group of people that we have not tapped into giving them the belief and the encouragement that you can start something and it can turn into a real viable business,” he said. “We Mississippi folk are great at solving their own problems.”
Nashlie Sephus is the founder of the Bean Path. She says the event was pretty competitive.
“We had over 40 people apply,” she said. “So we definitely want to get more funding to host more next year, to bring them in to pitch. Some of these pitch companies we've been mentoring over the last couple of years or so. So it's good to see their growth in the business. Entrepreneurship is a journey.”
Other business ideas ranged from beauty products to lawn care apps. Business owners competed for a share of a $15,000 prize.
